Dancétudes: 7 Vignettes of Dolls and Pets (Conferences)

Dancétudes: 7 Vignettes of Dolls and Pets by Thomas H. Kerr Jr., edited by Susanna Garcia and William Chapman Nyaho, is a rediscovered gem of twentieth-century piano literature. This first-ever published edition unveils a remarkable pedagogical treasure by an influential African American composer and educator.

Composed between 1959 and 1963 for Kerr’s young daughter, Dancétudes blends imagination, musical sophistication, and technical purpose. Each of the seven études—conceived as miniature dances—was inspired by one of his daughter’s dolls or pets. These expressive pieces encourage musical storytelling while developing technical fluency, stylistic awareness, and interpretive artistry.

Spanning late intermediate to early advanced levels, Dancétudes explores a rich range of twentieth-century styles, including impressionism, postimpressionism, modernism, and jazz idioms. Together, they form an engaging bridge to more advanced works while offering pianists and teachers a fresh, accessible entry into mid-century American piano writing.

Video Recording

Garcia

Video Recording

Garcia

About the Composer

Thomas Henderson Kerr Jr. (1915–1988), born in Baltimore, Maryland, was a prolific pianist, organist, composer, and pedagogue. Denied admission to Peabody Institute due to segregation, he instead earned three degrees from the Eastman School of Music and went on to chair the piano department at Howard University. His catalog includes more than 120 works for piano, voice, organ, chorus, and chamber ensembles—many of which remain unpublished and preserved at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Dancétudes marks the second volume in a series of newly published piano works by Kerr from The Frances Clark Center.

About the Editors

Susanna Garcia, Professor Emerita at the University of Louisiana School of Music, and William Chapman Nyaho, Ghanaian American concert pianist and editor of Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora (Oxford University Press), bring scholarly insight and performance expertise to this edition. Together, they illuminate Kerr’s artistry and pedagogical intent for a new generation of pianists.

Ideal for teachers, students, and performers alike, Dancétudes celebrates imagination, diversity, and technical growth through music. It’s a must-have addition to the modern piano pedagogy library.