Dance Four

Clark Kimberling

ModernObscuresuite~2 min

About this piece

Dance Four is a short, contemporary character piece from Clark Kimberling's piano suites. It features simple rhythmic patterns and clear melodic lines characteristic of pedagogical modern music.

What makes it challenging

At Henle 2 this is a beginner-level piece, where steady coordination between the hands is the main hurdle. The main demands: fine finger independence within the hand; precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece; and a left hand with real melodic or rhythmic responsibility of its own.

Teacher notes

Focus on maintaining a consistent pulse while balancing the two voices.

Technical focus

finger-independencearticulationleft-hand-independence

Mood

playfulelegant

Listen & watch

No video available for this piece.
Too hard right now? Build a path to it

Your status

Not in your repertoire

Sign in to track this piece

Free sheet music on IMSLP

What to play around Dance Four

Similar to Dance Four

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Easier, same character

A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.

The next step up

Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.

More Clark Kimberling, off the beaten path

Lesser-known works by the same hand, at a comparable level.

Browse all Henle level 2 pieces (Beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Dance Four by Clark Kimberling?

Dance Four is rated Henle level 2 of 9 — beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 2–3. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 2.

What level do I need to play Dance Four?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 2 — meaning you can already play level 1–2 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Dance Four?

A typical performance of Dance Four lasts about 2 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Dance Four?

Dance Four is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Dance Four?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Dance 6 by Clark Kimberling, Dance 29 by Clark Kimberling, Dance 27 by Clark Kimberling — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.