Ep. 45 – Looking Ahead, Listening Back: Amy Ferguson’s Moonlit Cactus and Migration

This week, I present music of Amy Ferguson, a pianist, teacher, composer, and arranger whose self-published pieces grow from the practical needs of her own studio. Ferguson recently received wider recognition when her piece Relámpago won the 2026 Pianist magazine composing competition. I perform two contrasting solos: Moonlit Cactus, with its cool-jazz harmonies, two-handed syncopation, and opportunities for creative pedaling and sound exploration; and Migration, a peaceful C Mixolydian depiction of birds in flight. I’ll also give some observations on recording as a tool for honest musical evaluation, and using easier repertoire to help students develop good sight-reading habits. Moonlit Cactus Amy Ferguson [Intermediate] - https://www.amyfergusonstudio.com/store/p24/Moonlit_Cactus.html Migration Amy Ferguson [Late Elementary] - https://www.amyfergusonstudio.com/store/p50/Migration.html