Tippy (my Teddy Bear). Ruth Norman
Tippy is a short character piece marked Allegretto, and its handwritten score suggests a playful, vivid, and slightly mischievous personality. The subtitle “my Teddy Bear” and the dedication “to Judy” give the piece a personal and imaginative quality, as if it were written for a child or inspired by a childlike character. Across its two pages, Norman combines short accented motives, dynamic contrasts, chromatic touches, and shifting gestures that give the music a sense of motion and unpredictability. Toward the end, the marking “a little slower” and the more legato writing create a contrasting close, softening the energy of the opening material.
Pedagogically, Tippy seems well suited for an early intermediate student. The piece is not technically large-scale, but it asks for clear control of character. The performer has to manage accents, quick changes of dynamicS, and a rhythmic sense that keeps the music alert. Because much of the writing is gesture-based, the student also has to think in terms of small musical ideas rather than only isolated notes. The score offers good opportunities to work on articulation, balance, and tonal variety in a short format.
Useful practice strategies might include practicing one gesture at a time to define its character, observing all dynamic changes early in the learning process, and grouping the chromatic or intervallic patterns so they feel easier to read and remember. Tippy is a brief piece, but it has personality, humor, and strong pedagogical value.
Ruth Norman (1927-2007) was an American pianist, composer, organist, teacher, and scholar from Omaha, Nebraska. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1948 and later completed a master’s degree in piano at the Eastman School of Music in 1953. Norman also devoted a large part of her career to performing and promoting the music of Black classical composers, while continuing to compose and teach throughout her life.
Sources
- African Diaspora Music Project. “Ruth Norman.” Accessed April 23, 2026. https://africandiasporamusicproject.org/compser/ruth-norman
- Georgetown University Library. “Ruth Norman Papers.” Accessed April 23, 2026. https://findingaids.library.georgetown.edu/repositories/15/resources/12621
- Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame. “Ruth Norman.” Accessed April 23, 2026. https://chsfomaha.org/halloffame/ruth-norman/
Photo Source: https://chsfomaha.org/halloffame/ruth-norman/
Tippy (my Teddy Bear) by Ruth Norman. Performed by Victoria Paulino de Souza