The themes in Keltic Variations are based in the style of the sea chanteys that were sung and taught by rote to sailors in northwestern Europe. This composition is written for students at the middle school and high school level, and its purpose is to introduce simple theme and variations. I normally resist approaching the composisiton of a piece from an educational standpoint, but my ideas for Keltic Variations felt more like teaching tools than anything else. After I finished it, I believed I had found a balance between a piece that falls well on audiences' ears but also can serve as a music lesson in the rehearsal room.