Eric Christian’s I Love You When I Drink Champagne blends lyrical beauty with expressive shifts in mood. It is approachable for intermediate players while still rich in color and character, making it a rewarding piece to learn. 

Get to know the piece

Before you begin, take a look through the score. The piece is in common time (4/4) and moves in a tonal world that feels modern yet lyrical. What stands out most are the expressive markings: sweetly, hesitant, confident, and finally with mystery. These are your clues to the story. Playing this piece is as much about shifting emotions as it is about accuracy.

The opening theme (bars 1–18)

The right hand carries a gentle, flowing melody marked sweetly. Keep your touch light and let the line sing. The left hand provides simple harmonies that should never overpower the melody. Try practicing each hand separately before slowly bringing them together. Focus on shaping the phrases so the melody feels natural and breathing.

Expression and contrast (bars 19–42)

This section introduces more character. You will see poco rit. (slow down a little), a tempo (return to the original speed), and shifts between hesitant and confident. Let these markings guide your interpretation. At first, exaggerate the contrasts — really hesitate, then play firmly — so you can feel the difference. Later, smooth it into a more natural flow.

Building intensity (bars 43–66)

Here the piece grows in strength. Dynamics rise and the rhythm feels more grounded. The challenge is balance: bring out the stronger passages without losing the lyrical quality of the melody. Use the pedal carefully to connect harmonies but avoid blurring. This section feels most like a declaration before softening again.

A mysterious close (bars 67–end)

The final section is marked with mystery and written pp (very soft). Here, control is everything. Keep your hands relaxed and let the sound fade gently. Think of the notes as whispers. The mood should feel unresolved, as if the thought lingers after the music ends.

Practice tips

Break it into sections: work in short parts. First the sweet opening, then the hesitant/confident contrasts, then the closing.
Focus on rhythm changes: tap or count aloud through the poco rit. and a tempo markings before playing.
Play hands separately: especially in the opening, keeping the melody singing while the left hand stays gentle is easier when practiced apart. If you are also taking online piano lessons, this approach helps you stay aligned with your teacher between sessions.
Record yourself: use Clefer’s playback or video recording feature to hear how your playing changes over time and to notice details you might miss while playing.
Use guided tools: in Clefer, the guided practice path shows the full journey of the piece, while the Coach listens and gives feedback to help you improve step by step.

A last note ‍

I Love You When I Drink Champagne also tells a small story at the piano. From sweetness to hesitation, confidence to mystery, each shift is a chance to explore emotion through music. Take it slowly, enjoy the process, and let the piece reveal its character as you practice.

As both a piano learning app and a piano teaching app, Clefer supports students and teachers by making piano practice clear and motivating, with guided steps, real-time feedback, and gentle encouragement. Learn it in the app, share your progress, and enjoy how every note brings you closer to Eric Christian’s music.

‍