<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" > <channel> <title>Weekend Repertoire – The Playful Piano</title> <atom:link href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/tag/weekend-repertoire/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com</link> <description>Helping you become everyone's favorite piano teacher!</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 13 Sep 2017 16:20:14 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cropped-logo-square-icon1.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1</url> <title>Weekend Repertoire – The Playful Piano</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">94970687</site> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Barber Excursion No. 3</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-barber-excursion-no/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-barber-excursion-no</link> <comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-barber-excursion-no/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:19:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Samuel Barber]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2012/03/weekend-repertoire-barber-excursion-no.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[At my weekly library excursion last weekend (we call it “Wafflelibraryfriday” at our house – each Friday we try to cook waffles and visit the library – fun tradition!) I decided to pick up a few classical CD’s to peruse. I am a lover of many types of music, but somehow I always come back<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-barber-excursion-no/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/week-rep.jpg?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/week-rep.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> At my weekly library excursion last weekend (we call it “Wafflelibraryfriday” at our house – each Friday we try to cook waffles and visit the library – fun tradition!) I decided to pick up a few classical CD’s to peruse. I am a lover of many types of music, but somehow I always come back to classical.</p> <p>I picked up a CD of Barber’s Excursions, and apparently I was not familiar with Excursion No. 3, because it was a new, beautiful discovery for me! The gorgeous harmonies and beautiful flowing melody drew me in, and then I was pleasantly surprised by the fun, syncopated rhythms. I think I may need to add this to my “<a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2010/06/repertoire-wish-lis.html">Repertoire Wish List</a>!” Take a listen!</p> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i5-pZJuXiyQ" width="480"></iframe></p> </div> <p><a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/">Pin It</a></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzqEnRS0BA/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/dFtcQ9JB8v8/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" border="0" height="160" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/jenny-bay-signature3.jpg?resize=640%2C160&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-barber-excursion-no/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">110</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: La fille aux cheveux de lin</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-la-fille-aux-cheveux/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-la-fille-aux-cheveux</link> <comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-la-fille-aux-cheveux/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 21 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Claude Debussy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2011/05/weekend-repertoire-la-fille-aux-cheveux.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[Today’s piece: La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair), by Debussy Level: Early Advanced Teaches: sound, color, impressionism, attention to rhythm, playing big, interesting chords Listen: to this video of Michelangeli performing this piece (such a beautiful recording!); or, how about a gorgeous violin version? Find the music: in this<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-la-fille-aux-cheveux/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/week-rep1.jpg?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/week-rep1.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Today’s piece:</b> La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair), by Debussy</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Level:</b> Early Advanced</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Teaches:</b> sound, color, impressionism, attention to rhythm, playing big, interesting chords</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Listen:</b> to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MswHKA4dako">this video of Michelangeli performing this piece</a> (such a beautiful recording!); or, how about a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mpxuR9nXE0">gorgeous violin version</a>?</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Find the music:</b> in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Debussy-Preludes-Alfred-Masterwork-Editions/dp/0739023241?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">this great collection</a><img decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0739023241" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> of Debussy’s Preludes, Book 1</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0739023241" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div> <div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Debussy-Preludes-Alfred-Masterwork-Editions/dp/0739023241?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Debussy-Preludes-Alfred-Masterwork-Editions/dp/0739023241?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="Debussy -- Preludes, Bk 1 (Alfred Masterwork Editions)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0739023241&tag=theteastu-20" /></a></div> <p></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This gorgeous piece is one that is close to my heart, as it is in my mind the first “real” difficult classical piano piece I learned. </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I began piano lessons while in the first grade, and took for about six and a half years from a wonderful woman in my neighborhood who taught me to love the piano. I loved piano lessons, but as I progressed quickly I soon outgrew her experience and training. I played through ALL of the levels of the Schaum and Eckstein method books while taking lessons from her, and then near the end of my time taking lessons from her she found me a book of piano classics. </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am ever grateful for my Dad, who always listened to classical music at home and even played a little by ear on the piano. He had a “favorite song” that he encouraged me to learn on my own – Debussy’s <i>La fille aux cheveux de lin</i>. Really it was far above the level of the pieces I was learning at the time, but I was ready and loved the challenge. I learned it quickly and memorized it on my own. When I auditioned to study with my new teacher while I was in the seventh grade, I played this piece for her. I remember her smiling after I played it and saying something like, “How fitting – the girl with the flaxen hair is playing <i>The Girl with the Flaxen Hair!</i>“</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I count this piece as the piece I have known the longest. I absolutely love it and it means a lot to me! Its beautiful harmonies are gorgeous and so fun to play. </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When teaching this piece, it is so important to help our students learn how to produce a beautiful sound. Concepts such as <i>tone</i> and <i>color</i> can be introduced or developed using this piece. It is a great piece to use to teach impressionism. I think it is helpful to listen to versions of this piece played on different instruments (such as the violin version linked to above) and to have them listen specifically for tone colors and sound that they can strive to produce on the piano.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aside from all of these important <i>sound</i> qualities of this piece, I think that RHYTHM is very important when learning this prelude. If we are not careful, it is easy to get lazy with the rhythms and not hold notes at the end of phrases long enough. In fact, I have the tendency to shortchange some of these rhythms myself, having learned it a bit incorrectly in certain places. I like to have my students learn this piece with the metronome, paying strict attention to the rhythms and counting out loud. Try it out – you may be surprised at some of the rhythms! After the rhythms are learned correctly and solidified, the student can then add in their rubato and expression on top of the framework of the correct rhythm.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just love this piece! <b>What piece is near and dear to <i>your</i> heart?</b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzqEnRS0BA/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/dFtcQ9JB8v8/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="156" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/jenny-bay-signature3.jpg?resize=640%2C156&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-la-fille-aux-cheveux/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">138</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Album Leaf by Gliere</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-album-leaf-by-gliere/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-album-leaf-by-gliere</link> <comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-album-leaf-by-gliere/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 14 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[artistry]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Intermediate Student: Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2011/05/weekend-repertoire-album-leaf-by-gliere.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[Today’s piece: Album Leaf, Op. 31, No. 11, from 12 Children’s Pieces, by Reinhold Gliere (who, by the way, taught Prokofiev at the Moscow Conservatory) Level: Late intermediate Teaches: Artistry, including beautiful phrasing, graded dynamics, sound production, playing with expression, rubato – you name it, this piece is very Romantic with a slightly modern twist!<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-album-leaf-by-gliere/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/week-rep2.jpg?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/week-rep2.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> <b>Today’s piece:</b> <i>Album Leaf</i>, Op. 31, No. 11, from 12 Children’s Pieces, by Reinhold Gliere (who, by the way, taught Prokofiev at the Moscow Conservatory)<br /> <b>Level:</b> Late intermediate<br /> <b>Teaches:</b> Artistry, including beautiful phrasing, graded dynamics, sound production, playing with expression, rubato – you name it, this piece is very Romantic with a slightly modern twist!<br /> <b>Listen: </b>I wish I could find a recording, but I can’t!<br /> <b>Find the music:</b> I found it in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Pathways-Repertoire-Freeman-Olson/dp/B000HI1POK?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">this great Repertoire book</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000HI1POK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Lynn Freeman Olson. I have also seen it online <a href="http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Twelve-Children-s-Pieces-Op-31/4284789#">here</a> and <a href="http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/c/cd/IMSLP06953-Gliere_-_Op.31_-12_Kinderstucke.pdf">here</a>.<br /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000HI1POK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></p> <p>So I found this great little piece while playing through some music I have. It is <i>perfect</i> for the late intermediate student to work on <i>artistry</i>. It is the subtle nuance, the slight change of <i>color</i> and sound, and the careful phrasing that will <i>make</i> this short little Romantic piece, or break it. If you can help your student to achieve a truly beautiful performance of this piece, the audience will be on the edge of their seats, enchanted by the beautiful harmonies and use of dynamics. I think the thing I love about this piece are the beautiful dissonant harmonies that resolve so subtly and beautifully. It makes me want to watch some old classic romance, like <i>An Affair to Remember</i>. sigh….</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-BK-pEXTQWsA/Tby2JLkgrhI/AAAAAAAAHSQ/1ux6JzlVioo/s1600/album+leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="498" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/album-leaf.jpg?resize=640%2C498&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzqEnRS0BA/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/dFtcQ9JB8v8/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="160" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/jenny-bay-signature5.jpg?resize=640%2C160&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-album-leaf-by-gliere/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">142</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Fairy Pieces from Prokofiev’s Cinderella Suite</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-fairy-pieces-fro/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-fairy-pieces-fro</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 07 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prokofiev]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2011/05/weekend-repertoire-fairy-pieces-fro.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[Since we’ve been discussing ways to motivate ourselves to practice, I thought for Weekend Repertoire this week I’d share a piece I am working on a bit! Actually, it is four pieces – they come from Prokofiev’s Cinderella Suite, op. 97, which is his piano arrangement of music from his ballet Cinderella. I first discovered this work<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-fairy-pieces-fro/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/week-rep3.jpg?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/week-rep3.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> Since we’ve been discussing ways to motivate <i>ourselves</i> to practice, I thought for <i>Weekend Repertoire</i> this week I’d share a piece I am working on a bit!</p> <p>Actually, it is four pieces – they come from Prokofiev’s <i>Cinderella Suite</i>, op. 97, which is his piano arrangement of music from his ballet <i>Cinderella</i>. I first discovered this work in college, and immediately loved it! The four pieces that caught my attention from this collection are the four fairy pieces – <i>Spring Fairy</i>, <i>Summer Fairy</i>, <i>Autumn Fairy</i> and <i>Winter Fairy</i>.</p> <p>These are short pieces which are so fun and imaginative, and I love how they really evoke distinct feelings about each of the different seasons. For example, <i>Spring Fairy </i>is fast and full of life, while <i>Summer Fairy</i> totally sounds to me like a hot, sunny, lazy summer day (speaking of which, I am about to experience my <i>first </i>San Antonio summer, and I’m getting a bit nervous with April temperatures already being consistently in the 90’s….and I am just about to enter my third trimester of pregnancy….wish me luck!!).</p> <p>If you are not familiar with these pieces, they are so fun to discover! You can listen to some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prokofiev-Piano-Music-Juliet-Cinderella/dp/B000059WLH?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">mp3 samples by pianist Frederic Chiu here</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000059WLH" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />.</p> <p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prokofiev-Piano-Music-Juliet-Cinderella/dp/B000059WLH?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="Prokofiev: Piano Music: Romeo & Juliet / Cinderella" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000059WLH&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000059WLH" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></p> <p>The sheet music seems a bit hard to come by – amazon.com says it is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ten-pieces-ballet-Cinderella-piano/dp/B000R2SU12?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">currently unavailable</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000R2SU12" style="border-bottom-style: none !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-width: initial !important; cursor: move; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, but it looks like you may be able to purchase it from <a href="http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Cinderella-Ten-Pieces-For-Piano-Opus-97/3194572">sheetmusicplus.com</a>.</p> <p>View the orchestral/ballet version of <i>Summer Fairy</i> here:</p> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"></div> <p></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzqEnRS0BA/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/dFtcQ9JB8v8/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="160" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/jenny-bay-signature8.jpg?resize=640%2C160&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">145</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Teaching Fugues</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-teaching-fugues/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-teaching-fugues</link> <comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-teaching-fugues/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teaching Advanced Students]]></category> <category><![CDATA[teaching new repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Intermediate Student: Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2011/04/weekend-repertoire-teaching-fugues.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[For this week’s Weekend Repertoire feature I’d like to discuss teaching (and learning!) fugues! Fugues can be some of the most beautiful and rewarding pieces to learn as a pianist, but are also some of the most challenging to learn and to perform well. A pianist who is able to learn a fugue well is a<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-teaching-fugues/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/week-rep.jpg?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/week-rep.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> For this week’s <i>Weekend Repertoire</i> feature I’d like to discuss teaching (and learning!) fugues! Fugues can be some of the most beautiful and rewarding pieces to learn as a pianist, but are also some of the most challenging to learn and to perform well. A pianist who is able to learn a fugue well is a pianist who is a <b>careful and efficient practicer</b> and a musician who has <b>trained their ears well</b> to<b> listen to the sounds and dynamics coming out of the piano</b>. One must possess <b>good independence of hands and fingers</b> to play a fugue well. All of these more advanced skills are difficult to learn, but are so important to the development of a fine pianist. I’d like to share a few tips on how to teach (and to learn!) fugues; hopefully some of them will come in handy, and hopefully others will have tips of their own to share!</p> <p>First of all, what are some good, easier fugues to start out with? Although not necessarily fugues, the <b>Bach Two-Part Inventions and Three-Part Inventions</b> are <i>excellent</i> to start with! Because many fugues have four or five parts, it is great to begin with only two parts to keep track of. I started learning inventions in junior high – I’d say they are probably <b>late-intermediate</b> (depending on the invention!). Some collections of Bach’s Inventions:</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/J-S-Bach-Two-Part-Inventions-Leonard/dp/0634073591?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="J.S. Bach - Two-Part Inventions (Hal Leonard Piano Library)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0634073591&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0634073591" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Part-Inventions-ebook/dp/B004P5O372?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="Bach 2 & 3 Part Inventions" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B004P5O372&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004P5O372" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Three-Part-Inventions-Schirmers-Classics/dp/0793553083?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="Bach: Two- and Three-Part Inventions for the Piano, Vol. 16 (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0793553083&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0793553083" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Two-Part-Inventions-Alfred-Masterwork-Sebastian/dp/0739007599?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="Two-Part Inventions (Alfred Masterwork Edition)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0739007599&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0739007599" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/J-S-Bach-Inventions-Three-Part-Masterwork-ebook/dp/B004HILOBA?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="J.S.Bach - Inventions and Sinfonias: Two- and Three-Part Inventions (Alfred Masterwork Edition)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B004HILOBA&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004HILOBA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></p> <p><b>Listen:</b> Bach’s Two-Part Invention No. 1, performed by Glenn Gould</p> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"></div> <p> Bach’s <i>Well-Tempered Clavier</i> is an excellent collection of preludes and fugues that every pianist should be familiar with. I would say that a good one to begin with would be either Fugue No. 2 in C minor (Book 1) or Fugue No. 21 in B-flat Major (Book 1). Of course there are many other fugues out there by Bach and other composers.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Well-Tempered-Clavier-Books-II-Complete/dp/0486245322?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0486245322&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0486245322" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Well-Tempered-Clavier-Complete-Schirmer-Schirmers/dp/0634099213?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="The Well-Tempered Clavier, Complete: Schirmer Library of Musical Classics, Volume 2057 (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0634099213&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0634099213" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/J-S-Bach-Well-Tempered-Clavier/dp/0882841203?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="J. S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Vol. 1" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0882841203&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0882841203" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Well-tempered-Clavier-Revised-846-869-Folios/dp/B002KJDHMW?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="THE Well-tempered Clavier - Revised Edition Part I, BWV 846-869 (Henle Music Folios)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002KJDHMW&tag=theteastu-20" /></a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002KJDHMW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></p> <p><b>Tips for Learning a Fugue</b></p> <ul> <li><b>Analyze</b> – find the theme and <i>mark it</i> whenever it appears in any voice with a colored pencil or highlighter. You may also want to mark any thematic material that is similar to the theme, but not the theme exactly. Since there are so many different voices going on at once, it is imperative that you know which voice to bring out at any time. You want to be able to hear the theme whenever it appears, <i>not just the top voice</i> in the right hand.</li> <li><b>Listen to recordings</b> – I always find this helpful when just starting out learning a fugue. I like to listen to a good recording while following along in the music and marking different voices and statements of the theme.</li> <li><b>Write in the fingerings!</b> – I like to go through the piece and decide from the very beginning which fingerings to use. There will be <i>so </i>much going on during the piece that you want to have solid fingerings right from the beginning. This will help you to learn the fugue so much faster and more efficiently. Always use the same fingerings, each time you practice!</li> <li><b>Start learning the fugue!</b> – Oh yes, did I mention that it is good to have all of these things done and written in <i>before</i> you actually start to practice the piece? With a fugue especially, it’s good to have a solid plan before getting started.</li> <li><b>Learn in very small sections</b> – this will help you to learn correct notes, fingerings, rhythms, and phrasing as you go. A fugue can be a little daunting to learn, but if you take it in very small bites it is very doable!</li> </ul> <div> </div> <div><b>Analyzing a Fugue</b></div> <div> </div> <p>So, for the purpose of this post, I made a copy of Bach’s Fugue No. 2 in C minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier (Book 1) and pretended like I was about to learn it (I actually learned it years ago…). Here is what <i>I</i> might do if I were to start learning this today. Here are the first two pages for your enjoyment <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f642.png" alt="🙂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Oh and my analysis is, of course, <i>very</i> technical (not!) – but I basically just wanted to give you some ideas.</p> <p>First, I have highlighted the <b style="background-color: yellow;">theme</b>, <i>every</i> time it occurs in its full form, in yellow. I want to bring that out so you can hear it in each voice.</p> <p>Next, I bracketed or highlighted <b style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">other thematic material</b> in blue. Sorry it’s a little hard to see – there is some on the last line of page 1, some on line 2 of page 2, and other random bits of it scattered throughout. These are sections that are very close to the theme, but that vary a bit.</p> <p>Then I discovered this little <b style="background-color: magenta;">secondary theme</b> made up of eighth notes in a pattern of three notes slurred and one note staccato (know that this articulation will vary a LOT depending on your edition or on the pianist who made the recording you listen to!), and marked it with a purple star whenever that occurred. Although <i>secondary</i> to the main theme, this stuff is also important and should come out a bit, especially if there is no theme going on as well.</p> <p>And lastly, there is a bunch of other stuff going on, such as long sections of <b style="background-color: #783f04;">sixteenth note material</b>, which I marked with a brown bracket. At a lot of these sections, I would probably bring these sixteenth note phrases out with some graded dynamics and nice phrasing of some sort.</p> <p>Anyway, you get the general idea! I would listen to <a href="http://pianosociety.com/cms/index.php?section=101">several recordings</a> of this to hear different interpretations, because they will vary <i>so </i>much depending on the pianist.</p> <p></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <p></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/-EkUDWJtTo_I/TbWqWrcBR3I/AAAAAAAAHRk/8enkSXelgHE/s1600/fugue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="640" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/fugue1.jpg?resize=494%2C640&ssl=1" width="494" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnKSnbAR1Gs/TbWqoTAstlI/AAAAAAAAHRs/oivJVCCiOVw/s1600/fugue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="640" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/fugue2.jpg?resize=494%2C640&ssl=1" width="494" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p>What fugue-learning-tips-o-awesomeness do you have to add to the list? <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f642.png" alt="🙂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzqEnRS0BA/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/dFtcQ9JB8v8/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="160" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/jenny-bay-signature.jpg?resize=640%2C160&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-teaching-fugues/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>11</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">150</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Schumann’s Arabeske</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-schumanns-arabeske/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-schumanns-arabeske</link> <comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-schumanns-arabeske/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Schumann]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2011/04/weekend-repertoire-schumanns-arabeske.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[As my son went up to bed tonight (at the time of writing this post…yes I write a lot of these in advance – as a mama you’ve got to take the time when it’s available!), he called down the stairs, “Mommy, play me some music!” Which really warmed my heart because he doesn’t often<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-schumanns-arabeske/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/week-rep1.jpg?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/week-rep1.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> As my son went up to bed tonight (at the time of writing this post…yes I write a lot of these in advance – as a mama you’ve got to take the time when it’s available!), he called down the stairs, “Mommy, play me some music!” Which really warmed my heart because he doesn’t often say things like that. He usually tries to pull me <i>away</i> from the piano instead of requesting it. I played through a few pieces, and then picked up Schumann’s <i>Arabeske</i>, a piece I have loved ever since hearing it for the very first time, and one that I performed at my sophomore recital in college. As I played the familiar notes it was almost like seeing an old friend after many years. There really is something so beautiful and transcendent about this piece, the harmonies and the colors that simply rekindles my love of music and the piano.</p> <p>If you are not familiar with this amazing piece, <i>please</i> take a few minutes and watch this amazing video of Horowitz’s performance of it in Carnegie Hall. Pay close attention at 5:58 – this little “benediction” is just heavenly. Who else is just amazingly grateful for music after hearing this piece?</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><iframe loading="lazy" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BO-p8YKfSD4" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzqEnRS0BA/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/dFtcQ9JB8v8/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="160" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/jenny-bay-signature3.jpg?resize=640%2C160&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> </div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-schumanns-arabeske/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">155</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Ravel’s Prelude</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-ravels-prelude/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-ravels-prelude</link> <comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-ravels-prelude/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Maurice Ravel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2011/04/weekend-repertoire-ravels-prelude.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[I am excited to re-introduce my Weekend Repertoire feature here on the Teaching Studio! As pianists and teachers, shouldn’t we always be discovering and re-discovering repertoire to teach our students and to broaden our knowledge of the piano works of great composers? Today’s piece: Prelude by Ravel, written in 1913 Level: Early Advanced Teaches: expression, advanced phrasing<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-ravels-prelude/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/week-rep2.jpg?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/week-rep2.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> I am excited to re-introduce my <i>Weekend Repertoire</i> feature here on the Teaching Studio! As pianists and teachers, shouldn’t we always be discovering and re-discovering repertoire to teach our students and to broaden our knowledge of the piano works of great composers?</p> <p><b>Today’s piece:</b> <i>Prelude</i> by Ravel, written in 1913<br /> <b>Level:</b> Early Advanced<br /> <b>Teaches:</b> expression, advanced phrasing techniques, crossing of hands<br /> <b>Listen:</b> there are three recordings of this piece available to download or listen to at <a href="http://www.pianosociety.com/cms/index.php?section=173">pianosociety.com</a></p> <p>This week’s piece I discovered just yesterday while sight reading through some wonderful pieces by Ravel. In fact, I would highly recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Ravel-Selected-Favorites/dp/B00065Q0VW?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">this great collection</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00065Q0VW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> of Ravel’s piano pieces (which includes the <i>Prelude</i> as well as eleven other piano masterpieces). According to Hinson, they <i>“represent some of Ravel’s finest contributions to the pianist’s art.”</i> I had never heard this short, simple prelude before but I immediately loved its simplicity, its beautiful haunting harmonies, and the interplay between the right and left hand lines.</p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-GzWLEIu_KZ0/TaMDpla_DjI/AAAAAAAAHPU/g2D0qTZ4wAM/s1600/Ravel_Prelude.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="352" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Ravel_Prelude.gif?resize=640%2C352&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preview of music from <a href="http://everynote.com/piano.show/1883.note">everynote.com</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Although very simple and relatively easy to learn, this 27-measure piece requires much use of <b>expression</b>, as well as great attention to detail in <b>shaping the phrases</b> and <b>bringing out the melody</b>, particularly when the <b>hands cross over one another</b>.</p> <p>According to the notes by Hinson in my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Ravel-Selected-Favorites/dp/B00065Q0VW?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">book</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00065Q0VW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, this piece was composed in 1913 as a sight-reading piece for the Paris Conservatory to use in their piano competitions. Hinson says this about the piece, <i>“The </i>Prelude <i>involves some interlocking of the hands and contains a few unexpected harmonies. Its gentle lyricism, relaxed tempo and interesting inner voices affirm Ravel’s gifts as a superb miniaturist.”</i></p> <p>In my studio I put a lot of emphasis on musicality and artistry, and I am so excited to use this piece with some of my more advanced students to teach advanced phrasing and expression. I hope you enjoy discovering this wonderful little piece!</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzqEnRS0BA/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/dFtcQ9JB8v8/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="160" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/jenny-bay-signature6.jpg?resize=640%2C160&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-ravels-prelude/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">161</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Le Cimetiere</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-le-cimetiere/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-le-cimetiere</link> <comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-le-cimetiere/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Abel Decaux]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Halloween]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2010/10/weekend-repertoire-le-cimetiere.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[In honor of Halloween, I’d like to share a great piece I played at my senior recital. Le Cimetiere, or The Cemetery, is from the four-piece work Clairs de lune by Abel Decaux, a French organist and composer who lived from 1869 to 1943. I believe this is the only piece he ever published, and is very<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-le-cimetiere/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In honor of Halloween, I’d like to share a great piece I played at my senior recital. <i>Le Cimetiere</i>, or <i>The Cemetery</i>, is from the four-piece work <i>Clairs de lune </i>by Abel Decaux, a French organist and composer who lived from 1869 to 1943. I believe this is the only piece he ever published, and is <i>very</i> modern for his time. Make sure you keep listening for the <i>awesome</i> chords in the second half of the piece – I just love it!</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><b>HAPPY HALLOWEEN</b> from The Teaching Studio!</div> <div style="text-align: center;"></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q5HPIwhDssw/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/oumN-S8oQy0/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="160" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/jenny-bay-signature.jpg?resize=640%2C160&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> </div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-le-cimetiere/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">191</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Good-Humored Variations</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-good-humored/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-good-humored</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:54:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dmitri Kabalevsky]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Intermediate Student: Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Theme and Variations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2010/10/weekend-repertoire-good-humored.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[I just discovered a great little set of theme and variations and had so much fun playing it that I had to share! I can’t wait to teach this one to a student. Today’s piece: Seven Good-Humored Variations on a Ukrainian Folk-Song, Op. 51, No. 4 by Dmitri Kabalevsky Level: Mid-Intermediate Teaches: oh so many<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-good-humored/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Variations-Folk-Themes-Op/dp/1423408497?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Easy Variations on Folk Themes, Op. 51: Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics, Vol. 2060" height="200" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1423408497&tag=theteastu-20" width="150" /></a>I just discovered a great little set of theme and variations and had so much fun playing it that I had to share! I <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423408497" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />can’t wait to teach this one to a student.</p> <p><b>Today’s piece</b>: <i>Seven Good-Humored Variations on a Ukrainian Folk-Song</i>, Op. 51, No. 4 by Dmitri Kabalevsky<br /> <b>Level</b>: Mid-Intermediate<br /> <b>Teaches</b>: oh so many great things: theme and variations, staccato at a <i>piano </i>dynamic level, accents (including <i>tenuto</i> and <i>sforzando</i>), <i>marcato</i>, <i>leggiero</i>, alberti bass, arpeggios, left hand melody, syncopated/off-beat rhythm, <i>cantabile</i><br /> <b>Preview the score</b>: <a href="http://www.freehandmusic.com/sheet-music/seven-good-humored-variations-287286">here</a><br /> <b>Buy the score</b>: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Variations-Folk-Themes-Op/dp/1423408497?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">here</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423408497" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /> <b>Listen</b>: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=017tcr1jghQ&feature=related">here, on YouTube</a></p> <p>So I had to laugh at the title of this piece, but these variations definitely are good-humored and playful. This would be a wonderful piece for a student looking for something fun, a little bit showy (would be excellent for a recital), and challenging enough but totally doable. The theme itself is super simple. The thing that makes this piece so great for teaching is that it uses a great variety of articulations and musical markings – soft, staccato & leggiero; loud & marcato; smooth and flowing and <i>cantabile</i>; and basically everything in-between. The final variation and coda includes lots of octaves, accents, <i>sforzandos </i>and fortissimos.</p> <p>My advice in learning this piece would be to:</p> <ul> <li>Learn it one variation at a time, hands alone.</li> <li>Figure out the basic chord progressions and write them in. Learn them well because the progressions in each variation are very similar. </li> <li>Learn the <i>details</i> right from the beginning – have fun with it! Make your dynamics very contrasting, play staccatos very short and crisp. Make the legato sections very smooth, connected and beautiful, to contrast the many staccato, marcato, and just plain loud sections. Figure out what the <i>character</i> of each variation should be, then work on listening to the sound of each variation and creating a unique sound and character for each.</li> <li>Practice with a metronome – go for accuracy and control, especially on the fast sections. They will sound much more brilliant and energized when you can play each note clearly at a controlled tempo.</li> <li>Again – have fun with it! Make it sound like a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Car5tKzhFv0">dance</a>. </li> </ul> <p></p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q5HPIwhDssw/TKvr36v78eI/AAAAAAAAHGU/VymWQsCCyIw/s1600/ukrainian+dancers.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="320" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ukrainian-dancers.gif?resize=244%2C320&ssl=1" width="244" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.zirkadancers.ca/images/logo_dancers_small.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.zirkadancers.ca/&usg=__PxVI98sn5ysHsO_TeiKtRBIvFJk=&h=335&w=256&sz=22&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=lwRmsjzZBmzKAM:&tbnh=159&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dukrainian%2Bdance%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D837%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=327&ei=rOurTL24HcH98Abc_dn9Bg&oei=rOurTL24HcH98Abc_dn9Bg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0&tx=53&ty=65">Image credit</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">202</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Repertoire: Sunday Afternoon Music</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-sunday-afternoon/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-repertoire-sunday-afternoon</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 10 Oct 2010 15:35:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Aaron Copland]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Intermediate Student: Repertoire]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekend Repertoire]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2010/10/weekend-repertoire-sunday-afternoon.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[A few months back I was at my local thrift store in Utah. My husband and I always love to browse through the books, especially music books, to see what great things we can find! On this particular day I happened upon an old piano repertoire book from the Music Pathways series by Lynn Freeman Olson,<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/weekend-repertoire-sunday-afternoon/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Pathways-Repertoire-Freeman-Olson/dp/B000HI1POK?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" alt="Music Pathways 5B Repertoire" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000HI1POK&tag=theteastu-20" /></a>A few months back I was at my local thrift store in Utah. My husband and I always love to browse through the <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000HI1POK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />books, especially music books, to see what great things we can find! On this particular day I happened upon an old piano repertoire book from the<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Pathways-Repertoire-Freeman-Olson/dp/B000HI1POK?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"> Music Pathways</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000HI1POK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> series by Lynn Freeman Olson, Louise Bianchi and Marvin Blickenstaff. This great little book is really a gem! So it is one of these great little pieces that I want to discuss today….</p> <p><b>Today’s piece:</b> <i>Sunday Afternoon Music</i> by Aaron Copland<br /> <b>Level</b>: Late intermediate<br /> <b>This piece teaches</b>: control at a very slow tempo and at a <i>very</i> soft dynamic level, clarity and control of 32nd notes, phrasing, artistry, tenuto symbol, triplet rhythm, double-dotted eighth/32nd rhythms, listening to the sound produced<br /> <b>Listen</b>: This little piece is kind of obscure, but I found a 30-second clip that you can listen to <a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/Joan-Singer-Spicknall-The-Piano-Music-Of-Aaron-Copland-MP3-Download/10813882.html">here</a>. It is a pretty good preview of the piece, and you can hear some of the 32nd notes, as well as the triplet rhythms. Kind of lazy and mesmerizing, yes? You can also listen to a preview of it or buy the track on iTunes for $1.<br /> <b>The sheet music</b>: Looks like you can buy the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Pathways-Repertoire-Freeman-Olson/dp/B000HI1POK?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Music Pathways Repertoire book 5B</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000HI1POK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (which includes <i>Sunday Afternoon Music</i>) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Pathways-Repertoire-Freeman-Olson/dp/B000HI1POK?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">here on amazon.com</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000HI1POK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for about $4. It may be in other collections as well…</p> <p>This is a piece that truly exemplifies a “Sunday afternoon,” in my mind. It is so much fun to play because (I think) it is so relaxing and <i>laaaaazy</i> (like a nice, long Sunday afternoon nap). Copland, of course, added in some cool jazz harmonies to this little piece (it is 22 measures long), making it very fun, indeed, to try and bring out those neat harmonies while playing at a triple-piano dynamic level.</p> <p>Playing very slowly and very quietly is actually a tricky thing for a lot of students! This piece is an awesome way to teach that. The <i>very </i>soft chords can be tricky to pull off – challenge your student to play as quietly as the absolutely can!</p> <p>The 32nd-note runs should be played quickly, of course, but the student should make sure to not blur the notes together. Have them practice slowly at first to be able to hear each note individually and equally….like taking a stroll around the block on a Sunday afternoon while running a stick along a white picket fence, hearing each individual click…</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q5HPIwhDssw/TKqHWw8ZANI/AAAAAAAAHGQ/jCjlpxllNSw/s1600/picket+fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="300" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/picket-fence.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1" width="400" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bobbyrobin.co.nz/2008_11_01_archive.html">Image credit</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q5HPIwhDssw/TI5Iao4KeAI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/oumN-S8oQy0/s1600/jenny+bay+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="160" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/jenny-bay-signature12.jpg?resize=640%2C160&ssl=1" width="640" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">208</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>