Scarlatti Sonata K492 grade 8 Technical Checklist

Scarlatti Sonata in D K492 Checklist

·        Sort out, mark in and observe a workable fingering.

·        All quavers to be lightly detached.

·        Practise the ornaments so that they do not slow the tempo down.

·        Make sure that you can successfully and accurately ripple the LH guitar-like passages.

·        Keep fingers curved and towards the black keys, especially in the scale passages.

·        Check your shoulders and wrists for excessive tension.

·        Secure the start of the B section as this has new material.

·        Make sure the acciaccaturas are crushed and snap cleanly.

·        Mark in and observe the echo passages.

·        Make sure it is all one speed; practise it at a moderate metronome speed and then gradually increase it.

·        Secure starts and endings of A and B sections, memorise.

·        Memorise tricky passages and practise them eyes shut too.

Christmas Music etc!

After the half-term holiday we will be playing Christmas songs, carols and tunes (as well as your current repertoire). These will all count towards your 30 Pieces Challenge so bring in any Christmas music you have at home or(beginner to grade 2 pupils) download some from http://www.susanparadis.com
The following books are good:
For Piano Adventures: Primer pupils Piano Adventures Primer Level Christmas Book, and then for each level there is a Christmas Book. Don't go for a higher level as it's useful to learn these quickly! Each Hal Leonard Level also has a Christmas Piano Solos book in its Hal Leonard Student Piano Library series. There are also lots of other books  and some attractive jazzy grade 1-5 arrangements by Pam Wedgwood, Heather Hammond and Martha Mier  so do browse www.musicroom.com or go to Allegro or Daces shops in town. I look forward to hearing everything Christmassy!

Wednesday 23rd October Teaching Changes.

I am working away next Wednesday so the following changes apply:

At The Cathedral School only the Year 5s and Euan, Ellie and Oliver T will have lessons. We will be as normal after half-term.
Wednesday evening private pupils have switched to Thursday or Friday evening.

No lessons at MHS on Tues 1st Oct

MHS is closed on Tuesday because of strike action, and so l will not be teaching there on that day. Lessons will be made up at the end of term. Keep practising and playing!

Thirty Piece Challenge!

This year l have decided to take the idea of my esteemed Australian colleague, the teacher and composer,Elissa Milne,and issue all my pupils with the 30 piece challenge! This is to take place over the academic year from September 2013 toJuly  2014.

The challenge is to learn, and play to me over the year,30 pieces. For this you will get a gold medal. 25 pieces will earn a silver medal and 20 pieces will achieve a bronze medal. The pieces can be chosen by me or you, but have to be approved by me and then passed by me.

They can be in a variety of styles and the level of difficulty music can vary. This is an approximate guide of the levels likely to be acceptable:

Beginner pupils can include any pieces from pre-reading to Prep Test level

Prep Test pupils can include any pieces from beginner stave pieces to grade 1level

Grade 1 pupils can include any pieces from Prep Test to Grade 2 level

Grade 2 pupils can include any pieces from Prep Test to Grade 3 level

Grade 3 pupils can include any pieces from Grade 1 to Grade 4 level

Grade 4 pupils can include any pieces from Grade 2 to Grade 5 level

Grade 5 pupils can include any pieces from Grade 3 to Grade 6 level

Grade 6, 7 and 8 pupils can include any pieces from Grade 4 upwards!

So if you are working towards your grade 4, you might enjoy playing some Pam Wedgwood pieces, some pieces from your earlier tutor books, some Christmas carols, as well as your grade 4 pieces. You might even like to have a stab at some pieces that have been set for Grade 5!

The pieces can be solos, duets, Christmas songs, hymns, competition pieces and exam pieces. We will keep a list in your practice diary and l will be happy to lend you some of my music books. Have a good look at home as well and see what music you can find or ask your family what they have. You can also find music on the Internet or swop music with your friends. Be creative! 

This is a great way to discover new styles, composers and pieces and to improve your sight reading. You can also get a medal, will get a mention at the summer concert and be listed on this blog and on my website! Have a think and we will talk about it at your next lesson.

What did you do in the summer holidays?

Several pupils did music related activities during our lovely summer months and so I thought I would share some of them here.
Jennifer and Rebecca went to the Handel House Museum, Brook St, London. This is the actual house Handel lived in and the house is recreated as it would have been then, complete with harpsichords, manuscripts and artefacts.They had fun trying on some typical costumes of Georgian England.

 

Many of you took school music exams and did well! Here's a photo of Sophia celebrating her fabulous GCSE results.

Some of you even managed to keep practising during the holidays! Here's Amelia and Oliver playing their piano.

Chelmsford Competitive Festival

This year the syllabus is not available online...However l have a PDF copy from the committee. If you would like a copy, email me. I will also be giving pupils photocopies in their lessons this week and next. Parents are responsible for entering their children for the relevant classes and the closing date is Sat 21st Sept and the piano classes are on Sat 16th Nov. The website has now been updated and has more information: http://www.chelmsfordcompetitivefestival.org/