Melrain

Student of the Week

Youtube Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxU_OGndc5q9hK2FFEtmIP7fM_au6UnRF

Google Drive

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GbNIqlSzRukUZClLkFZNKvI4laH-50O-?usp=sharing

Goal for this week

  • America needs to be perfect
  • Spinliedchen needs to be perfect – record
  • Toccata needs to be fixed

Long term goal

Grade 5 Exam before end of Oct

Notes 20 Oct

Order

  1. America
  2. Spinliedchen
  3. Misty
  4. Toccata

Script: My name is Melrain Hu. Today is the <date> and I am presenting for an examination in Piano for Leisure, Grade 5. My first piece is XXXXX.” Each subsequent work should also be announced, e.g.: “I will now play XXXX.”

Most important things for today:

  1. regulate speed, be safe, not dangerous
  2. EXAGGERATE dynamics for recording, ESPECIALLY softs

America

  • REGULATE TEMPO!
  • longer on tenutos bar 6
  • softs much softer
  • no cresc bar 11
  • bar 25, spread out triplets

Spinliedchen

  • FOCUS ON STABLE SPEED and SOFTS
  • staccato bar 14
  • 2nd page exaggerate dynamics. focus on clear semiquavers and keep up speed. Make sure LH and RH and

Toccata

  • longer pause bar 16
  • middle section in general less loud, focus on lightness. Save loudness for other sections. Keep the same speed even if you’re softer
  • Last bit, do staccato in LH

Misty

  • when phrasing back away very quickly, or else it gets too loud, can get louder in mf section
  • be careful of mistakes here, this might be a bit tricker than it looks.

Notes 13 Oct

  • Go medium and keep constant speed. Metronome practice is helpful here at 220
  • first RH needs to be tighter. Keep soft BUT fast
  • bar 14 staccato
  • middle section, exaggerate dynamics. Treat mp like mf, p very soft

America

  • do a practical speed. Check speed on page 3 and keep that up. It is around 230bpm.
  • Especially do bar 28 and 3rd page
  • bar 25, missing note
  • Metronome speed correct and dynamics is enough to pass
  • When you have problems practicing certain sections, take a break and practice something else

Order

  1. America
  2. Spinliedchen
  3. Misty
  4. Toccata

Script: My name is Melrain Hu. Today is the <date> and I am presenting for an examination in Piano for Leisure, Grade 5. My first piece is XXXXX.” Each subsequent work should also be announced, e.g.: “I will now play XXXX.”

In your other pieces, DON’T MESS AROUND

Notes 6 Oct

Listen to recording this week!

America

  • control speed in bar 28, do the same speed in bar 1. Even though speed is medium, you should get the exciting parts from dynamics.
  • When practicing, test yourself: can I get through this part without mistakes?
  • bar 3, get softer on dim.
  • bar 10, don’t do extra note in LH
  • bar 25, make sure you do two Bs, also make sure it’s correct rhythm
  • bar 45 make sure you don’t play extra B

Spinliedchen

  • Issues with coordinating, you can fix that by going slow. It will also help you memorise. It also helps with dynamics. You need to fix all of the underlying issues.
  • bar 3, less accent
  • bar 40 check note

Toccata

  • You need to be aware of mistakes. Don’t relax!