Roy

Student of the Week

Youtube Playlist

Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxU_OGndc5q9lKqep2q7d1OpjO3_GlURY

Google Drive

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13fwrTXyMc1Pr86Qz_mbixIuaRHHeJ3a4?usp=sharing

Goal for this week

  • Scales must be presented correctly first time
  • improve quality and dynamics of tartan
  • mazurka, check semiquavers and other notes

Long term goal

  • Grade 4 Exam Early 2021

Roy’s Aural Tips

  • 2nd – scale
  • 3rd – o when the saints
  • 4th – amazing grace
  • 5th – twinkle
  • 6th – my bonnie lies over ocean
  • 7th – weird
  • 8th – somewhere over the rainbow

Notes 16 Feb

Scales

  • keep increasing speed
  • keep practicing seperate, especially LH
  • scales must be successfully produced the first time

Tartan

  • for accuracy, practice slow
  • perfect challenges
  • try dynamics before next lesson, we will talk about that next lesson

Mazurka

  • all semiquavers equally snappy, try to come into semiquaver later
  • no gap between 18-19 and 26-27.
  • gaps also need a clear difference between mf and p
  • still watch out for smorzando at the end

Notes 9 Feb

Scales

  • all in good in condition

Etude

  • at the start, be careful of many starts. Also needs to be softer.
  • bar 9, immediately louder start
  • 17 onwards, softs need to be softer so louds can feel loud
  • 33, don’t take breaks to get softer
  • Consistency is key

Tartan

  • fadeaway dynamic needs to be consistent
  • bar 10, get LH involved with dynamics
  • subito – suddenly, before it is mf, then suddenly get softer
  • 17, keep it energetic
  • goal 45, bonus end of page

Mazurka

  • same advice as last week, careful with dynamics.

Notes 2 Feb

Ex 4A:

  • phrasing is there, but needs to be carefully made and obvious
  • check RH bar 4

Scales

  • Don’t practice in order
  • practice LH hands seperate
  • do arpeggios

Etude

  • bar8-9, sudden difference between p and mf
  • bar 17, not a sudden difference when doing <. start soft at the start of <
  • ending can be loud
  • bar 33, don’t rush dotted crotchets. Also helps dynamics

Mazurka

  • chord on beat 3, not too loud should be in background. note in beat 1 louder
  • bar 5, accent not too loud
  • bar 9, make sure mf goes thorugh the entire section
  • sf is only ‘temporary’
  • smorz, dying away, slower and softer

Notes 27 Jan

Mazurka

  • greater dynamic difference required. Still don’t lift fingers too high in
  • make sure semiquavers are the same here
  • bars 19 onwards, watch dynamics for interest, especially hairpins <>
  • sf marks SURPRISING CHANGE

Tartan

  • technically difficult with speed, requires ‘perfect practice’

Etude

  • Attention to detail when practicing, other details are already established

Notes 20 Jan

4A: do more phrasing

4B: keep practicing

Chromatics and continue contrary

Mazurka

  • note directly after an accent, play lightly. Roll on second note.
  • bar 1-4, LH long
  • bar 5-8, LH long even with staccato. Staccato, don’t jump high

Start learning Tartan

Etude

  • to play this section soft, RH energetic, don’t lift RH
  • bar 53 keep soft

Notes 13 Jan

Scales

  • 4th finger rule is required
  • finish all contrary motions

Ex 4A continue learning

Ex 4B, aim for rhythm accuracy now.

Mazurka

  • syncopation, empasis on beat 2. anti-accent on beat 1 with staccato. Phrasing here applies
  • bar 5-8, mood shift to ‘sneaky’, smaller ideas
  • prepare something hands together

Etude

  • mf larger in bar 9
  • start metronome at 100, increase bit by bit. minimum 132, aim 150

Notes 6 Jan

4C

  • use wiping technique
  • relax arm

4B

  • phrasing using dynamics provided. Going higher, get louder, going down get down

4A

  • fingering is really important
  • phrasing is important

Scales

  • A major and F# harmonic minor contrary

Etude

  • evenness of quavers number 1 priority, practice this slow
  • bar 9, mf, also, curve fingers
  • bar 22-24 phrasing is critical
  • bar 36, keep fingers close to the keys, especially for

Notes 1 Dec

Tambo Tango

  • precision: notes of chord must be lifted at the same time for cleanness
  • marcato: there must be a big difference between the melody and accompaniment
  • bar 13, arrive early to jump note so it’s quicker
  • bar 20, split between LH and RH (see what i’ve written)
  • rall: the gap between each note gets bigger

Technical

  • do Ex 4C and if done, 4B
  • do first page of scales
  • Learn Etude, good quality

Notes 17 Nov

Spanish

  • to phrase big, start soft
  • crescendo needs to be gradual
  • 2nd pages, clear layers between dynamics
  • watch coordination bar 30-31

Scales: Try the scales sheet this week

Have a go at the new piece this week

Notes 3 Nov

Spanish Dance

Expressive ideas

  • slurs need to be legato. Also fingering needs to be correct to do that
  • dynamics are based on how high the melody is in this piece
  • try to also get the staccatos right
  • Learn the 2nd page by yourself to see how well you learn
  • You can have a go at noterush as well