Spread Chords

General Suggestions for Spreads in Baroque Music

To summarise the main points in this article, here are a few pointers: The speed of the spread reflects mood, tempo and character. The spread can be evenly paced, or include accelerando/ritardando shapings. Hold onto the notes of the arpeggio after you have played them, except for any passing notes or graces. Acciaccaturas need to be released immediately. Most spreads in the Baroque should start on the beat. In the slower ones this is more important; the fast the spread, the less noticeable it is whether it comes on or before the beat. Is the spread rhythmically shaped...

Sign in to view if you have purchased access to this content or see purchase options below.

Purchase options

Get full access to this content in addition to our growing library of over 1000 articles, videos and other resources for as little as £13.99 per month or £119.99 a year. Click here to sign-up or click here to find-out more.

PREV

Examples from the Repertoire (4)

View next...

A Guide to the ABRSM Syllabus (2018 - 2020)

This series contains resources and further links to other resources featuring the ABRSM syllabus (until 2020) and is designed for elementary level players, young musicians and their teachers. Articles in this series provide step-by-step (or phrase-by-phrase) approaches to learning a pieces thoroughly and securely, offer practice exercises to help solve... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

A Guide to the ABRSM Syllabus (2023 - 2024)

This series provides a detailed guide to the ABRSM piano examination syllabus for 2023 - 2024, including video walk-throughs with practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for a selection of pieces (from initial to Grade 8).... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

Beyond Stage Fright - Inspired Performance

This series features the first two weeks of Inspired Performance which is an online video and audio course which aims to help you move through your performance blocks towards a free, joyful and inspired performing life. It provides an overview of performance anxiety, how we experience nerves and how we... Read >>

Charlotte Tomlinson Performing

A Guide to the Trinity College Piano Syllabus (2018 - 2020)

This series features video demonstrations of a selection of pieces from Trinity College London’s 2018 - 2020 piano examination syllabus, with examples from each grade from Initial to 8. You will find plenty of tips for practice, as well as suggestions for piano teachers, and guidance on matters relating to... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

Create First! - Part 1

<h3> <a href="/content/pages/53-create-first-part-1?bundle_url=online-academy&amp;last_viewed=true">Learning Music the Pattern Play Way</a></h3>

An introductory Pattern Play series that introduces the materials of music (scales, intervals, and chords) in creative and musical ways.... Read >>

Forrest Kinney Performing

How to Improvise

<h3> <a href="/content/pages/189-how-to-improvise?bundle_url=online-academy&amp;last_viewed=true">A step-by-step guide to improvisation for classical pianists</a></h3>

Do you know your chords and scales but struggle to think of anything to play when faced with a piano with no sheet music? In these videos, Dave Hall provides a step-by-step guide to improvisation for classical pianists with activities for ear training, fundamental theory and most importantly, ideas to... Read >>

David Hall Performing

A Guide to the Trinity College Piano Syllabus (2021 - 2023)

This series features video walk-throughs of a selection of pieces from Trinity College London’s 2021 - 2023 piano examination syllabus, giving plenty of tips for practice, as well as suggestions for piano teachers, and guidance on matters relating to style and interpretation.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

ABRSM Grade 7 - Piano Exam Pieces

This collection of video walk-throughs from our guide to the ABRSM 2021 &amp; 2022 piano examination syllabus provides practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for a selection of the Grade 7 pieces.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

ABRSM Initial Grade - Piano Exam Pieces

This collection of video walk-throughs from our guide to the ABRSM 2021 &amp; 2022 piano examination syllabus provides practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for each of the main Initial Grade pieces.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

Anyone Can Improvise!

Dedicated to helping everyone play the music they love and long to play, Lucinda Mackworth-Young introduces her step-by-step system for learning to play by ear and improvise, so that even classically trained piano players can play spontaneously, anywhere, anytime - and say “Yes!” when asked to play Happy Birthday!... Read >>

Lucinda Mackworth-Young Performing

ABRSM Grade 1 - Piano Exam Pieces

This collection of video walk-throughs from our guide to the ABRSM 2021 &amp; 2022 piano examination syllabus provides practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for each of the main Grade 1 pieces.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

ABRSM Grade 5 - Piano Exam Pieces

This collection of video walk-throughs from our guide to the ABRSM 2021 &amp; 2022 piano examination syllabus provides practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for each of the Grade 5 pieces.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

ABRSM Grade 8 - Piano Exam Pieces

This collection of video walk-throughs from our guide to the ABRSM 2021 &amp; 2022 piano examination syllabus provides practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for a selection of the Grade 8 pieces.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

ABRSM Grade 4 - Piano Exam Pieces

This collection of video walk-throughs from our guide to the ABRSM 2021 &amp; 2022 piano examination syllabus provides practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for each of the Grade 4 pieces.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

Simple Improvisation with Christopher Norton's Connections

A series of step-by-step guides to using pieces from Christopher Norton's Connections to learn chord shapes and do simple improvisation.... Read >>

Christopher Norton Performing

Beyond Stage Fright - Managing Performance Nerves

This short course aims to start you on the first steps of a journey to help you find ways to manage those nerves so that you can perform to your full potential and enjoy the whole experience. The course is divided into fives days with a short video for each... Read >>

Charlotte Tomlinson Performing

ABRSM Grade 6 - Piano Exam Pieces

This collection of video walk-throughs from our guide to the ABRSM 2021 &amp; 2022 piano examination syllabus provides practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for each of the Grade 6 pieces.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

A Guide to the ABRSM Syllabus (2021 - 2022)

This series provides a detailed guide to the ABRSM piano examination syllabus for 2021 - 2022, including video walk-throughs with practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation and other ideas for each of the main pieces (from initial to Grade 8), and a selection of alternative pieces.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

Dealing with Performance Anxiety

Although sharing your playing with others can be deeply rewarding, most pianists (including many professionals!) suffer from some form of stage fright at the prospect of playing in a public setting. In this video, Graham Fitch shares some of his thoughts and methods for dealing with performance anxiety.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing

Preparing for an Examination

This collection of videos offers general tips and suggestions for preparing or a piano examination. It serves as a complement to our repertoire guides and covers topics including sight-reading, aural, technical tests (scales and arpeggios), general preparation and practice strategies.... Read >>

Graham Fitch Performing