Elementary

Handel - Gavotte in G, HWV 491

ABRSM Grade 3 – A3

A model of symmetry and tightly organised musical structure, Handel’s Gavotte in G gives the player scope for developing sensitivity of touch and articulation in both hands. Resources & links Piano Exam Pieces 2021 & 2021, Grade 3 is available from the ABRSM online shop here. The syllabus upon which these Practising the Piano Online Academy materials are based is © by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is reproduced by permission of the copyright owner. The Practising the Piano Online... Read >>

JS Bach - Little Prelude in F, BWV 927

BWV 927 (From the Notebook for Wilhelm Friedmann Bach)

Bach’s lovely Little Prelude in F is a harmonic prelude, essentially an elaborated chord progression. In this article, the basic harmonic skeleton of the piece is gradually fleshed out, allowing students to understand its simple underlying structure, and to work systematically on its various layers.... Read >>

Burgmüller - 10. Tendre Fleur (Tender Flower) in D Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)

The presence of a descriptive title inspires the imagination before we even play a note, and Tendre Fleur (Tender Flower) is all about pastel colours, sensitivity of touch and mood, and delicate expression. Marked p delicato, we discover two-note sighing slurs in arpeggio patterns that rise then fall, meandering quaver lines and sparse harmonies. The harmonic language is extremely simple – tonic and dominant harmonies alternate with each other in the home key of D (A section) and then in the dominant key of A (B section). A standard chord progression from bar 13 – 15 breaks the pattern and... Read >>

Trad. (arr. Önaç) - What shall we do with the drunken sailor?

ABRSM Initial Grade – A2

The melody of this traditional sea shanty in the dorian mode is clearly presented with some accompanimental material in the left hand. David A. T. Önaç’s clever arrangement presents some useful technical challenges, such as passing a line smoothly from one hand to the other, and changes in touch from staccato to legato. Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links This piece is available for digital download individually from the ABRSM shop here or in print as part of the... Read >>

Head - The Quiet Wood

ABRSM Grade 1 – B3

This piece has an interesting structure that will interest enquiring minds. The opening six-bar phrase returns twice more, both times with slight variations on the original. See if you can describe these differences. A four-bar middle phrase gives the piece an overall A A’ B A’’ design. Sing the melodic line to discover high and low points of the phrase, and where it needs to breathe. Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links This piece... Read >>

Daniel Gottlob Türk - Arioso

In the expressive style, with sighing appoggiaturas and chromatic touches, this piece requires a singing right hand with lots of shaping and nuances. Resources & links Click here to purchase sheet music form the Trinity College online store (external link). Click here to view open domain editions for these works (external link). Click here to view the index for our Guide to the Trinity College Piano Syllabus. Click here to view a... Read >>

Schein (arr. Snell) - Allemande

An allemande is a serious, noble dance in moderate time, very common in baroque suites. In this video, I explore some possibilities for touch, articulation and dynamics, as well as outlining the structure and shape of the piece. Developing an understanding of compositional devices (such as sequence and modulation, etc.) in the early stages of our musical journey will help us appreciate how music is built, which in turn speeds up the learning process as we become more advanced. Resources & links Click... Read >>

Anon. - Minuet in G, BWV Anh. II 116

ABRSM Grade 3 - A1

This well-known minuet was once thought to be by JS Bach, but authorship is actually unknown. As was customary for music from this period, there are virtually no marks of articulation and no dynamic indications whatsoever. The player may want to play bars 3 and 4 as an echo of the opening two bars, but this is by no means compulsory. Other dynamics have been added by the editor and make complete musical sense. Feel free to change these around, though, and experiment with how you want to articulate the quavers and crotchets (some notes connected, others slightly separated, still... Read >>

Alan Bullard - Disco Baroque

ABRSM Grade 3 – C1

Based on the circle of fifths harmonic progression, this ingenious disco-style setting is both entertaining and educational. The player will need a keen eye – and an even keener ear – to bring out the difference each time the progression recurs. Resources & links Piano Exam Pieces 2021 & 2021, Grade 3 is available from the ABRSM online shop here. The syllabus upon which these Practising the Piano Online Academy materials are based is © by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music... Read >>