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Debussy - Arabesque No. 2 (from Deux arabesques, L. 66)

ABRSM Grade 8 - C2

Debussy’s two arabesques are from his early period, before he became influenced by Impressionism. Arabesque No. 2 requires a certain deftness (lightness) of touch to bring out the balletic qualities in the piece. The pedalling is too subtle for the player to notate in the score (Debussy famously didn’t even try), calling for light touches here and there to add colour and resonance. Certain spots (bars 42 and 82, for example) call for longer pedals to sustain the harmony, the rests are not to be taken literally here but instead indicate to play the surrounding notes lightly. ... Read >>

Brahms - Intermezzo in B-Flat Minor (Op. 117 No. 2)

Brahms’s Intermezzo in B-flat Minor, Op. 117 No. 2, is a deeply expressive late work that combines lyrical intensity with subtle harmonic shifts. This From the Ground Up edition highlights the piece’s essential structure through clear reductions and offers focused practice strategies to support confident, musical performance.... Read >>

JS Bach - Prelude & Fugue in E Major, BWV 854

BWV854

Prelude: 3 Fugue: 4 ... Read >>

JS Bach - Prelude and Fugue in B-Flat Major, BWV 866

ABRSM Grade 8 - A1

This prelude and fugue from Book 1 of The Well-Tempered Clavier is one of the few entry level works from Bach’s timeless masterpiece, the lively fugue more approachable than many of the others because the notes lie relatively comfortably under the hands. In three voices, there are three motives (subject, countersubject and the motive that first appears in the soprano voice in bar 9). These themes then join together in different combinations (a compositional device known as triple counterpoint). The Prelude is in toccata style, made up of passages in broken chord figuration, solid chords, and scale-like passages. Depending on... Read >>

WA Mozart - Minuet in D major, K. 355

Mozart’s Minuet in D, K. 355 features chromaticism that is surprising even to our ears (imagine what it must have sounded like to the listener of the day!). The piece is conceived as an ensemble piece for string trio, and we need to have this sound in our ear as we play. This video demonstrates how to practise double notes for security and control of voicing. Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links Click here to purchase sheet... Read >>

JS Bach - Prelude & Fugue in C Minor (Book 2)

BWV871

Difficulty Prelude: 3 Fugue: 4 This video preview features a performance of the work, please log-in or subscribe to see full teaching video for this work. Resources & links Click here for open domain editions for this work. Click here to download difficulty chart for all 48 preludes & fugues. ... Read >>

Chopin - Waltz in E Minor (Op. Posth.)

Chopin’s brilliant Waltz in E minor is justly popular with pianists entering the advanced level. This From the Ground Up edition helps students to lay a solid musical and technical foundation for learning the piece efficiently and quickly, with particular attention given to using rhythmic practice to solve technical challenges.... Read >>

Rameau - Fanfarinette and La Triomphante (from Suite in A minor)

Jean-Philippe Rameau was an important composer and theorist of the High Baroque. He wrote three books of very fine pieces for harpsichord - Fanfarinette and La Triomphante come from the Suite in A minor (third book), and are examples of character pieces with descriptive or fanciful titles typical of the French style. Fanfarinette derives from the word fanfaron (meaning “braggart”), and calls for light and graceful treatment. La Triomphante evokes a feeling of triumph and exuberance; experiment with a non-legato touch in the quavers and a stronger dynamic (f, dropping to a mf after the double bar line). Pedal is... Read >>

JS Bach - Prelude & Fugue in E Minor (Book 1)

BWV855

Difficulty Prelude: 4 Fugue: 2 This video preview features a performance of the work, please log-in or subscribe to see full teaching video for this work. Resources & links Click here for open domain editions for this work. Click here for open domain editions for the 2... Read >>