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Beethoven - Sonata No. 4 in E-Flat Major (Op. 7)

(Op. 7)

Pianist and captain of The Piano Boat, Masayuki Tayama, gives a guided tour of Beethoven’s fourth sonata in E-flat major, Op. 7. In these eighteen videos, Masa explores background, style, interpretation, technical challenges and practice methods for each of the four movements.... Read >>

Chopin - Nocturne in C-sharp Minor (Op. Posth.)

Chopin wrote the Nocturne in C-sharp minor, op. posth. in 1830, but it was only published in 1870. He dedicated the work to his sister, Ludwika “as an exercise before beginning the study of my second Concerto". This series of articles provides a comprehensive walkthrough and detailed practice worksheets for... Read >>

Burgmüller - 25. La Chevaleresque (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)

We arrive back where we started in the key of C major for the final étude in the set, La chevaleresque (Trotting). We can see the little horse trotting - maybe in a circus or maybe showing off at a dressage event. Either way the moves are highly organised, elegant and controlled. Sometimes translated as “The Spirit of Chivalry” the title has connotations of gallantry (courtesy between men and women). There are four 8-bar sections, the first three of which are repeated. If we play all of Burgmüller’s repeats as marked, we have a recital piece of substantial length and... Read >>

Helen Madden - The First Flakes Are Falling

ABRSM Grade 2 – B1

This atmospheric piece requires plenty of imagination, and the ability to paint a picture in sound. The player will need to listen acutely to tonal balance within a variety of dynamic levels. Although not marked in the score, the pedal is an essential ingredient. Resources & links Piano Exam Pieces 2021 & 2021, Grade 2 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... Read >>

Burgmüller - 2. L’Arabesque (Arabesque) in A minor (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)

Allegro scherzando tells us to play fast and playfully. Keep the LH chords close to the keyboard, the fingertips firm and somewhat active, the wrist loose but relatively still. You’ll need to organise a good fingering for the LH chords (I give some tips on this in my video below). RH semiquaver patterns are played using a drop-roll (down-up) movement generated from the upper arm, the arm and the wrist assisting the fingers. Lateral adjustments (lining up) in the wrist keep us free and loose and help control finger articulation in the fast notes. The first note of each RH... Read >>

Burgmüller - 22. Barcarolle in A-flat Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)

A barcarolle is a Venetian gondolier’s song, and in Burgmüller’s Barcarolle we clearly feel the boat gliding over the water as the boatman sings his wistful song. The main focus of this étude is expressive playing and projecting a beautifully shaped right hand melody over the gently rocking rhythm created by the left hand. As with any melodic line, remember the golden rule: “if you cannot sing it, you cannot play it”. Singing the top line out loud gives us the best idea of how to shape and phrase it artistically. Controlling the left hands chords from bar 12 is... Read >>

Sonata No. 8 in C Minor ('Pathétique')

(Op. 13)

Concert pianist and piano professor Julian Jacobson gives a guided tour of Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata, Op. 13. In this detailed lecture performance, Julian gives insights on style and interpretation with further tips and suggestions for fingering and tackling some of the technical challenges!... Read >>

Alwyn - The Sun is Setting

This video provides a walk-through of William Alwyn's The Sun is Setting which is a popular piece for intermediate pianists.... Read >>

Chopin - Nocturne in E-flat (Op. 9 No. 2)

Op. 9, no. 2

Frédéric Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Op. 9 No. 2, has long been a favourite of both pianists and audiences with it's richly-ornamented melody, supported by exquisite harmonies in the left hand. This From the Ground Up walk-through provides a detailed guide to learning this piece efficiently and with understanding and... Read >>