An ecossaise is an energetic country dance in 2/2. Listen for the "Jump-Drops" in the Ecossaise in G by Beethoven WoO23. What do you imagine the dancers doing during this part of the music?
Because Baroque music had few expressive marks written in the original score, different performers may have varied dynamics, phrasing, articulation, tempo, and rubato as they choose how to add musicality to the piece.
Browse the Minuet in G tutorial video to learn specific tips for learning this piece and play along to guide your practice sessions. Follow the bolded practice steps.
1. Tap the Rhythm
As you listen to the minuet tap the rhythm with a strong downbeat (1,2,3, 1,2,3, etc.) and lighter arm weight on the phrase endings to imitate the minuet dance style. (see 04:41 & 06:15).
The minuet is a light airy dance with small steps. Although there were no dynamic or articulation marks written in the original score, pay attention to how the performers add subtle dynamic changes and vary the articulation to add expression and musicality to this piece.
Listen to Minuet in Gm 115 performed by Lang Lang.
This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Minuet in G by Bach 116 inBastian Lit Vol 1.
Baroque keyboard music was not actually played on the piano when it was composed, because the piano had not been invented yet. Listen to this performance of Minuet in G played on the clavichord. Can you hear the extra ornaments the performer added that are not in your music?
I find that most of my piano students prefer energetic pieces over calm flowing pieces, so creating a lively Irish Jig is a fun way to get them to create on the piano in March.
Irish Music History and Listening Activities
It's easier to compose Irish music after listening to some music in that style.
The free printable CR Irish Jig Composing by Chrissy Ricker provides the structure of a simple rhythm pattern in 3/4 time that elementary students can choose melody notes for to create their own jig.
Intermediate Students could use this same resource but add left-hand 5ths for harmony, create a contrasting B section, or convert their piece in 3/4 time into 6/8 by halving the value of each note and doubling the measure length.
Listen to one of the backing tracks and create melodies using the scale tones that match. Include some "raspberry-pie" triplet rhythms for a dance-like feeling.