Thursday, March 14, 2024

Bastian Lit 1: Ecossaise in G and Staccatissimo Wedges

This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Ecossaise in G by Beethoven WoO23 in Bastian Lit Vol 1.

Music Samples and History

 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?

Bastian Lit 1: March in D 122 Bach CPE and Musical Interpretation

 This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with March in D by CPE Bach (Schirmer JS Bach AMBBastian Piano Lit 1Easy Classics to Moderns).

Music Samples and History

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.

Bastian Lit 1: Minuet in G Bach 114 and Practice Steps

This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Minuet in G by Bach 114  in Bastian Lit 1Schirmer JS Bach, Succeeding with the Masters Bk 1Easy Classics to Moderns

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).
11:30 Note reading & fingering:

2. Practice Right Hand Alone

Mark scale patterns in the music and watch the fingering tips for Expansion, Contractions, Leaps and Crosses (see 11:30 & 13:03).

3. Practice Left Hand Alone

Prep the fingering and hold the left hand longer notes in measures 25, 26, and 29 (see 17:05).

4. Practice Hands Together

Practice hands together slowly noticing parallel/contrary motions or patterns. (see 19:49)

5. Fine Tune Expression with BAPDARP

Balance - Voice the moving melodies 25:52
Articulation -  21:11 Breathe at phrase ends with small wrist float offs
Phrasing 23:00
Dynamics - 25:24 Added by the editor not Bach, Strong downbeat, light thumb pliés
Architecture - Label the form and repeating sections
Rubato - possibly add a slight ritard on the section end and final cadence
Pedaling N/A
30:01 Style & mood

6. Choreography and Technique

View the Minuet in G video tutorial with choreography of tips (wrist circles, rotation, arm weight, etc.)
03:47 Right hand choreography 06:36 Left hand choreography 08:30 Both hands 09:59 Recap & summary

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Bastian Lit 1: Minuet in Gm Bach 115 and Piano Fingering Choices

This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with  Minuet in G Minor BWV 115 (Schirmer JS Bach AMBBastian Piano Lit 1Easy C to M).

Music Samples and History

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.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Bastian Lit 1: Minuet in G Bach 116 and Baroque Articulation

 This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Minuet in G by Bach 116  in Bastian  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?

Friday, March 1, 2024

Composing and Improvising Free Resources for March

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 Classics for Kids Podcast The Gigue is Up (Telemann) includes a brief history of the Irish Jig with short excerpts of famous jigs.

Irish Composing

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.


Irish Improvisation

Irish Improv Activity #1

Teach Piano Today's Saint Patrick's Day Improvisation for beginners includes a fun teacher duet to provide the backdrop for the student's choice of rhythm patterns using St. Patrick's Day phrases.


Irish Improv Activity #2


Watch Forrest Kinney's Ireland Sample Improvisation. Then choose a simplified Irish Improvisation worksheet to create your own Irish Jig. 

3/4 Irish Improvisation 

6/8 Irish Improvisation 

Irish Improv Activity #3

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.

Irish Backing Track- E minor (EF#GAB)

Irish Jig Backing Track - G major

Improvisation with 3rds

Improvisation with 3rds Activity #1

Watch Create First 2 Taking the Path I Love Solo and Duet.  Then create your own piece that uses intervals of a 3rd in the right hand.

Improvisation with 3rds Activity #2

Listen to the sample improv Create First 2 This Will Pass Solo and Duet. Then improvise your own melodies using 2nds and 3rds.

Related Posts with Seasonal Composing Ideas