Wunderkeys Pop 2: Aisling's Theme Practice Tips

Aisling's Theme in B minor  from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book includes multiple mood shifts. Tap the rhythms as you listen to the performance.

• Even though this piece is written in a minor key listen for how occasional major chord patterns in this piece bring a glimmer of hope and shift the mood.
• Practice feeling the subtle rise and fall of the chords and use your peripheral vision when needed to see the larger chord shifts.
• Remember to add the expressive dynamic changes and ritardando to convey emotion in this piece.
• Watch out for the clef changes/left hand crossovers on the bottom of the first and second page.

Wunderkeys Pop 2: Sea of Stars and Dotted Eighths

Sea of Stars in D Major from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book is inspired by themes from Mozart's famous piano sonata.

Watch the first minute of the video below to hear the inspiration behind the motifs in this piece.

Mozart Sonata No 11 in A Major Andante Grazioso

Practice Tips

• Block practice the left-hand chord and interval patterns to prepare for smooth chord shift transitions.
• Tap the rhythms as you listen to the performance video below (Start at 1:45). Think of the dotted eighth rhythms in the right hand as doubled in value (augmented). For example, measure one sounds like  "Shoot the bug Slug bug" in bug rhythm language.
• Play the left hand 2 and 3 note phrases with a down-up motion and light thumb.

Supplementary Music

Piano Pronto Movement 2 Sonata Theme is a simplified version of Mozart's original theme.

Minuet Op 11 No. 5 by Luigi Boccerini in Discovering Piano (Red p. 178)

Minuet in A Minor BWV 120 by Bach in Discovering Piano (Red p. 188)

Wunderkeys Pop 2: Taefa's Return and Acciacaturas

Taefa's Return in F# Minor from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book begins with a sense of foreboding including many chords in alberti bass style. 

Wunderkeys Pop 2: The Minuet Session and Stride Bass

 

The Minuet Session in G Minor from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book begins with simple rhythms with a melodic motif borrowed from Bach's famous minuet but the pedaling and expression are definitely a diversion from Baroque style! 

• Notice the left-hand stride bass on the second page is like a root chord with the root thrown down an octave. Imagine a miniature ball being tossed across the keys as you leap up and down to aim for the roots and thirds.

Wunderkeys Pop 2: Blue Stone and LH Crossovers

 

Blue Stone in A Major from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Bookis a calm expressive piece that includes many flowing 1-5-8-9-10 left-hand patterns and some rolled chords.

• Practice the left-hand broken chord groups "block style" to gain automaticity shifting up and down between chords groups with ease.
• If you are unfamiliar with rolled chords watch this quick video about arpeggiated chords
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• Adding lyrics to a piece can be helpful because it makes the distinct rhythms of the phrases more memorable. 
• If this piece had lyrics, what would it say to you?

Although this piece has no religious themes, it brought excerpts from some of my favorite scriptures (Isaiah 1:18, Helaman 5:12, D&C 6:36) to my mind that I loosely strung together to create the following lyrics for the first page. 

"Look unto me in every thought. Look unto me and cast your doubts and fears aside.

Look unto me and ye shall find rest. And when the storms shall beat upon you, you can trust The Rock.

I will take your hand I will guide you home. I will make your sins though scarlet be as wool.

I will take your hand, I will guide you home; back to The Father where he waits with open arms."