Wolf in Bflat Major-GMinor from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book includes changing clefs, augmented chords, inner voicing and frequent hand crossovers.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Wunderkeys Pop 2: The Penny Session and F Sharp Minor
The Penny Session in F Sharp Minor from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book borrows musical ideas from Beethoven's "Rage Over a Lost Penny." Listen to the 2 pieces below and compare their similarities and differences.
Wunderkeys Pop 2: Strong Will and Broken Inversions
Strong Will in A Major in Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book begins with a variation of A Major Broken inversions.
Wunderkeys 2 Pop: Castle Hill Kick and Looking Ahead
Castle Hill Kick in G minor and B-flat Major from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book includes large 2 octave left-hand leaps.
Wunderkeys Pop 2: The Venise Session and LH Pivots
The Venise Session in B Flat Major from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book includes several left-hand patterns that require a pivot or crossover motion.
Technique
Watch the Pivot Notes Tutorial (first 5 minutes) and pivot rather than stretch on the 1-5-10 left-hand patterns to eliminate tension in measures 1-4 and similar patterns throughout the piece.
Rhythm
Watch the Quick Rhythm tip video about Sixteenth note triplets (similar to those on the last line of this piece).
Improvisation
Choose a backing track below and play the scale along with it or improvise melodies using notes from the B-flat Major Scale. Remember to play all of the B's and E's Flat!
Supplementary Music in B Flat Major
Thursday, December 12, 2024
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.
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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.
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)Farewell in the Stolen Rose Solos
Surrender in the Stolen Rose Solos
Glimmers in the the Stolen Rose Solos
Destiny in the Stolen Rose Solos
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