Phase one of lessons is a lively romp over the 88s. It sets the geography of the piano through a host of keys. Establishing a "feel" for the instrument with a supportive knowledge of key signatures, framed in buoyant rhythm, kicks things off. Here are few examples from Claudia's lesson. At age 11, she's advanced… Continue reading Piano Technique: Nifty warm-up routines (Videos)
Category: the natural minor scale
More trills, but bucolic and serene: Scarlatti’s d minor “pastorale” K. 9 (VIDEO)
Domenico Scarlatti Sonata K. 9 in d minor (the "pastorale") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qk88Sn9kHk The trills in K. 9 are far different than those permeating Scarlatti's sonata K. 159 in C Major. The latter has a robust horn call opening with a lavish assortment of ornaments. The bright sounding Major tonality creates a dazzling brilliance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zUmr0vl_-c By contrast… Continue reading More trills, but bucolic and serene: Scarlatti’s d minor “pastorale” K. 9 (VIDEO)
Piano Instruction: Learning the F# minor scale (video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc9_wRE4MN8 I made this video after plunking the "devil" beside Bb Major in my previous blog, so if you review the basic approach in that post, you'll get my sway about scales in general. It's always better to think in GROUPS rather than individual notes. For F# minor in its Natural or PURE form, let's… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Learning the F# minor scale (video)