http://youtu.be/YF5kiQfLces Play through http://youtu.be/rETIvT6Cr2k
Category: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Practicing: Breathing into phrases and blocking out passages (Mozart Sonata, example)
I've picked the first two pages of Mozart's Sonata in Bb Major, K. 281, last movement, Rondeau, Allegro to explore breathing and blocking techniques in the learning process. (These principles can be applied to practicing music from a variety of eras) Starting a composition is often taken for granted. Sometimes students will land on a… Continue reading Piano Practicing: Breathing into phrases and blocking out passages (Mozart Sonata, example)
Piano Instruction: Mozart Minuet in F, K. 2
Play Through http://youtu.be/9s0QiDNd24o Such delightful music sprang from an inspired little Mozart who at age 6, composed this Minuet in F. His father, Leopold, "notated his son's pieces in a notebook recording the exact date of almost every composition." (K. 2 was born in 1762) A musical gem that's intrinsically vocal, requires the player to… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Mozart Minuet in F, K. 2
Piano Instruction: Learning a Mozart Minuet is never simple (K. 6 in C Major)
The charming Mozart Minuet in C Major, K. 6, requires a baby-step, layered learning approach. What makes it challenging are the variety of shapes within phrases---groupings of two notes, then longer ones, and a sloping effect in some places, and a tapering in others. To play Mozart with beauty is to sing the separate lines… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Learning a Mozart Minuet is never simple (K. 6 in C Major)
Piano playing at its most inspirational level
Divine music-making from a seasoned pianist in a memorable retrospective
A sentimental journey taken with Mozart
Musical memories rekindled
Fingering snarls in Mozart’s Allegretto, Sonata in C, K. 545 and suggested remedies from the experts
We all have our nemesis. The last measures (68-73) of Mozart's rondo: Allegretto, K. 545, Sonata in C Major, have ensnared me, barring smooth passage to final cadence. For others the journey is uneventful. Who knows? Size of hands, finger length, state of mind, and lack of sleep, might be variables. But more often than… Continue reading Fingering snarls in Mozart’s Allegretto, Sonata in C, K. 545 and suggested remedies from the experts
In the Piano Universe: Two You Tube Treasures not to miss!
Every so often, I stumble upon an uploaded You Yube performance that grabs my ears. In this instance, it was a Mozart encore offered by pianist, Mitsuko Uchida, that led straight to a compelling videotaped interview with her. With my antennae up and ready for more sparkle to light up my day, I was amply… Continue reading In the Piano Universe: Two You Tube Treasures not to miss!
Comparing performances of Mozart Sonata in C, K. 545, Movement 1, Allegro (Tempo, alone can make a big difference)
Over time, when we return to a piece that is well-learned, and in some cases has become a bit too predictable without a touch of inspiration, a revitalized, updated version might be worth a try. In this regard, I'm always re-recording time-honored pieces periodically, to refresh them. To broaden my perspective, I search You Tube… Continue reading Comparing performances of Mozart Sonata in C, K. 545, Movement 1, Allegro (Tempo, alone can make a big difference)
Piano Instruction: How to practice Mozart Sonata in A, K. 331, Variation 1 (Video)
The video attached explores how to analyze and practice Variation 1 of Mozart's Sonata in A, K. 331 which is distinguished by its opening movement in Theme and Variations form. The following link provides provides exploration of the opener: https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/the-most-heavenly-piano-music/ Its lilting theme threads through each of 6 variants, retaining the binary form, and enlisting… Continue reading Piano Instruction: How to practice Mozart Sonata in A, K. 331, Variation 1 (Video)
