Beauty in Simplicity: Robert Schumann’s “Melody” No. 1

Schumann's Album for the Young opens with an ethereal duet that meanders through heart-rending harmonies by its seamless flow of broken intervals and chords in the lower line. (The bass is intentionally composed in an alto range, and read in the left hand with a second treble clef, bringing the duet to poignance by its…

Rolling wrist motions, “Circle Dance,” and adult “elementary” students

A few of my adult students who have returned to the piano after a long hiatus, are pleased to re-orient themselves to the instrument via five-finger position pieces. These cannot be dismissed handily as play by finger number journeys. In fact, the larger pedagogical value of selected repertoire is substantial. In "Circle Dance" by Ferdinand…

Shaping a melodic line through chord blocking (Schumann Little Etude no. 14)

To block out sonorities that spring from spun out, undulating broken chords, can provide a peak learning experience. In a baby-step advance, especially, where finding a melodic thread, may consist of a one-hand alone approach at first, the pleasure to follow, comes with cushions of harmony. One of my adult students, just launched her journey…

Piano Lesson: Rina, 4, climbs up and down the staircase as she learns about Melody

The tour de force of today's 12th lesson, was Rina's stair climbing. In all, she scaled five steps, ascending and descending, to absorb the concept of MELODY. It was the focus of Chapter 12, Tales of a Musical Journey by Irina Gorin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4a0QXvLyZ8 Prior to today's class, Rina had played assigned notes among seven previously…