Teaching Notes Grade Three

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Ella Marjory Hart
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1 Teaching Notes 2015 Grade Three Little Reverie Key: A minor Composer: John McLachlan ( ) The left hand melodic line must sing (Cantabile), and legato pedalling is necessary to help sustain the line and create a seamless effect throughout. Comodo indicates a comfortable, relaxed tempo and the composer has suggested a metronome speed. The right hand quavers are very quiet and gentle, helping to convey a dream like effect, as the title suggests. Dynamic markings and tempo indications are offered to add further dimension to the character. Allegro Key: G major Composer: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach ( ) As the title suggests this is a lively piece, though still elegant in character. The indicated metronome mark suggests a suitable pace to give this the energy and poise required. Stylistically it would be appropriate to play the crotchet notes detached; the quaver notes can be staccato (as they are shorter in length) and the semiquaver notes are legato. The right hand plays the melody while the left hand accompaniment plays a more passive role. Dynamics are included to offer further interest. Old Movie Man Key: C major Composer: Manfred Schmitz ( ) The right hand accompaniment is very soft and staccato and the tempo should be steady throughout, until the Rit. indicated in the final two bars. The left hand plays the melody all the way through and the accented notes will give it rhythmic definition. The first four bars are repeated at bars 9-12; the dynamic level can be quieter or louder at this point, but should vary from the opening to create more musical interest. Vals Lento Op 39 No 23 Key: A minor Composer: Dmitri Kabalevsky ( ) While lento means slow, this is a waltz and it needs to have a sense of flow. Pedal markings are indicated in the appropriate bars; it is necessary in order to avoid a clipped, disjointed line. The left hand accompanies throughout; the right hand melody can be enhanced by shaping phrases and using dynamics as indicated.

The right hand quavers are very quiet and gentle, helping to convey a dream like effect, as the title suggests.

2 Menuet in F Key: F major Composer: Leopold Mozart ( ) A Menuet is a dance and, as indicated, should have a graceful character (Grazioso). It should move along with a steady flow and light, detached crotchets throughout. Watch out for bars 5-8, and where the left hand crosses over the right hand to play the melody notes; the right hand triplets can be much quieter in these bars. Wild Horseman Key: A minor Composer: Robert Schumann ( ) This piece requires energy and spirit to communicate an animated character. It is a good exercise in wrist staccato, but requires stamina to maintain it throughout. A brisk tempo is needed to bring this to life, and the sf markings are also important to the overall effect. Melody and accompaniment need to be carefully balanced throughout or this can become rather heavy-handed. Lorna Horan Senior Examiner

Watch out for bars 5-8, 15-18 and 25-28 where the left hand crosses over the right hand to play the melody notes; the right hand triplets can be much quieter in these bars.

3 Teaching Notes 2015 Grade Four Jig Key: G major (relative of E minor) Composer: Thomas Arne ( ) This is a very energetic dance and requires a lively pace; in 6/8 time it needs to have a feeling of 2-in-a-bar. The melody is largely in the right hand, though both hands share the melodic interest in bars 9-15 and and for these bars the line between left and right hands should connect seamlessly. Shaping and dynamics are essential to add character. The repeat at bar 24 is not necessary for examination performance. Little Flower Op 205 No 1 Key: E minor (relative of G major) Composer: Cornelius Gurlitt ( ) Pedalling is an important element of this piece and requires the performer to listen closely to avoid blurring of harmonies. The right hand melody needs a legato line and careful attention to phrase-endings. Dolce means sweetly so aim for a singing tone, but never forced. Sicilienne Key: A minor (relative of C major) Composer: Robert Schumann ( ) A lively tempo is needed to convey the playful character of this piece, and a wide dynamic range will further enhance. Nimble and clear fingerwork is a must in the 2/4 section, with well defined accents to give this rhythmic definition. The left hand should not dominate at any time. The repeat at the end of the first section is not necessary, but the D.C. al Fine must be observed. Watchman s Song Key: E major (relative of C sharp minor) Composer: Edvard Grieg ( ) This piece is in Simple Duple time and must have a feel of 2-in-a-bar. Although pedalling is not marked all the way through, it is quite necessary to achieve a legato feel and sustain the phrases. The melody can be very Cantabile throughout. The Intermezzo section moves to the key of E minor and presents a slightly eerie and unsettled character. The counting needs care in this section, particularly the triplet figures in bars 26, 30, 34 and 38. The piece returns to the home key of E major at bar 40.

The melody is largely in the right hand, though both hands share the melodic interest in bars 9-15 and 46-52 and for these bars the line between left and right hands should connect seamlessly.

4 Clockwork Doll Key: B minor (relative of D major) Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich ( ) As the title indicates this piece requires rhythmic precision and a clockwork pulse throughout. The articulation marked will contribute to the character and the dynamics indicated will also add a sense of drama to the piece. The melody largely belongs to the right hand, except for bars where the left hand briefly takes over. It is marked Allegretto (lively but not as fast as Allegro), but try to avoid playing this too slowly or it will drag. Ivan is Very Busy Key: C minor - without key signature (relative of E flat major) Composer: Aram Khachaturian ( ) This piece needs energy and drive; the metronome mark is the composer s own suggestion. Senza Ped means without pedal and Sempre Staccato means always staccato, therefore crisp fingerwork is needed for the quaver passages. The title indicates that this is a busy piece and the quaver work needs to be very light so as not to become laboured. The dynamics should be widely varied and dramatic, as indicated. Lorna Horan Senior Examiner

The melody largely belongs to the right hand, except for bars 30-33 where the left hand briefly takes over.

5 Teaching Notes 2015 Grade Five Of Strange Lands and People Key: G major (relative of E minor) Composer: Robert Schumann ( ) Legato pedalling is a must in this piece as it is impossible to create a legato line without. The metronome mark indicated is much too fast; crotchet = 60 would be more suited to the character of the piece. The melody should be cantabile throughout and the inner line of triplet figures must be quiet and gentle. Repeats are not necessary in the examination. Mechanics Rag Key: E flat major (relative of C minor) Composer: Christopher Norton ( ) This piece needs to be steady and rhythmical throughout, and lively in pace. The left hand should be light; the staccato notes will add energy to the character. The second page provides good exercise for arpeggios and inversions; the fingerwork will need to be light and precise. Be sure to punctuate the accents in bars 23 and 24, and remember to observe the DC al Fine. Song of the Cavalry Key: B flat minor (relative of D flat major) Composer: Dmitri Kabalevsky ( ) A brisk pace and energetic character will bring this piece to life. The opening should be quite dramatic with all accents punctuated, and staccato notes should be crisp. Careful attention should be paid to the balance between melody and accompaniment throughout, and from bars 26 to 42 the inner chords should be lightly played. Two-Part Invention Key: F major (relative of D minor) Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) A composition in two-part counterpoint means that both parts have equal importance in this piece, and lots of separate hand practice will benefit each hand. To play the quavers staccato would be stylistically appropriate; the semiquaver passages (legato) require light and clean fingerwork. Dynamics and phrasing are not indicated, but the piece would sound very monotonous without them so the student / teacher is encouraged to explore this area.

The melody should be cantabile throughout and the inner line of triplet figures must be quiet and gentle. Repeats are not necessary in the examination.

6 Sweet Dreams Key: C major (relative of A minor) Composer: Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky ( ) This is a beautiful piece, and a very good exercise in Cantabile touch for both right and left hands as the melody is shared by both. Legato pedalling is very important, but the fingers must also connect the line to achieve a legato effect. The accents should not be taken too literally in this; lean on these notes instead of over-stressing them. It is not a fast piece, but it needs to have a gentle flow throughout. The inner chords must be very quiet; the melody should be very expressive. Rondo in G Key: G major (relative of E minor) Composer: Muzio Clementi ( ) A lively pace and sparkling fingerwork will bring this energetic piece to life. The articulation indicated suggests that the left hand is largely light and crisp; the right hand phrases need shape and colour to add interest. The middle section (beginning at the upbeat to bar 59) moves to the relative key (E minor); this section becomes more thoughtful and expressive in character but the light-hearted character of the opening returns at bar 75. The left hand can sing out at bar 94 with the right hand adopting a very light semiquaver accompaniment. The rit. going from bars is only poco (a little); remember to observe the Da Capo at bar 113. Lorna Horan Senior Examiner

The accents should not be taken too literally in this; lean on these notes instead of over-stressing them. It is not a fast piece, but it needs to have a gentle flow throughout.

Viola Time Book 2. RGP (Release, Glide and Press) Shifting Method 2

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