Piano Forum

Piano Board => Teaching => Topic started by: kriskicksass on April 20, 2006, 10:43:02 PM

Title: Bartok's Mikrokosmos
Post by: kriskicksass on April 20, 2006, 10:43:02 PM
I've been looking through the Mikrokosmos, and it seems to me like it may be one of the best, most organized 'serious' piano methods I've ever seen. I've been considering using it to teach one of my more gifted students. Has anyone here had any experience with using it?
Title: Re: Bartok's Mikrokosmos
Post by: debussy symbolism on April 20, 2006, 10:56:53 PM
Greetings.

I myself haven't played it yet :-[. They certainly do sound interesting. Do you mind posting the sheet music for it, as I cannot find it anywhere.

All Best.
Title: Re: Bartok's Mikrokosmos
Post by: debussy symbolism on April 20, 2006, 10:58:02 PM
Which one are you planning on teaching?
Title: Re: Bartok's Mikrokosmos
Post by: kriskicksass on April 22, 2006, 12:12:19 AM
I can't post the sheets because I actually bought them.  ;)

And I was thinking I might use them as Bartok intended: after the beginner can read music and so forth, use the Mikrokosmos along with a few exercises and my guidance on technique to serve as their method, rather than Faber or something like that.
Title: Re: Bartok's Mikrokosmos
Post by: debussy symbolism on April 22, 2006, 04:59:25 AM
I am just curious, what kind of technique do the excercises focus on. I know there are arpeggios, chords, but the excercises are primarily focused on the music in my opinion, some even throw the conventional systems out of the window, like the "From the diary of a fly", or "Minor sevenths and seconds". Are these excercises helpfull, because I am certainly interested in studying them, perhaps even with my teacher.

Best wishes to all.
Title: Re: Bartok's Mikrokosmos
Post by: galonia on April 22, 2006, 10:40:41 AM
I played a large number of these pieces - my teacher used them as another source of repertoire, and when I taught, I also drew on them as a source.  But I wouldn't recommend using them as a "method" where they constitute the core.  Some of the works are rather dry.

I recommend that you teach your method and search around for repertoire from a wide range of sources, rather than sticking to any one method.