Teaching Transitions

[keyofc]

Lets say you have someone who is playing 3 or 4 different pieces at one sitting.
How do you teach transitions?
I know you could be silent and then play the next - but as long as each piece can flow into the next - I prefer transitions.

What is the best way to teach beautiful transitons?
Let's say - we have four keys.  One in F Major, A Major, G Major, C Major
Assuming there is enough time not to just play one setup chord.

[pianistimo]

order of fifths or thirds?  maybe F to C to G and then add A as a nice change and ending - not necessarily in the exact order - but adding another extra sharp?

i tend to look for this, too.  or transitions by major/minor - as with scarlatti piano sonatas.  maybe one in B major and then one in B minor?

also, transitions can be mental - as to how one is preparing from a baroque piece to a classical to a romantic.  usually, they are put in this order - without much thought as to key.  i think key is very important to a smooth flow - and glad someone else thinks so, too.

ps i tend to think that if a piece is slow - then the transition should be a bit slow - so as to allow for the the amount of time between the end of the last note and the beginning of th efirst note of the next piece to give 'weight' to the heaviness of the last piece.  and - alternately - if you just played a fast scarlatti sonata in a major key - and then transition to a slow one in a minor key- why not do it fairly 'transitional' and quickly - as you say.

i don't, however, think a recital should be completely the same throughout in terms of transitions.  otherwise, it becomes too predictable.  sort of like a series of pieces put into a 'medley.'  this makes everything more 'lightweight' and casual.

[amanfang]

I would first arrange the pieces in the easiest order to transpose.  So I would probably do F, C, G, then A. 

I typically play the final chord of the old key, and pulse down to the V and I in octaves (beats 2 and 3).  On beat 4 (assuming the piece is in 4), I play the tonic again, and then the ii7 of the new key on beat 1.  I play the ii7 and invert downwards for a couple beats, then play the Vsusp - V of the new key.  Then you're reading to go in the new key.  It's hard to explain in writing with neither a keyboard nor music.  After one has the basic theory down, you can not do just chords, and incorporate the melodic material into the modulation.  This is often what GOOD hymnplayers do at church in preludes and things.

[keyofc]

pianoisto amanfang,

Thanks for your ideas. - if you feel because of the pieces that are bein played - you need to do F Major first - followed by A Major
how about this?
F Maj, dmin, d2, E7, A
CFA, dfa, dea, bdeg#, A

any other suggestions?
thanks

[rach n bach]

https://www.smu.edu/totw/modulate.htm

This is a very useful starting guide to modulations.  Hope it helps!

RnB

[keyofc]

Very nice, Rach!
Thanks so much!

[rach n bach]

Glad to be of help!

Best of luck!

RnB