i need help - asap!!! pls...

[anda]

i "promised" 2 of my young students i'll help them go to a certain competition and they really look forward to this. now, today i was told that the program for the competition has just changed - and the competition is 1 month away! so, i have to change for each one of them one of the works - preclassic is now mandatory.

about their level: one is 8, 3rd year, the rest of the program is berens - etude d moll and clementi - sonatina c dur (don't remember the opus): fast fingers, rather superficial person.  the other is 9, 4th year, the rest of the program is khatchaturian - etude c dur, mozart - 6 variations on a minuet g dur (and has learned dubois scherzetto fis moll for this competition, now has to drop this and play preclassic): not too good technical, but very musical, very serious, hard worker.

thing is, i'd rather not chose bach - the little preludes or the 2-voices inventions are so overplayed here. i'd prefer something underplayed - i thought about scarlatti or rameau, but i'm not sure what to choose for them.

so, can you help me please? any ideas?

many thanks in advance

[shasta]

Anda

I would cut your losses and try to shoot for a different piano competition.  Just explain to your students that the competition has changed a little, but you would instead like to have them play in the XYZ competition in the near future.  One month away with a change in repertoire requirements is not enough time for young students to be fully prepared.  The worst thing you could do to your students is enter them in the competition when they are not ready.  It will be very stressful and traumatic for them and for you. 

Perhaps instead hold a little evening recital for them on that original competition day and let them perform the pieces they had been preparing.  You could even have little ribbons or something printed out with their names and the date for their efforts.

Good luck!

[anda]

i thought about this too - i even found a competition that perfectly suited the situation (in april, and current repertoire fits).

but:

young as they are, kids know what they want. so, i went for the honest approach and explained them the whole situation, the problems, the difficulties and the risks implied. they (both) replied "good to know about that competition - may we do both?".

so, my options were: a. forbbid them the first competition (yeah, right when the kid gets more ambitious i say "NO" - and my middle name is cruella deville) ; b. use this as an opportunity to teach them something about "learning over night", use their ambition as working engine. add the fact that i couldn't care less about competitions (i suppose they won't win anything, so i'll just give them a prize myself ) - i care about using this situation for long-term profit.

need i say what i decided?


anyway, thanks for the advice - like i said, that was my first impulse too (see, we think alike), and pls keep your fingers crossed for these kids in february.

best regards,
one looney teacher

[bernhard]

I think that to use this situation as a teaching opportunity is an excellent idea.


Here are some suggestions of pre-classical pieces:

For a real surprise, try Jacques Duphly. Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4737.msg44794.html#msg44794
(Jacques Duphly)


For Scarlatti suggestions have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2339.msg20064.html#msg20064
(Scarlatti sonatas).


Soler sonatas are similar to Scarlatti’s and almost unknown. Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2980.msg26041.html#msg26041
(Soler)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3741.msg33719.html#msg33719
(Soler sonatas)


The English virginalists are also a possibility (especially Purcell).Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4827.msg45824.html#msg45824
(English virginalists)


And don’t forget Couperin (although the ornaments may be hell).

If none of this helps, try this thread:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3322.msg29258.html#msg29258
(Baroque composers)

Good luck!

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[anda]

bernhard,

thank you very much for your suggestions (and very very much for the link about duphly - i had sheets for none of his compositions, and you are right - i'll save these for some later surprises).

thursday night i read tons of preclasic works, trying to figure out which works would be best under the circumstances. i finally narrowed the selection to about 5-6 works for each student, i played them the works and they made the final decission: haendel - courante f dur (rather underplayed here) for the younger one, and cimarosa - sonata g dur.

i know these are pretty easy works for their ages, however, since their classic work is difficult i think we can afford it

thanks again (maybe now i won't have to scream for help next time )

[bernhard]

Yes, Cimarosa is an excelllent choice (wonderful piece and fast to learn ). His sonatas should be better known and played more often.

[dmk]

Yes, Cimarosa is an excelllent choice (wonderful piece and fast to learn ). His sonatas should be better known and played more often.

Bernhard,

Funnily enough, Cimarosa is actually reasonably well known in Australia and an often played selection on some of our domestic music boards exam List/Group A...

Strange how things are different on the opposite side of the world isn't it.....

[anda]

Funnily enough, Cimarosa is actually reasonably well known in Australia and an often played selection on some of our domestic music boards exam List/Group A...

really? well, on my corner (i can't say side ) of the world, cimarosa's woodwind works are overplayed, while his piano works are almost completely unknown! (and i'm counting on this as surprise factor )

[anda]

so, following the common courtesy rule: both students had their eliminatory (local) stage today and they both qualified for the regionals! of course i'm very very happy. now all they have to do is give a decent performance in the next stage (begining of march), and i'll declare myself satisfied for the moment.

once again, thanks to all of you (and esp bernhard) for your help

best regards

[bernhard]

Nice to know!

Congratulations!

Best wishes,
Bernhard