Grade 7 piano piece C3: Black Coffee Options

[keep_sane]

Hi there!

I'm currently teaching this particular piece and I need to clarify certain things:

1) I'm aware that there are a number of chords which require playing in arpeggios.
However I'm unsure if the chords in the left hand (bars 31-34) also require playing in arpeggios along with chords in the right hand?

2) I realized my student and I are unable to sustain the Db note (bar 32, right hand) after the 1st chord due to our short hand span. Is there a way to deal with this problem?


Thanks in advance:)

[owainsutton]

I don't know the piece, but the exam regulations for piano do permit notes to be omitted if the candidate can't reach them, as long as the musical effect is still suitable.

[porilo]

I don't know the piece very well (thankfully all my grade 7 students have chosen the very impressive Kabalevsky Presto) but looking at the music I would say that the left hand chords in bars 31-34 should not be arpeggiated as there is nothing in the music to indicate that they should be. As for sustaining the Db in bar 32, you could catch the single Db with the pedal before you play the chord underneath, and then release the pedal when the chord changes to Bb-Eb-Gb chord. I think that would work well.

[jm-hamilton]

I've got one pupil doing this piece and we're just going through these large chords to work out what notes to leave out, as he can't stretch some of them. Only one chord (I think, haven't got piece n front of me) is marked as arpeggiated and he will play that one. As said above as long as the musical effect is ok then it's fine to leave notes out. It would be a pity if pupils who really like the piece didn't do it just because there are a couple of chords they can't stretch.

[moondad]

Arpeggiate them!

Stylistically, it is entirely appropriate to do so, IMO. Surely, it is better to apply a little artistic licence than to actually omit notes, just so you can stick rigidly to the performance directions of an arrangement?

[jm-hamilton]

Arpeggiate them!

Stylistically, it is entirely appropriate to do so, IMO. Surely, it is better to apply a little artistic licence than to actually omit notes, just so you can stick rigidly to the performance directions of an arrangement?

That's fine too and is an alternative to omitting notes - it does depend which notes you leave out. If leaving out notes still makes it a difficult stretch then yes, arpeggiate. In an exam the examiner is looking for a musical performance among other things, so arpeggiating or omitting are both fine as long as the effect is musical.

[porilo]

But they are all less than one octave. Can your student's hand not span one octave? In that case, yes, arpeggiate them. Otherwise perhaps just play the bottom notes and leave out the top notes.

[jm-hamilton]

But they are all less than one octave. Can your student's hand not span one octave? In that case, yes, arpeggiate them. Otherwise perhaps just play the bottom notes and leave out the top notes.

The chords I'm referring to are very definitely more than one octave - my pupil (a boy) has larger hands and a bigger stretch than me and still can't manage one or two of them. Most of them are beyond my stretch.

[magicfingers]

My humble opinion (pupil who is sitting this session): We are omitting from bar 31 lower RH notes Cb...B Nat, bar 32 as written but then not holding on melody note Db...bar 33 omitting lower RH note Cb.

Decided arpeggiating ALL these chords are not appropriate...again just my own opinion.

I would also like to say in bar 33 to bring out RH lower note Db and play the chord very softly and the same in bar 34...omit lower Bb and bring out Mid C then play chord softly. These are melody notes. You probably know this, but my pupil is finding this quite difficult.

Also suggest you listen to some recordings, like Julie London for instance, which may help gain the feel of this very adult piece.

I have taken this piece apart so my pupil can hear all the parts. Must also say pupil has found holding on RH MC bars 9 -10 and bars 21-22 then F bars 25-26 killers, so we have compromised somewhat.

I enjoy playing this myself.

[porilo]

But they are all less than one octave. Can your student's hand not span one octave? In that case, yes, arpeggiate them. Otherwise perhaps just play the bottom notes and leave out the top notes.

The chords I'm referring to are very definitely more than one octave - my pupil (a boy) has larger hands and a bigger stretch than me and still can't manage one or two of them. Most of them are beyond my stretch.

Possibly, but I was referring to the chords that the OP was talking about, i.e. the left hand chords in bars 31-34. None of those are more than octave.

[keep_sane]

But they are all less than one octave. Can your student's hand not span one octave? In that case, yes, arpeggiate them. Otherwise perhaps just play the bottom notes and leave out the top notes.

The chords I'm referring to are very definitely more than one octave - my pupil (a boy) has larger hands and a bigger stretch than me and still can't manage one or two of them. Most of them are beyond my stretch.

Possibly, but I was referring to the chords that the OP was talking about, i.e. the left hand chords in bars 31-34. None of those are more than octave.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions:)

Yes, I forgot to note that the LH chords in bars 31-34 are less than an octave apart. So it makes sense not to arpeggiate them. Thus, I should only arpeggiate the RH chords?

Though some of you suggested omitting notes, I guess I'm more comfortable with playing the chords in arpeggios (as recorded in the CD), even though my student is having difficulties with them.

@magicfingers: Thank you for providing me with the fruitful suggestion! Indeed my student also have problems with sustaining the middle C and F notes.