2009-2010 Piano Syllabus - How To Teach A:3? Options

[emilyp]

I am currently teaching my students the A:3 exam piece, L'autunno by Vivaldi (i think that it how you spell it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)). There is no direction or footnotes suggesting it should be played staccato, only that the original was composed for strings. I assumed therefore, that it should be played normally, not too legato or staccato. However, one of my students purchased the cd that comes with the exam book aswell, and if you listen to the recording of it, the notes are fairly staccato, as is if you listen to any version on youtube. How should i teach this? Staccato (as played on the cd) or regularly (as suggested by no mentions of staccato playing on the music)?
Help would be appreciated
Emily

[Aquarelle]

I'm going to be very naughty and answer the question "How to Teach Grade 1 A3" by simply saying "Don't."
I've done it with one of mine and we gave up and chose another piece as the Vivaldi became hackneyed and stale almost as soon as learnt.

Seriously I expect it was my fault but I have decided I don't really like the arrangements that have crept into the lists this year. We did do it failry staccato but I didn't make a thing about it because it kind of plays that way without any conscious effort.

[SueHM]

I like the arrangements and have found them very useful for teaching phrasing and touch - thinking carefully about the original instruments and how the sounds can be reproduced on the piano. 2 of my students are playing this piece for their exam next week. We have opted for a fairly light and detached approach to the LH. It can sound very heavy and dull if you do not detach the notes.

[rovikered]

I, too, am teaching this Vivaldi piece to a pupil who is preparing for Grade 1 later in the year, and I agree with your comments, Cambiata. I am teaching it in a similar way. It does need need verve and bounce with a degree of detached playing but not over-staccato. My pupil is also having difficulty with the thirds, but with care and perseverance I am confident she will master them. I am not opposed to arrangements and I think this one is a particularly happy choice.

[rovikered]

I, too, am teaching this Vivaldi piece to a pupil who is preparing for Grade 1 later in the year, and I agree with your comments, Cambiata. I am teaching it in a similar way. It does need need verve and bounce with a degree of detached playing but not over-staccato. My pupil is also having difficulty with the thirds, but with care and perseverance I am confident she will master them. I am not opposed to arrangements and I think this one is a particularly happy choice.

Hope it all goes well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) There is a very useful 'study' type piece for legato thirds in the Blue Schaum Book B called 'Monkey Sees, Monkey Does'. It is notated in C major with the hand moving up the chords 1 1V and V . We transposed it into F major to help control the shapes in the Vivaldi when the 4 goes on Bb. (Moving up to the Bb chord 1V is useful for the African C3 too). I decided if the pupil can improve them legato and slowly she will find them even easier when detached at a quicker tempo. I think A3 is technically quite a challenge for a Grade One piece.

That sounds an appropriate study, cambiata. It's good and encouraging to find a piece which can be used as an aid to solving a problem with another one. I know of the Schaum books though I do not use them.