Piano: 6 Hands, Has anyone tried piano ensembles? Options

[jchurch1]

Hi guys -

Has anyone tried 6 hand piano trio ensembles with their students?

I've been in a few myself over the years, but now I'm teaching and studying at uni, I would love to get some of my students/friends to start up a group.

But I'm finding it very difficult to get my friends (especially) enthusiastic at my University - does anyone know of an audio cassette of the Trinity 6 hand pieces?

Has anyone any suggestions of ways I could persuade adult beginners/colleagues that playing with others is a musically worthwhile and fun thing to do?

Any advice much appreciated! Thanks.

[margaret]

Hi jchurch1
Yes, I have tried 6 handed trios with children at one of the schools I teach in and also with mix of adults and children. They have all absolutely loved the experience. I have used Laura Shur with the younger ones and Mike Cornick with the older. They are fantastic for developing musicianship and great fun. The girls at school voluntarily practised in their lunch hour they had such a great time. They always go down brilliantly at school concerts.

The one thing I would say though is you need to think about 1 -2 grades down from their normal standard. The act of putting the whole thing together etc means trios are much harder than duets.
I do hope you can persuade your friends to have a go.

I don't know of any recordings. What I do when I am trying out is the following:

Using the record facility on my electric piano I tape 2 parts in and then play the third (live) over the top. Pupils love this and it gives them the general idea.

Which trios have you played in?