Sorry for the rather direct post. My teacher is away on holiday for 2 weeks and I wanted to ask a question.

I'm learning 'The Moth' at the moment (piece B:2 ABRSM).
Is/has anyone else done this piece?

Both the left and the right hands play in the treble clef, this in itself is confusing enough as my hands feel squashed together into a little over 1 octave. Right at the end, on the last chord, the sheet denotes that the hands 'mesh' together so the thumb on your left hand cross over the thumb on the right. Is this correct, or am I reading it wrong? It's seems wrong, and annoying!

Oh, and what does a flat line above a note mean? It looks like an accent, but I've not come across it before.

I think this piece would sound nice if I ever crack it!

Not a pianist so can't answer the first bit. But re the flat line - sounds like that's a 'tenuto' mark - it means you need to sustain the note, giving it it's full value (Is it in the same place you'd find a staccato mark?).

The last chord in the RH has an 8ve sign over it, so you play it an octave higher. The LH is as written, so they don't overlap!

And yes, the little line above some of the chords is a tenuto - just play it full length and with a definite 'placement' (NOT a heavy accent, though!).

Hi

I'm doing grade 2 also - although Im not doing this particular piece. I have the abrsm cd - it's a nice piece sounds like a moth fluttering around a light! Seems quite hard (for me) so didn't choose it. What other pieces are you doing?

Lindsay X

Thanks for the replies guys. VERY helpful!

Jo, you're right, it is an octave higher. I thought I was gonna have to learn to take the pain of playing it wrong! I can see now I just missed that bit. Thanks for the comments on the tenuto, I haven't come across it before. Full value? Don't you do that with all notes? Or is it just a reminder not to play staccato, and give it a slight accent?

I'm also doing The Microjazz piece on the last page (assuming we have the same book) called 'Get in Step' and 'Musette' which I found surprisingly easy, except for the bar 12, where I sometimes have a little trouble with the hop down, but it's getting easier.

And yourself Lindsay?

Hi

I'm doing;
Rigadoon
Barcarolle
Get in Step


Have been having a break from them over Christmas. My lesson is tomorrow. I think they're all nice pieces apart from Rosamund's march which is just a bit strange.

Lindsay

Hi - I have a couple of students learning the Moth ... I think it's delightful.
It has tended to be a bit of slow start, with a few mis-read LH notes along the way (is it really that high!!?) then they get into it and enjoy it. Great for getting really familiar with high treble leger lines, and for encouraging a bit of lift-off at the end of slurred-groups.

Once the enthusiasm gets going I find I have to remind them it's a moth, not a baby elephant
Maybe useful to invent a story, or imagine what the moth is doing at each bit of the piece - fluttering - alighting - pausing - taking off again etc.

Group C is tricky this time - most students find the first two pieces really unappealing. One little girl, who loves anything unusual and will often go for a modern piece tried R's March for a couple of weeks, but it really didn't gel with her. I am afraid the examiners must be getting very tired of hearing Get in Step (fun though it is) but it's the one everyone wants to do.

Maggie - Timewarp is good, from the alternative list C. I've had a couple of pupils do that one, and they've enjoyed it.

Thanks Jo - I hadn't been able to find either C4 or C5 anywhere, but will have another look.

To all Grade 2 learners, out of interest, how long did it take you to get to Grade 2, and how long before you think you will move on? I started Lessons in October and after 8 weeks my teacher booked my Grade 1 exam (for this March) and I am fully confident I can master the Grade 2 pieces, scales and everything by the time I come to take my first exam. The only thing holding me back is Sight Reading

I'm sure it will continue to get harder, but I am enjoying piano so much and I am fairly happy with my progress rate. I hope to get to grade 4 by this time next year.