Everyone plays this- it's driving me insane whenever I walk past a practice room at school (but holidays now )
Has anybody NOT played Creepy Crawly for grade 1 when taking the exam off the current syllabus???

I'm happy to say I didn't actually hear it until a few years after my grade 1, but wherever I go in the school music dept it's there....lurking in the corner like a creepy crawly....creepy...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Creepy Crawlies! Everyone is playing it and they think it's the best piece in the world!
It's just as annoying as Chopsticks which everyone thinks is so cool, especially if they don't play the piano. Have you heard that other piece as well that goes

C-C-C
C-B-A-B-C-D
E-E-E
E-D-C-D-E-F
G-C
A-G-F-E-D
C-B-A-G-F-E-D
Then you keep repeating it over and over again! It drives you insane! There are loads of people in my class who don't even play a musical instrument and think they know everything about music so when it comes to the practical lessons, everyone is playing Chopsticks or that piece above or Creepy Crawlies or they play loads of random notes and call it "music" or "improvisation" I hate it! It's not music!

yeah I know that one!!!
And chopsticks drives me insane too!!!
my piano teacher at school always comes in and tells them to play some proper music!!!!

Along those lines...

http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/show_score.pl?scoreid=2234

Have you seen this??? Thought it makes a nice change...

It won't make a hyperlink for me so you'll have to type it yourself- sorry!

I couldn't stand it either. I played Reigen instead. I thought it was likeably quirky-or should that be quirkily likeable?

wow someone played something different!
congrats lucy!!!

QUOTE (cecilia @ Jul 17 2004, 12:17 PM)

And chopsticks drives me insane too!!!

I hate chopsticks. It drives me mad when my daughter's friends come to the house and start playing chopsticks on my piano.

AAAARRRRGGHHHHHHH

ooh i know that one!! im teaching everyone it! i did that once in a concert with my mate like a little duet, it was very funny!!!!!!!

QUOTE (lucy @ Jul 18 2004, 10:55 AM)

I played Reigen instead.

found out the other day that Reigen was on the grade 1 syllabus in 1984 or 1985. cant remember which!!

QUOTE

Have you heard that other piece as well that goes ccc cb

That's called Heart and Soul. Great piece. Real motivator. Good for working on creativity, chord structure, transposing and a cupped hand shape, and like Chopsticks, good for keyboard geography.

What annoys me is when people tell me they play Chopsticks and then proceed to play something else. BTW Chopsticks was written by a 16 year old British girl in 1877 call Euphemia Allen. She advised people to play it with the sides of their hands....'chopping'.

Another thing that annoys me is teacher who say "it's not music". Of course it's music! Why isn't it music? What's the difference? Is it because too many people just happen to like playing it?

These pieces are often the tunes that inspire many children to start wanting to learn a little more about the piano.

By playing these at school, with their friends, around the piano at home they have learnt that they can have fun even without sheet music. They have learnt that they can enjoy music together. It can give them confidence, teach them about balance, improvisation, keyboard geography...but most of all it's just great fun for them.

I rarely see miserable children playing these tunes around the piano. So can someone please tell me what is wrong with seeing a band of happy kids playing duets around the piano? Whatever tune it is.

grrr...

QUOTE

grrr...

to you too

hey louise!

yea, i can see your points, but it really is not music! it's just really really stupid! its so annoying, it's a stupid piece! and it's the only thing that everyone can play when there is a piano in front of them! and everyone can play it! even if you're not a musician, people who can't even play a musical instrument think it's so cool! grrrrr to you!

But it is music! Just because people can play it without having proper piano lessons doesn’t mean it’s not music. Just because it’s played over and over again doesn’t mean it’s not music.

What if you have never heard it before? What if you returned to earth after spending a lifetime on Mars and Johnny pulled out his piano exam book and there it was written out in notation…on the C list….both hands. Would it be music then?

There’s at least 3 tunes that are played by most people that have ever tried the piano. Heart and Soul, Chopsticks, that one that doesn’t have a name but starts with D# C# and probably the knuckle tune. Oh and there’s also Fur Elise, which is over played (badly). Don’t reckon Beethoven would appreciate being told that wasn’t music.

So, what’s your definition of music? If you have to have had lessons to play music, does that mean that if I just have a little sing to myself (not ever having had a singing lesson), that I’m not making music. Or does music cease being music once it becomes popular?

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I would rather hear and see a bunch of kids around the piano playing Heart and Soul duets – making up different versions as they went, and having a good laugh (often leaving hoping that one day they’ll learn to play properly), than see that same bunch sat in front of the television watching some mindless programme.

I’m afraid I think it’s awful when a music teacher passes by and tells them to play some proper music. Does that mean that he/she feels that music should only be played by people who have had lessons.

What if they were all singing and the teacher passed by and said “can we just have those who are having singing lessons please”. Is that what music is all about?

But Fur Elise IS music!!!! Just because it's overplayed doesn't mean it isn't music... but some things just AREN'T!!!!

oh ok. let's not have a big debate!

QUOTE (cecilia @ Jul 24 2004, 09:27 AM)

But Fur Elise IS music!!!! Just because it's overplayed doesn't mean it isn't music...

I quite agree. Also I think a lot of people just play the main theme of Fur Elise not actually the whole piece which is lovely.

QUOTE

oh ok. let's not have a big debate!

"The Associated Board Forums have been designed to allow lively, constructive debate"...

QUOTE (cecilia @ Jul 17 2004, 12:17 PM)

yeah I know that one!!! And chopsticks drives me insane too!!!

I hate chopsticks. aswell.
what is it about NON musical people and chopsticks is it like the only tune they know. lol

when anyone asks my to play it at school "they even know the name" it is always said as " can you play that one that goes doo doo doo doo"

We all know what "doo doo doo doo is"
lol

Davé

QUOTE

"The Associated Board Forums have been designed to allow lively, constructive debate"...

i know, i know, but let's not turn it into something that will have to be locked!

OK, I'm sorry! i was the one who started all the "chopsticks is not music business" i'm so sorry! it was just that creepy crawlies is just as annoying as chopsticks and i thought that i should bring up chopsticks and really annoying pieces too! i'm so sorry cecilia! i didn't mean to do it!

I sometimes play 'heart and soul' but work up the octave playing it in every key. That's quite a good exercise. I've never actually played chopsticks!!!

I know a couple who's 6 year old has just started piano. They were quite pround of the fact that they told the teacher that they didn't want him playing silly things "like Twinkle twinkle little star". Personally, if I was the teacher I would have told them that my list was full as soon as I heard that! Perhaps they want the teacher jsut to get straight into teaching him Chopin preludes???

Neither of them are musical, so they almost certainly didn't realise that it's the main theme from one of Mozart's best piano works. Don't know if he wrote it or if it was a nursery rhyme back then and he just composed the variations on it, but I think its a lovely melody and so did Mozart!

I was once at a piano concert in Germany (Beethover in C minor) and the soloist came back on stage to do an encore. To the audience's amazement he played 'three blind mice' and then went through an amazing series of variations. Think he was just improvising, never heard it before or since.

These pieces are music, its just that they are beginers pieces so are very simple and you very quickly get tired of them, particularly if played over and over again. Their purpose is to encourage beginners, not to audiences.I don't know how pinao teachers stay sane to be honest.

If I was my teacher I would have driven myself mad by now, if you see what I mean!! .

who was the pianist? when i went to see dave brubeck (really famous jazz composer) back in may, as an encore, he played brahms' lullaby on the piano and he added his own jazz style to it. it was really cute and it was perfectly suitable for the end of the concert as it was getting late!

QUOTE

i'm so sorry cecilia! i didn't mean to do it!

Don't worry violingirl!!! Nobody else is worried about it
It's only a bit of fun

If it's done nothing else, Creepy Crawly has stimulated a very lively discussion!!!

QUOTE

If it's done nothing else, Creepy Crawly has stimulated a very lively discussion!!!

Yes, but I'm still at a loss to find the reason why people discourage non-pianists from playing these tunes.

On reading the messages, I can only summize that it's because they heard is so often, they feel that nobody should play it because they are fed up with hearing it.

The question "why isn't it music?" hasn't really been answered yet and I'm really interested in finding why people feel like that.

As for Chopsticks. I personally don't have a problem with it. Though I do have a problem with the glissando in it and the kids struggle with that bit. So when someone says that everyone can play it, I'm delighted that non-pianists seem to be able to do it with ease.

I have a Chopsticks duet somewhere that I've had students play in concerts. The duet is a good Grade 6-7 level and a load of fun. I've never had a complaint from a parent about their child playing it. Strange that.

So come on....give me a really good reason why people who don't play the piano shouldn't learn these tunes. Not some excuse that you don't personally like the piece.

Can anyone tell me what is so bad with seeing a bunch of children having fun around the piano?

I have heard Creepy Crawly at least a million times. I still think it's a great piece for a Grade 1 exam. Just because I don't include it in my repertoire doesn't devalue it's worth for a more appropriate level.

Maybe the fact that they're overplayed is the fault of those children that do play the piano. The pieces you mention are usually passed on between children by them watching each other and copying each note, if they can't read music or play by ear there's no other way to learn music. So if that is the only piece that 'non-musicians' know that is the piece that they will all play and teach to other people so it spreads.

The solution: if you don't like those pieces find another (relatively easy) piece that you do like and teach it to all of your friends hopefully they'll spread it too and you'll have the pleasure of listening to a wider repertoire .

Yay great idea AnotherPianist!!! Why did no-one suggest that before

yeah! go anotherpianist! a fantastic reason!

You know, i've never heard this creepy crawly - now im really curious as to why everyone hates it.

QUOTE (charlottethemuppet @ Aug 6 2004, 04:19 PM)

You know, i've never heard this creepy crawly - now im really curious as to why everyone hates it.

everyone hates it coz its so repetitive and nearly EVERY grade 1 student using this syllabus has played it! go and buy the book and see!

QUOTE

You know, i've never heard this creepy crawly - now im really curious as to why everyone hates it.

if you look on the third page of Viva Piano, then scroll down to another forum called Creepy Crawly. Click on it and then scroll down to cecilia's message. she's written out the tune. hope you can see why it's so annoying and hope that it all makes sense!

Just to say that I'm totally behind you on this one Louise yes, ok so anyone can learn to play these simple pieces, but it is very rewarding to someone who has never played anything before to be able to play something. Maybe thats all they will ever learn and yes it would get very annoying to someone that had to listen to it all the time, but it may encourage them to take up the piano.

With heart and soul in particular (thanks, I didn't know what it was called) it is a great piece to try as a duet, or a trio and more!! I have had a lot of fun with my friends doing this. None of them play the piano but within half an hour we were all playing together and we all enjoyed it.........It IS music!

by the way, which one is chopsticks? because i always thought it was d# c# f# a# + f# etc..

Ummm wasnt there a similar piece called the 'Swinging Sioux' that all the Gr I candidates went bonkers over?
How about 'Herbie Funky' in Gr II - any similar experiences?

QUOTE

by the way, which one is chopsticks? because i always thought it was d# c# f# a# + f# etc..

Sorry for the late reply. Been on holiday

No, that's not chopsticks. Chopsticks is the one that goes F and G together 6X, then E and G together 6 times etc.

Then it goes onto the bit with C1 and e1 going down the scale with the glissandos.

The composer of Chopsticks, liked the piece played using the edge of the hand in a chopping motion....hence the name.

QUOTE

Ummm wasnt there a similar piece called the 'Swinging Sioux' that all the Gr I candidates went bonkers over?

yeah, there was? i played it! that was alright.

QUOTE (Louise @ Aug 23 2004, 11:22 PM)

QUOTE by the way, which one is chopsticks? because i always thought it was d# c# f# a# + f# etc.. No, that's not chopsticks. Chopsticks is the one that goes F and G together 6X, then E and G together 6 times etc. Then it goes onto the bit with C1 and e1 going down the scale with the glissandos. The composer of Chopsticks, liked the piece played using the edge of the hand in a chopping motion....hence the name.

But I thought the other piece (D# C# F# etc) was Chopsticks too! Maybe there's two separate pieces called Chopsticks...

xx

There are- look a bit further down this page!

QUOTE

There are- look a bit further down this page!

I shouldn't take that too seriously cecilia. I'm pretty sure that when Hoagy Carmichael wrote the song "heart and soul" he didn't call it Chopsticks

Take the original words of Heart and Soul. Can't find anything that fits with a title of Chopsticks anywhere!

Only one of those 4 Chopsticks is the real Chopsticks, the rest are just imposters.

Hmmm... OK, if you say so. That just leaves the confusion of the rest of the world to sort out...

QUOTE

there a similar piece called the 'Swinging Sioux' that all the Gr I candidates went bonkers over?

i did that piece for grade 1. i loved it at the time but, boy isn't it annoying?
someone at my old school wanted to play something in a school concert. our music teacher asked her what and she said, 'the only thing i can play is chopsticks'. and guess what...yep, she played the creme de la creme of all pieces, chopsticks!! arrrrrrrrrgh!

QUOTE

someone at my old school wanted to play something in a school concert. our music teacher asked her what and she said, 'the only thing i can play is chopsticks'. and guess what...yep, she played the creme de la creme of all pieces, chopsticks!! arrrrrrrrrgh!

omg

QUOTE

i did that piece for grade 1. i loved it at the time but, boy isn't it annoying?

My sister, who doesn't really play the piano, found my old grade 1 music and started trying to play that piece, then she asked me to play it for her so I did and my parents were saying "Please don't play that, we thought we'd got away from it forever after you took the exam..."

Same goes for "cakes and ale" in grade 2, '99-2000

u think its bad just walking past and hearing that song. Not only did i have to listen to that piece in school while i helped a few younger kids before their exams, but at home every night when my sister was practising. I totally agree that it is one of the most annoying pieces ive heard!

Same here for me. Everybody here however, was doing the Grade 5 Bossa Nova. Well at first it was fun to play, for me even. But when the exams were around the corner and I heard it like 6 times a day, I think that was the limit! Oh another annoying piece was the Grade 2 March Hare. Everybody was playing it!

there was a bossa nova piece for grade 5? oh! how cool!

The grade 2 March Hare hasn't been as bad as Herbie Funky...

QUOTE (cecilia @ Aug 31 2004, 03:50 PM)

The grade 2 March Hare hasn't been as bad as Herbie Funky...

Oh it can be! Two girls who were in my GCSE class kept playing it last term. I wouldn't have had a problem with them playing it... but it was every time I went to work on my compositions in the practice rooms! One played it on a well tuned piano, the other on a totally out of tune piano! TOGETHER! And they wouldn't listen when I pointed out that the speed stays the same all the way through. On the chromatic passages they practically played it as demisemiquavers!!! Someone doesn't read the footnotes... Plus each others bad habits were rubbing off on each other....

QUOTE

And they wouldn't listen when I pointed out that the speed stays the same all the way through.

oops yes. I've heard that version a few times too !!

It's almost impossible to sort out once it's learnt that way.
Played properly I still quite like it.

Maggie

I played it for my Grade 1 exam and I thought it was the best piece out of the three I had.

i know this was wayyyy back when this was posted, but that *thing* has a name?!? hoowww ridiculous?? i thought it was just a crazy piece that somebody made up and now everyone thinks its amazing and people who hadnt played the piano before in their lives learn this and play it over and over and over and over and argh!

breathe...