At 03:30 I had a pernano lesson, in which I played for my teacher the Bach Prelude and Fugue that I plan to do for G8. I had fingered out half of the Prelude, since I thought I might as well be able to do the first half before I bother with the second, and so the second page was blank. My teacher, up until now, had stressed to me heavily how important it is that I finger it out and use fingering I feel most comfortable with. However, today, she fingered out more than half of the second page, with minimum input from me, with fingering I disagree with!
Basically, I'm asking, would it be tactful just to rub it out and have it different for next lesson? She's a darn good teacher apart from one minor annoyance...
Full Version: Bach Prelude And Fugue
Obviously I don't know your teacher but I always changes fingering my teacher put in if I find an easier way to do it myself. My teacher encourages that. It is a very personal so I don't think there is anything wrong with changing it.
If you find a way that suits you (and the flow of the music) better then that should be fine.
The main thing I think, is that whatever fingering you decide on, stick to it rigidly from then on so you lawyas know exactly what's happening - especially with fugues
The main thing I think, is that whatever fingering you decide on, stick to it rigidly from then on so you lawyas know exactly what's happening - especially with fugues
Just write your own fingering above hers, and then she'll be quite happy to see that you've taken her input into account, but found a better and more comfortable way, which she'll be even more delighted about. 
Hi,
I assume you are talking about the A flat one no. 17?
Yes it is vitally important to work out the fingering on any piece, especially Bach, and it is important to be able to do it alone. However, don't be too quick to dismiss your teachers advise on this one, particularly if her imposing fingering on you is a rare event. There are some particularly tricky bits to get up to speed and to keep it moving evenly in this one, I have just checked my copy and I have WATCH FINGERS scribbled all over it from when I learnt it many years ago.
I would look at her fingering, try and see why she has fingered it as she has, then if you still violently disagree, write in your own and discuss it next week.
Good luck, its a fantastic piece to play when its up to speed, which others are you doing?
D
I assume you are talking about the A flat one no. 17?
Yes it is vitally important to work out the fingering on any piece, especially Bach, and it is important to be able to do it alone. However, don't be too quick to dismiss your teachers advise on this one, particularly if her imposing fingering on you is a rare event. There are some particularly tricky bits to get up to speed and to keep it moving evenly in this one, I have just checked my copy and I have WATCH FINGERS scribbled all over it from when I learnt it many years ago.
I would look at her fingering, try and see why she has fingered it as she has, then if you still violently disagree, write in your own and discuss it next week.
Good luck, its a fantastic piece to play when its up to speed, which others are you doing?
D
Another useful tip...
Well, I'm doin this for my A list piece for Grade 8 in November, and my piano teacher just told me that with the first two pages (i.e. the Prelude), in Bach, you separate the quavers (but not staccato). But she said you can't start doing this until the fingering is pretty much sorted and learnt.
And believe me, it's a lot harder than it sounds, especially with those semiquavers before that need to be played legato, but after a while, it's not that bad.
And you should use the fingering that is easiest for you, after all, it is you who's taking the exam. Especially in this piece, where fingering is really important! And another tip is to look closely at the held notes in the Fugue, sometimes there are places where you want to lift your finger off but it has to stay there while your other fingers do more work!
Hope this is of use,
DomTre
Well, I'm doin this for my A list piece for Grade 8 in November, and my piano teacher just told me that with the first two pages (i.e. the Prelude), in Bach, you separate the quavers (but not staccato). But she said you can't start doing this until the fingering is pretty much sorted and learnt.
And believe me, it's a lot harder than it sounds, especially with those semiquavers before that need to be played legato, but after a while, it's not that bad.
And you should use the fingering that is easiest for you, after all, it is you who's taking the exam. Especially in this piece, where fingering is really important! And another tip is to look closely at the held notes in the Fugue, sometimes there are places where you want to lift your finger off but it has to stay there while your other fingers do more work!
Hope this is of use,
DomTre
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