Who else is learning this for their Grade 7 piano list C (ABRSM)? I'm really struggling with the rhythm in the left hand and at the same time keeping the melody going!!

HELP!

Try playing it hands separately first, then put them together slowly.

Then just build it up and increase the speed gradually and you should get the hang of it soon.

don't worry! i've done this and i know what you are going through! Could you perhaps be more specific at which points in the piece you are having troubles with? For now though, i have these tips to offer (sorry if they don't work for you though!):

You've got to make sure that you go at a SLOW pace where you are comfortable and make hardly any mistakes. Then, when you get faster, it will be easier to pick up. do not let your Left Hand get carried away! Make sure you have it under control, if necessary, practise it alone a few times and then add the rest.

you've have got to count in your head, but do not make the music sound to strict (it isn't a baroque piece!!). to prevent this, always observe the phrasing, slurs and the shape of the rhythm (particularly bars 9-12 and 13-16)

Also, if you are having trouble with bars 21-23, tap it on your lap or a surface without using the keys on the piano. It is absolutely essential you get the rhythm correct.

For bars 25-33 (and other bars like these), keep the LH rhythm constantly in your mind, when playing or otherwise, so that it instictively comes out and you don't need to worry about it and so you can concentrate on the Right Hand. I used the left hand as a kind of guidance for the right hand, but im not sure if this works for everyone.

Ok, well, i said as much as i could, because there are lots of spots that can be tricky. Hope all goes well!

I'm doing this for my grade 7 too! (in june! ARGHH!)
I found that listening to the recording a fair bit helped so that i really knew the piece, and also trying the hands seperately so i know exactly what each hand is doing before i try again. Also, i've been playing the piece everyday to get it stuck in my head, and within a week i could play it from memory.
The bit that i'm really having problems with is the part on the 2nd page where you have the triplets against the crotchets with the funny rhythms in each hand, and i'm slowly getting it, but its still dodgey!
if you have any advice on the 3 against 2 rhythms on page 2, i'd be greatful!

I know thats not much help, but good luck with your exam!

Jacob.

3 against 2 rhythms can be done simply by using a technique my teacher taught me

though showing you over the net won't be so easy...

basically, have your hands and clap them to these words

"nice cup of tea" - to try and make that rhythm clearer to you, there's a slight break between "nice" and "cup", then the rest of the words follow on.

both hands start on nice, then if you've got triplets in your right hand, the right hand will take cup, left hand take of, then right hand back on tea.

repeat it and you'll end up having 3 against two.

you can practise it using the piano by playing a contrary motion C scale, with one hand playing in triplets and the other in quavers, and the hands will both land on C at 3 octaves.

hope that works!

my piano tutor uses 'dum de a dum' but I do like your one!

I started this piece learning the left hand first and then the right hand just followed

while were on this piece my tremelos in bars 33-34 are sounding rather untidy; which notes are supposed to be held down and which ones are played as a tremelo ?

I think all the notes are meant to be tremeloed, but when i played it, i think i ended up holding down the RH B (and possibly LH G) in bar 33, and maybe the Eb in RH for bar 34. Sorry, its a while since i played it ,I would go and try it out, but its a bit late, and i dont think my family would be too pleased

the 'c' in the left hand

I'm playing this !!!!
I actually really like it, even though I'm kind of more classical (haha or so I've been told)!!!

Anyway, the threes against twos are quite difficult, but my teacher told me to get the LH so that you aren't thinking about it. So basically I practised the right hand triplets over and over until they became second nature, and gradually added the RH!

Listening to the recording helps a lot (if only I could find mine...), especially on the second page when there's a few strange bits (can't remember what they are and the book's upstairs ... lazy I know!)

Good Luck with it !!!!

Hey I'm playing this too.

Play it slowly and PRACTISE.

In fact, my piano teacher says that sometimes I play it too fast....lol XD