Eldest lad (12) has just taken his Grade IV and wants to learn something a bit more fun. His mother, who doesn't play, and suffers long from hearing endless scales and so on, loves ragtime and would like him to learn Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer". I have a version in "World Renowned Piano Pieces, Book 1" (compiled by David Willison) but I think that's a bit advanced for him.

Does anyone know of a suitable arrangement (approx. Grade V) that would suit?

Thanks

Edward

I have to confess to being not too keen on simplified versions of anything when there is so much great music around at all levels.

If Mum likes Joplin, how about “Solace – the Mexican Serenade” – it’s a lovely piece, and he would probably be able to start it at G4 (and it will improve as he does). Alternatively, Magnetic Rag is probably one of the easier ones.

IMHO, there is not a single redundant note in any of any of Joplin’s compositions and it would be a shame to dilute them when he may well be able to start the real thing in a year or so…

Mole

He has the chops to play the piece, but his hands aren't quite big enough for the octaves required.

I'll take a look at Solace and Magnetic. Thanks

Edward

I have a simplified version in "All the tunes you've ever wanted to play" Omnibus Press - arranged by Carol Barratt (who is a good simplifier, though obviously simplification is the work of the devil). I also have one in my head from when I was a kid - bit more difficult to let you have that one...

How about if we both concentrate REALLY hard - maybe we could do the Vulcan MindMeld?

I'm not sure either of us are capable of that level of concentration...

I've taken a look at this on Google Books and it doesn't seem to have "The Entertainer" - are you sure it's this one, and not "More Of ATTYEWTP" or "Even More of ATTYEWTP"?

Edward

I have 'Scott Joplin arranged for Easy piano by John Brimhall' which might fit the bill.

Found it here.

He could try playing the piece as it is, but not doing the octaves (ie. just playing the one line). I'm not sure if this would sound right, but at least it isn't really changing the music too much. I've never played the RH octaves in the second section, because when I started learning the piece my hands were too small, and it's become a habit.

You are quite right - I am an idiot
It is in whichever one it's listed as being in - I don't have the other ones to hand.
My brain is not working at the moment...

If you can get hold of an old copy of Pauline Halls piano time book 2 there is an ok arrangement in it, the revamped new book is too easy and diluted. He will play it very easily but it's good fun.

Yes this version was on for Grade 2 in the Royal Irish Academy a few years ago. A grade 4 level pupil would learn it quite easily and let's face it, pupils love to play The Entertainer!

One hint though...try to find a version of it on CD that is VERY SLOW...I find it very hard to stop pupils playing it at about 500 mph!

It's in 'More of....'. The book's blue.

Joshua Rifkin is probably the obvious choice.


Joplin's own instruction went something like "Its never right to play ragtime fast"

Mole

*goes off to play Gladiolus*

Oh, let them have some fun - I always played it at 500 mph when I was at school!


Thank you sarah - that's the answer I should have given earlier

I think the version I now play is a mixture of one I learned as a kid plus a few extra bits that got added on over the years somewhere

In my defence I did learn the proper version of The Maple Leaf and a few others when I got older, but never bothered to learn the Entertainer properly... Anyone who insists on hearing it gets a few bars of my "from memory" version until I get bored and trail off with "er.... and so forth"