I am doing grade 3 piano - I have no teacher due to travelling. One of my pieces - Study in F, says play at tempo 104 which is really slow. When I listen to the CD provided with the pieces book, the pianist is playing it at 118 or 119 - I estimate.
Which is correct please!?
Thanks
Full Version: Grade 3 Piano Advice Please
The recordings are often significantly faster that students can comfortably play. Metronome markings are there as a guide, not an absolute marking. I would suggest that you aim for a speed that feels comfortable and makes musical sense, and that you can play absolutely accurately - you will score more marks that way!
I am playing this piece for exam too.
I play it at around 96 but this may not suit you. Personally I think this sounds better played at a little slower pace especially the middle section.
The CD's are always much faster across the board I've found. I was trying a clarinet piece along with the piano accompaniment on the CD and nearly passed out it was that fast!
Lois
I play it at around 96 but this may not suit you. Personally I think this sounds better played at a little slower pace especially the middle section.
The CD's are always much faster across the board I've found. I was trying a clarinet piece along with the piano accompaniment on the CD and nearly passed out it was that fast!
Lois
The teaching notes suggest around 104 - 108. And even that is only a guide.
I think it can easily sound rushed, and quite like a relaxed pace too.
Thinking back, I had a pupil play this at the summer session. I don't remember thinking about the speed! it sounded good the way she played it (and gained 27 marks). I'm fairly certain it wasn't faster than 104.
I think it can easily sound rushed, and quite like a relaxed pace too.
Thinking back, I had a pupil play this at the summer session. I don't remember thinking about the speed! it sounded good the way she played it (and gained 27 marks). I'm fairly certain it wasn't faster than 104.
I'm playing it at the same speed as the ABRSM recording. It's taken a bit of work to get it "clean" though, especially with the pedal and maintaining separation after the LH slurs. 
I like it more on the relaxed side. My husband thinks it should move along quicker.
I had 2 pupils who played it quite successfully, One played it a little quicker than the other but their difficulty (both of them) was to get the right hand to sing out above the left slightly (for the left hand to sound like 'ripples' underneath) and to make it very flowing.
Very pretty piece - a real favourite.
I had 2 pupils who played it quite successfully, One played it a little quicker than the other but their difficulty (both of them) was to get the right hand to sing out above the left slightly (for the left hand to sound like 'ripples' underneath) and to make it very flowing.
Very pretty piece - a real favourite.
QUOTE(dolce@piano @ Oct 16 2009, 02:20 PM) 
... their difficulty (both of them) was to get the right hand to sing out above the left slightly (for the left hand to sound like 'ripples' underneath) and to make it very flowing.
Ditto. I never thought my pupil quite managed this - LH was nearly always a bit too strong.
I always use the accompaniment from the CD and it's always so fast!!!
I think you should go at a speed you like.
I think you should go at a speed you like.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.