Have any piano teachers got students learning the Clementi Sonatina op 36 No 3 for Grade 5 list A? I was just wondering if anyone found the fingering in the Associated Board edition awkward. I played that Sonatina many years ago and it may just be a case of the fingering I learnt then seeming easier because its more familiar.

I always tell my pupils to try the given fingering in a piece, use what is useful and change the rest to what suits their hand. They always seem very surprised when it is explained to them that any fingering in their book is what just ONE person decided would work best for him/her, and that his/her hand size and shape is probably completely different to the pupil's!

Thanks for the reply Jo. I change fingering too to accomodate different sizes and shapes of hand. Usually I would experiment with different fingering patterns to see what suits best, but the fingering for the Clementi is impossibly unnatural.

QUOTE (noodle @ May 29 2005, 10:32 AM)

Have any piano teachers got students learning the Clementi Sonatina op 36 No 3 for Grade 5 list A? I was just wondering if anyone found the fingering in the Associated Board edition awkward. I played that Sonatina many years ago and it may just be a case of the fingering I learnt then seeming easier because its more familiar.

Hi there I am using this Clementi sonatina a lot with my grade 5 candidates. Last term I had someone play it who got 29/30 in their exam. The edition I have got is my own AB one from when I was learning the piano it must be 30 years old (the Kendall Taylor edition). So I would imagine it may be different to yours. The fingering in this edition is pretty good I have only altered a few bars that I am not happy with. If you let me know what bars you are not happy with I might be able to help you. I looked at another publishers edition and the fingering was truly dreadful.

QUOTE (adagiok5 @ May 29 2005, 05:38 PM)

I looked at another publishers edition and the fingering was truly dreadful.

I'm glad to hear you say that. I thought I was going mad!!

Noodle

Hello and how are you?

Anyway,here I am sitting in front of the 1980 G5 version. It says reproduced from the AB Ed of Clementi's Sonatinas ( Kendall Taylor ). I also sat Scarlatti, Kp.453 and Jensen Elfin Dance,Op.33 no.5.

( For those of you who moan about scales..."major and minor (melodic or harmonic at candidate's choice ): hands together in similar motion 1 octave apart,in all keys ( 3 octaves)...Contrary motion...D, A, E and Eb...majors...Yep no harmonics....

I teach Clementi quite a lot but prefer Alfred Ed to AB Ed.Does that answer your question...plus I still change the fingering....?

Change it!!!

Can I invite you for a cap "puccini"o with Puccini as background music ( ) once the AB cafe opens?

Hi Semele, long time no speak. I'm fine thanks. Hope you are too!
Yes, thanks for the invitation. Looking forward to meeting in the AB cafe!! Could you email me please? Click on the yahoo thing below - address is there.

Yes I have changed the fingering for the Clementi. I found the fingering in the AB edition deadful. My fingers just refused to play it, and thats not normal.

Hi Noodle

Love to email you,but up to my eyeballs with glossing...so later on this evening?

Still listening to Summer Wine. 20 quid in HMV. I think I will stick with the library fine until I have time to Nero it!

Take care

Are we talking about bar 14 R.H.? Putting thumb on the first note (a) instead of 3, followed by the C major scale fingering? If so, been there, altered it!