Notes on Schumann's Album for the Young No. 14 "Kleine Studie"

Here is a reference guide for those working on this piece. Images of the individual measures can be found in the gallery below.

Measure 3, 19, 51 - You need to be more inside to play the F# in the left hand comfortably.

Measures 4-5 & 20-21 - A redistribution of the line between the right and left hand make this easier to play. The 3rd note of the first triplet is played by the right hand instead of the left.

Measures 9-10 & 25-26 - Here a redistribution of the 2nd and 3rd note of the first triplet to the right hand allow for the thumbs to be uncrossed.

Measure 16 - Start the triplet figure more inside so that the left thumb can play the A# comfortably without twisting.

Measure 42 - Here both hands need to be inside causing a slight collision of the hands. If you move the left hand out of the way the right hand can play inside more comfortably.

Measure 44 - The right hand needs to move inside so that the right thumb can play C#. 

 

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 2 Practice Day 1

NEW PIECE ALERT!! We're on to the 2nd song in Op 67. Mendelssohn's Songs without Words Op 67 No 2 in F# minor. We going over fingering options and when to hold notes. Lots of great stuff to check out.

We're on to a new piece! Mendelssohn's Songs without Words Op 67 No 2. We talk fingering choices and when to hold notes. Exciting stuff! More info at www.jacobsilverpiano.com
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Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 4 Spinning Song Trouble Shooting

We're taking a break from Op 67 No 1 and going back to Op 67 No 4 "Spinning Song". Today we trouble shoot memorization issues and soft fast playing. Enjoy!

We're back to the spinning song and doing some trouble shooting. I cover topics from memorization techniques and soft fast playing. More info at www.jacobsilverpiano.com
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Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 13

Dynamics! Dynamics! Dynamics! We start pulling the nuances out of this piece. Check it out!

Dynamics, Dynamics, Dynamics! We're nearing the end of learning the piece and we are getting to the really find melodic and dynamic refinements. More info at www.jacobsilverpiano.com. Private lessons available.
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Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 12

Here on day 12 we are starting really bring the music out. We start working on dynamics, phrasing, and bringing out the melody. Check it out!

With most of the moving parts together we start working on phrasing, dynamics, and bringing out the melody. This is where the true music starts to come out. More info at www.jacobsilverpiano.com
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Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 9

We're on Day 9! We have most of the choreography together. Today we look at more specific passages that are giving us difficulty and try to problem solve. Enjoy!

We've managed to put together most of the choreography for the piece. Now we do an assessment and focuses on specific passages that's giving us problems. Piano lessons available - book now at www.jacobsilverpiano.com
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Mendelsohhn Songs without Words - Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 1

This will be an on going series documenting the learning of a piece from start to finish. We begin with day of of Mendelsohhn's Songs without Words Op 67 No 1. Enjoy!

This will be an ongoing series showing my progression learning Mendelssohn's Songs with out Words - Op 67 No 1. I am available for piano lessons on the UWS of NYC or via skype. More information at www.jacobsilverpiano.com

Practice Log - Mendelssohn "Songs without Words" Op 67 No 4

I wanted to shed some light on the type of practicing I do. In todays video lesson I go over a passage in Mendelssohn's Songs without Words Op 67 No 4 "Spinning Song". Again I mention a lot of terms from the Taubman Approach. I dont explain each one in detail but hopefully the video is still helpful. If you'd like to take lessons that focus on the Taubman Approach or piano in general I am available for lessons on the UWS of NYC and vis skype.

In todays piano lesson I wanted to shed light on my practice routine. I go over a specific passage in Mendelssohn's Lider ohne Worte (Songs without Words) Op 67 No 4 Spinning Song. The passage is mm. 10 - mm.16 in my edition but if you have your own score you should be able to follow along.

Piano Basics Part II

We continue on with dropping into the key and combine that with the In and Out motion to start stringing notes together. The concepts that I am going over were developed by Dorthy Taubman. She called her piano technique The Taubman Approach. It is a revolutionary complete piano technique that allows for virtuosity and complete ease while playing the piano. The Taubman Approach is continued on by Edna Golandsky and the Golandsky Institute. 

I want to introduce you to the basic motions so that you can start to experience how comfortable this type of playing can be. 

Yesterday I went over dropping into the key with each finger individually. Today we combine that with the in out and motion. The key take aways are-

  • The IN motion is towards the piano - The OUT motion is away from the piano. 
  • The motion is initiated from the back of the forearm. 
  • In and Out are motion need to be measured depending on the context of the passage

Again this is a basic introduction and you will need to work with an instructor in person to master the approach. I am available to coach you on the Taubman Approach and look forward to showing you more!

In this video piano lesson I cover the next basic motions you will need to develop a complete piano technique. The In and Out motion was developed by Dorthy Taubman. Her work was called the Taubman Approach and is now continued on by Edna Golandsky and her colleagues at the Golandsky Institute.

Piano Basics Part 1

In today's article I want to go over how to get started at the piano. I already covered how to determine the correct seat height which is a crucial first step in a complete piano technique. Now we can actually start playing notes. The video lesson is about dropping into the keys.  This is the first finger/hand/arm motion you need to master in order to start developing a complete technique.  The key take aways are:

  • Make sure you finger hand and arm drop freely into the key with nothing impeding the motion. You can practice this motion by dropping your arm in your lap.
  • When you land on the keys check your wrist? Is it flat to your hand arm and fingers?
  • Do you feel like the weight of your arm in balanced over your fingertips. The finger should feel solid on the bottom of the key.
  • Knuckles - is your hand collapsed and floppy or is there a pronounced knuckle at each join in your fingers. 

A lot of these things take time to develop and feel. It helps if you can be in person with me so I can check your hands and make sure the motions are correct but hopefully this video helps.

In this piano lesson - I teach how to drop into the keys for the first time. This is a critical motion to master for playing the piano in a easy fluid way. More information can be found at www.jacobsilverpiano.com. I am available for piano lessons in person on the UWS of NYC or via Skype.