Our latest Practice Clinic recording features answers to questions on tackling double notes, pedalling, building muscle memory and tempo in works by Schumann, Mozart and Brahms.
Practice clinic questions
Schumann Von fremden Ländern und Menschen from Kinderszenen, Op. 15 No. 3 – How should one pedal Bar 8 – should I pedal only once, at the beginning when playing B, and carry on OR pedal twice (i.e when G is played with the left hand) as part of the accompaniment? Also how should one combine the ritardando with the fermata in Bars 13 – 14?
Mozart Nine Variations on a Minuet by Duport, K573 Variation IV – Can you please advise on methods to improve rapid runs of 3rds and 6ths (double notes)?
Developing Muscle Memory – I have seen how you have demonstrated how your muscle memory is developed to the point that you can play a piece without consciously being aware of the notes. This can leave you entirely free to put 100% effort into playing musically and artistically. Sadly it is very rare that my muscle memory is so well developed, only those very few pieces which over the years I have played over and over and over (and over!!!) again. With such pieces, the music can really flow freely and is so much more expressive. Can you give any advice on how to speed up the building of muscle memory to attain the degree you have demonstrated?
Brahms Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118 No.2 – Could you please demonstrate the best bars to put in some changes in tempo / rubato in this piece?
Further resources & links
The following are links to resources mentioned in this practice clinic:
- Schumann Von fremden Ländern und Menschen from Kinderszenen, Op. 15 No. 3
- Debussy La fille aux cheveux de lin (study edition)
- Brahms Intermezzo in A Major (Op. 118 No. 2)
- Playing Double Notes at the Advanced Level (Online Module)
Next practice clinic & new format
Going forward, our practice clinics are no longer taking place on Facebook live but are rather pre-recorded and published alongside our regular blog posts. Our next clinic will be published in November. Please sign-up to our mailing list here for updates on future practice clinic dates and to receive links to the recordings when they become available.
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How they work?
Further information on how our practice clinics work is available here or please click here to find out more about the Online Academy.
Online Academy subscribers can submit questions for practice clinics up to two weeks before each session. This can be done using the link provided on the Online Academy dashboard under “subscription benefits” (click here to sign-in and visit your dashboard).
Further information on how our practice clinics work is available here or please click here to find out more about the Online Academy.