Lesson notes. April 27, 2025.
Skills Technique Level 9. Still familiarizing yourself with the new elements introduced in this level.
1. Sonata in F Major by Mozart
Triplet section:
• Notes are coming along well.
• Prioritize consistent fingering.
• Use chord recognition to help predict and prepare upcoming passages. This will support smoother fingering transitions.
Page 1, last line, measure 2:
• Be careful with the quarter notes – you’re playing them nearly as fast as eighth notes.
Page 2, line 1, measure 4:
• Start now with either clear articulation (per the score) or decide to play a longer, full-measure phrase.
• Both are acceptable.
Line 3, trill:
• The trill notes were incorrect – they should be C and B (a second lower than what you played).
Line 4, measure 3:
• Pay attention to the sixteenth notes leading into the trill.
Line 5, measure 3:
• Make sure the right hand doesn’t get confused with the wrong group of notes.
1. Sonata in F Major by Mozart
Triplet section:
• Notes are coming along well.
• Prioritize consistent fingering.
• Use chord recognition to help predict and prepare upcoming passages. This will support smoother fingering transitions.
Page 1, last line, measure 2:
• Be careful with the quarter notes – you’re playing them nearly as fast as eighth notes.
Page 2, line 1, measure 4:
• Start now with either clear articulation (per the score) or decide to play a longer, full-measure phrase.
• Both are acceptable.
Line 3, trill:
• The trill notes were incorrect – they should be C and B (a second lower than what you played).
Line 4, measure 3:
• Pay attention to the sixteenth notes leading into the trill.
Line 5, measure 3:
• Make sure the right hand doesn’t get confused with the wrong group of notes.
2. Prelude No. 2 by George Gershwin
Main Theme (right hand blues tilt):
• The slight bluesy tilt you’ve added is nice, but be careful – it’s starting to drift too far from the correct rhythm. Currently, it sounds more like incorrect counting than expressive interpretation. Don’t apply the same tilt every time.
Left Hand Theme Section:
• This part feels less confident than the right-hand theme.
• Practice left hand alone first. Then, play both hands together, but simplify the right hand to just hold chord changes.
Main Theme (right hand blues tilt):
• The slight bluesy tilt you’ve added is nice, but be careful – it’s starting to drift too far from the correct rhythm. Currently, it sounds more like incorrect counting than expressive interpretation. Don’t apply the same tilt every time.
Left Hand Theme Section:
• This part feels less confident than the right-hand theme.
• Practice left hand alone first. Then, play both hands together, but simplify the right hand to just hold chord changes.
