Debussy Challenge – Week 1 Goal “Pick Your Piece!”
“Pick Your Piece!”
This week is all about choosing your Debussy repertoire. Whether you're just starting your journey into Debussy’s world or you've played some of his works before, the goal is to pick a piece that inspires you—and challenges you just enough.
We’ve curated a list to help you decide:
🎹 Beginner-Friendly Selections (Level 1–3):
Perfect for players exploring Debussy for the first time. Focus on color, shape, and mood.
“The Little Shepherd” – from Children’s Corner
“The Snow is Dancing” – from Children’s Corner
“La fille aux cheveux de lin” (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) – from Préludes, Book 1
🎼 Intermediate Selections (Level 4–6):
For players ready to dive deeper into voicing, pedaling, and expression.
“Clair de Lune” – from Suite Bergamasque
“Reverie” – Dreamy, flowing, and deeply expressive
“Arabesque No. 1” – A tone-painting in flowing motion
Your Week 1 task:
Pick your piece
Comment below what you’ve chosen (and why, if you'd like!)
If you’re unsure, ask for recommendations—we’re here to help
We’ll begin practicing next week—this one is just about inspiration and intention.
Let the dreamlike journey begin!
48 replies
-
After researching the list for "beginners," I'm even more convinced that I'll be cheering everyone on from the sidelines (which I'm perfectly ok with)! "The Little Shepherd" is on the Tonebase level 5 list, and I know I'm not there yet. I'd rather not learn just part of a piece, so unless my teacher thinks there is something reasonably within my reach, I'll happily watch everyone make beautiful music. It looks like there will be a terrific selection to enjoy.
-
Clair de Lune: I learned it a year ago. I`ve been practicing again during the Summer. My aim is to improve and share my recording.
If I have time, I would like to sight read La fille aux cheveu de lin.
Thank you for the inspiration Dominic.
-
I will do Reflets dans L’eau, from the first Images, and maybe later L’isle Joyeuse. Reflets is one I’ve wanted to learn for the past couple of years and never got around to it, and L’isle is one that I have learnt before, but do not think I have performed it to its full potential.
-
I'll try "La fille aux cheveux de lin" -have been working at trying to play it from memory make it hang together better. I love the harmonies and want to do it justice.
-
Claire de Lune for me. Read it once or twice but never learned it. Its rhythms on the page look harder than they sound when played by experts! It's been on my list for a long time, time to get going with it.
-
I am working on “Bruyères” from book 2 of the Preludes. I really like the pastoral feeling of this piece. Looking forward to exploring the Debussy sound world.
-
I don't have much time to practice, but I know that joining this challenge will force me to find the time! I've always wanted to learn "Voiles" so I will do what I can!
-
La fille aux cheveux de lin
-
Will use this as an opportunity to learn Voiles. I love its mysterious, haunting quality.
-
I will try Reverie transcribed and transposed for piano and clarinet (with my son on the clarinet)
-
I will learn “Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut” from Images book II.
-
I'm choosing Arabesque #1. I had "self-taught" it many years ago. Now I'm working on it with my piano teacher and realize I have things I need to unlearn before making further progress.
-
La fille aux cheveux de lin.
-
I picked Ballade ,L 70.
It is very beautiful piece, and I am looking forward to learning more about pedaling and techniques that help me to play this well.😊
-
So many different choices…! I have spent the first three days of this week trying to decide between Image Series 2 No.2 Et La lune as Astrida is playing, La Cathédrale engloutie which has been on my ‘to learn list’ since I don’t know when and La puerta del Vino which I’ve been meaning to play since going to the Alhambra several years ago and seeing the gate that inspired the piece. I’m away next week at a summer school so I think I’ll go with La puerta, especially as no one else has mentioned it yet!
-
I'm choosing Debussy's gorgeous Nocturne.
I've learned several of Chopin's Nocturnes and I'm relearning Samuel Barber's, which I played in recital a LONG time ago. I'd like to add the Debussy to my quiver, with at least one by John Field. I think this would make a nice lecture recital for a salon concert this coming Winter.
-
I am working on "Les Fées sont d'exquises danseuses". I have learned this piece years ago and would like to add it to my current list collection of pieces. I love the colours and variety of this piece.
-
Passepied from suite bergamasque. 😬