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.

  1. “The Little Shepherd” – from Children’s Corner

  2. “The Snow is Dancing” – from Children’s Corner

  3. “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.

  1. “Clair de Lune” – from Suite Bergamasque

  2. “Reverie” – Dreamy, flowing, and deeply expressive

  3. “Arabesque No. 1” – A tone-painting in flowing motion

 

Your Week 1 task:

  1. Pick your piece

  2. Comment below what you’ve chosen (and why, if you'd like!)

  3. 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!

85 replies

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    • Kyle_Johnson
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Something from Image II - maybe 'Goldfish'

      • Pediatrician
      • a_weymann
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

        yay! We’ll have the complete set of “Images II” for this challenge!

      • Church organist and amateur pianist in my free time. Otherwise a lawyer and sinologist now studying psychology.
      • Astrida_Gobina
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

        How cool is that!!!!  I just will have to record and submit my part for the recital, because of my time zone.

      • Becky
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

      there’s a concert???

      • Church organist and amateur pianist in my free time. Otherwise a lawyer and sinologist now studying psychology.
      • Astrida_Gobina
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       Yes, at the end of this challenge on September 3. We all can participate either by playing our pieces live or submitting a recording.

      • Pediatrician
      • a_weymann
      • 2 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       not a concert, I think - just a watch party where some of the submitted final videos are shown. 

    • Ursina_Boehm
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I will be on vacation for two weeks, but as I’ve missed so many opportunities to participate and play in the Tonebase concerts and challenges, I would like to sign up with a piece that I have already played in a concert last November. Ondine, from the second book of the Préludes. It will be interesting to see how I “digested” the prelude in these 8 months and what I can improve this time. 

    • Kenneth.1
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Images 1, Reflets dans l'eau

    • Gloria
    • 11 days ago
    • Reported - view

    What  is the 2nd week task? 
    it seems like I am not receiving any update from Dominic ? 
     

    • Retired tennis professional
    • David.45
    • 10 days ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm just joining in,  as I've been away on holiday for the past 3 weeks with no access to a piano....

    I want to revisit  'La cathédral engloutie'. I played this many years ago, studying with a brilliant teacher in France, Marie-Thèrése Favre , and still have the score with all of her markings. It's always been one of my favourite pieces, but is now very rusty ! 

Content aside

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