Group 1
Welcome to the latest TWO WEEK INTENSIVE on tonebase!
For the next two weeks either start learning OR take a Chopin mazurka in your repertoire to the next level through guidance and assignments from Jarred Dunn! Learn about stylistic advice, aspects of the dance and more!
Pianists of all levels are welcome.
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Assignment #1: Seeing the Mazurka
1) Watch Mazurka Dance Lessons 1, 2, and 3:
http://www.tance.edu.pl/en/lessons/show/dance/720
-Pay close attention to Lesson 3: the lesson builds rhythms from what we hear as a Waltz into a clear accent on 2nd beat, 3rd beat, and both 2nd/3rd beats
2) Learn one Mazurka
Choose one from the following suggested opuses for the whole TWI.
Week 1: Practice the LH:
-Op. 6 nr. 1, nr. 2
-Op. 7 nr. 1, nr. 2
-Op. 24 nr. 1 or 2
-Op. 30 nr. 1 or 2
-Op. 67 any
- or a different mazurka
Practice Activities:
a) Identify/mark all articulation in LH parts.
b) Clap the rhythm, emphasize accents and count aloud (speak louder for accented beats, eg. "one, Two, THREE" or "one, TWO, Three" etc.)
c) Identify/mark any unknown harmonic shifts or chords.
d) Find all cadences and notice unfamiliar accents (beat 2).
e) Voice tops of chords in LH or find a moving line (could be the middle notes of a chord that change).
f) Use RH for chords and LH for bass lines.
g) Circle any rests/pauses - they need to be heard.
Upload videos of your LH practicing/playing.
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ASSIGNMENT 2
Second Assignment: Continue your new Mazurka
Week 2: Practice the RH:
Listen to instruments, timbres, and moods in the following:
Kujawiak: https://youtu.be/RjV1bpxi0bc
Mazurek Dąbrowskiego: https://youtu.be/mTx45S-dQmQ?t=4
Chopin Mazurkas/Folk Mazurkas: https://youtu.be/n8OyddwnVbE
Look For/Listen For:
a) Learn the soprano part (melody), always sing/scream with it when you play. Think of dancers in this video: https://youtu.be/p6svoYBEWCs?t=10
b) Add ornaments after you learned the rhythms of the melody.
c) Dotted rhythms and triplets must sound distinctly different (no slackened dotted-eighth/sixteenths).
d) Accents on beats two and three can be subtle: try different levels of pressure/weight on the keys, to create at least four different accent types: sudden accent, leaning/swaying accent, light accent, heavy accent.
e) Remember that recording yourself is the best way to find out if you're actually doing what you intend. Record your melodic playing/singing/screaming whenever you practice.
Upload videos of your RH practicing/playing.
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- Sign-Up : starting July 14
- Course Period: July 17-31
- Class Size: ALL are welcome!
- Optional check-In via Zoom: July 27th 9am PT
CHECK IN VIDEO!
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Hello,
Happy to join here.
I am a 7 year old pianist especially loves Chopin pieces.
My current repository includes:
- Waltz in B Minor
- Sostenuto in E Flat Major
- Waltz in A Minor
Wondering which other Chopin piece I can lean now since I can hardly reach the octave.
Thanks.
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Yohan Georgekutty nice to meet you, Yohan!
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Andrea Buckland Thank You
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Yohan Georgekutty So nice to meet you, Yohan. I'm an adult and I can barely reach an octave also. You are so advanced already! Can't wait to hear you.
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Gail Starr Glad to hear from you. Search with "Yohan Georgekutty" on YouTube and you can see the above Chopin pieces and other piano performances uploaded on my YouTube channel. Video links posted here got removed so that I can't post the direct link here. Let me see if I can post a preview video.
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Yohan Georgekutty mazurkas that don’t require octaves are rare, but op6 nr4 in e flat minor would work if you leave out a repeated 8ve or two in the middle section. Same with op63 nr2 in f minor.
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Yohan Georgekutty Wow! You are amazing Yohan. I watch some video on your channel, you are so good! I am glad to meet you! I am in the group 4! And I like to come on the other groups to read and see what others do with this challenge. Nice to meet you! Wich Mazurka you will play ?
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Aline Valade Thank You very much. I have chosen op63 nr2 in f minor. However not sure if I can work on the coming weeks on it. Started working in Bach's Invention No 1. Will move to Chopin op63 nr2 in f minor once I am done with the Bach. I will upload the video on my channel once it is completed. Leave a comment on one of my videos so that I can inform you when the video is uploaded.
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Hi! Looking forward to learn how to dance the Mazurka with my fingers! I’m thinking of learning op.56 No 3.
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Andrea Buckland Op. 56 nr. 3 is the longest of the Chopin mazurkas: at 220 measures, it is longer than the 2nd ballade! Can't wait to hear you play with this intricate poem.
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Jarred Dunn Hi Jarred, can I ask a question please about the section from bars 89-104? Do all these chords in the left hand have to be arpeggiated or can I help out with my right hand when possible? Thank you!
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Andrea Buckland RH can help any time in this passage, as long as voice leading and melodic contours are exquisitely lucid and sostenuto.
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Jarred Dunn thank you!
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Jarred Dunn Exquisitely lucid - so nicely said!
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I have chosen op 6 n 1. (it is the only one in my Chopin book - so perhaps it chose me)
It is in F sharp minor, an unusual key.
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Richard George Littlewood great! It's a real dance piece with a lot of chromaticisms right from the start. Glad it chose you, can't wait to hear you play it.
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Hello, I'm Monika. I'm learning the Op. 17 Mazurkas, as I love all four of them equally.
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Monika Tusnady fantastic! Op. 17 nr. 4 was my first "big Mazurka" after learning op. 63. I recommend Carlo Zecchi's recording - it's wonderful. Can't wait to hear you play these!
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Monika Tusnady https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv5rO0hvNdc
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Welcome Everyone! Witaj (PL = welcome)! I'm happy to see so many of you wanting to improve your Chopin Mazurka playing. I'm going to start replying to comments now and hope to see your work soon!
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I’m going to learn op.41 #4. It will be my first Mazurka.
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Michael Dunning amazing piece of music. I recommend listening to others in c-sharp minor (op6 nr2, op63 nr3) to get an idea of how Chopin uses this key signature. Can’t wait to hear you play it!
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Hi all! It’s been a while since I don’t study so this is exciting! I will work on Op. 17 No. 2!
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Paula Alizo what a beautiful choice, Chopin uses wonderful chromatic moments like flute playing at the cadences of op17 nr2. Listen to Ewa Poblocka’s recording; it’s gorgeous. Welcome back to piano!
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Hello Jarred Dunn !! Here’s me playing left hand, not perfect but a sketch of how I feel it and excited to hear your recommendations :D thank you!
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