Public Space for "Improve Your MOZART Sonata With Orli Shaham!"
Fresh off the release of her tonebase course âInside Mozartâs Piano Sonatas,â Orli Shaham is here to help take you to the next step with your Mozart playing.
This Intensive is meant for pianists who are currently working on a movement from one of Mozartâs 18 Sonatas. Whether youâre just getting started with the âEasy Sonataâ K. 545, or are trying to polish one of his more virtuosic Sonatas, you WILL improve your improve your technique and interpretation of Mozart and Classical Sonata Form.
WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC SPACE OF "Improve Your MOZART Sonata With Orli Shaham!"
Unfortunately, you havenât been randomly selected to participate in one of the groups. But you can still follow along with this monthâs assignments in the Public Space and interact there with fellow community members!
Why donât you start by saying hello to everybody and tell us what you look forward to for the next two weeks?
ASSIGNMENT 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbqGvTN2aB4&feature=emb_title
ASSIGNMENT: Pick a movement from one of Mozart's 18 Sonatas to focus on over the next 2 weeks. Begin applying the stylistic, musical, and technical tips Orli gives in her course lessons and assignment video (see below). Post your progress in this thread along with questions for Orli.
Video clips are encouraged but not required!
For less experienced players, you should start with the C major, K545 1st movement. Thereâs no obligation to finish a movement in 2 weeks â you might only get through a single passage, and that's okay! And overachievers are welcome to work on more than one movement.
What matters is how much you can develop your skills within whatever scope youâre comfortable with. If youâre working on a Fantasy, Rondo, Adagio, or other Mozart piece thatâs not a Sonata, thatâs fine. But we encourage you to study a movement from a Sonata as well.âInside Mozartâs Piano Sonatasâ:
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/home?tbModal=courseModal&tbModalSlug=orli-shaham-inside-mozarts-piano-sonatas
- REQUIRED: (1) Watch the âQuick tipsâ video first, and try the warm up and exercises Orli recommends before your practice sessions; (2) Watch the Intro video on the History & Style of the Sonatas; (3) Watch the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd movement video corresponding with you sonata.
- OPTIONAL: You may benefit from studying the video on âOrnamenting Mozartâ and âMozart in Minor,â to the extent that it applies to your piece.
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I'm having a tough time picking a movement to work on! i think I'll listen to Orli's recordings this evening and just grab the first one that sparkles to me!
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One of my favourites to play is 1st movement of K333 in B flat. The opening theme just feels lovely under the hands!
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I have never studied a Mozart Sonata! Sorry for that. But, I watched Orli Shaham's tutorials on tonebass! I was charmed and impressed by her love for Mozart's Sonatas, what a passionate women. She helped me listened to each measure, each note, each air with enthusiasm. On this momentum I printed the whole book of Mozart sonatas. I will therefore, by November 15, choose a sonata and work on one of its sections with pleasure. Thank you Tonebass for teaching us so much, I have a heart full of gratitude for all that, even if I'm not a great pianist, I'm learning a lot from you all!
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I've gone through all the required videos. The finger stretches are not new to me, though I used them in hand-balancing and didn't think about using them for piano as well. The only problem I had with them was that doing them at the piano didn't allow me to keep each finger lined up with its respective joint. We were always so careful about that when I did them before, but we also did them with a little more potential weight (vertical weight, rather than the horizontal pressure) so perhaps that is the difference.
I'm such a kinesthetic learner, that watching the other exercises (especially the Brahms one for trills) confused me somewhat. Visual is my least available learning modality, so I'll have to use the workbook and hope that having the fingering will help my brain to figure it out.
I thoroughly enjoyed the history/style lecture. Looking forward to seeing other thoughts and hopefully some videos from everyone.
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This is my first experience with Alberti Bass - I'm finding it challenging to keep it from overpowering the theme at the beginning of the first movement of K545 (that is, when I can actually play everything together - I have, though, come up with some creative sounds of annoyance). I'm trying to decide whether to focus on just the themes or try to learn the entire exposition - or just work on the first 12 measures. At any rate, I'll move slowly - I'll try to have the first 4 measures recorded by Monday (much slower than allegro), and then decide which direction I'll go for the remainder of the week. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm having fun!
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I had planned originally to learn Mozart's little Minuet in G in this time-frame, which is more my current speed! But I thought to challenge myself quite a bit by learning part of this Sonata, K545. It has indeed been a challenge! I hestitated to post this recording - among other things, it's painfully slow. But, one must start somewhere, and this is my somewhere to start. This is just the first 4 measures. I'm enjoying the scales, but stopped the recording just before they began. My hope is that by the end of the two weeks I can post an improved video with a slightly quicker tempo which includes the next few measures.
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Michelle R Thatâs good even playing. Keep going. The scales are fun to play. I played a lot of Haydn sonatas as a beginner which are great to play as well.
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Hazel Thanks, Hazel. I'm enjoying myself - Haydn sounds like a good idea. I'll give his Sonatas a look next week.
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Michelle R that's a great start and excellent progress!
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Michelle R Have a look at the sonatinas too!
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Michelle R As Natalie says, a very good start, keep going with this beautiful Mozart melody!
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Natalie Peh Juan Carlos Olite Thank you so much!
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Here we go: Sonata KV 282 1st movement exposition 2nd attempt. (I had to cut out the first oneâŠ
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Thatâs lovely!
Andrea Buckland
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Andrea Buckland Beautiful! Love this sonata. You have captured the mood so well.
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Andrea Buckland That sounds nice! You have me feeling calm and mellow :)
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Andrea Buckland Sounds very nice, Andrea! Beautifully sung!
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Hazel Thank you very much, Hazel! Looking forward to listen to your Mozart!
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Vidhya Bashyam thank you, dear Vidhya - hope I can hear your Mozart soon as well!
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- Natalie Peh thanks, dear Natalie! How are you doing with your movement? Sorry I canât listen! Maybe in three weeks?
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Juan Carlos Olite Many thanks, dear Juan Carlos! Looking forward to your upload!
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Andrea Buckland absolutely lovely! So calm and peaceful. Thank you for sharing.
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Andrea Buckland yes, for sure! I would like that! :)
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Michelle R many thanks for listening, Michelle! Looking forward to listen to your upload.
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I was working on K545 so I will keep working on it. Hopefully I will have something to share soon.
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First approach to this sonata. Trills are an authentic headache in the first movement. I'd like to try more videos of this piece (third movement, another of the first movement...) but there is not much time in two weeks course.
