Week 4 – Play Through & Share

Welcome to Week 4 of the Romantic Music Challenge.

This week is about letting go of the microscope and trusting the arc you’ve built. You’ve worked through notes, texture, and character. Now it’s time to experience the piece as a whole.

 

This week, your goal is to play through your piece—or your chosen section—as a complete musical thought.

Practice Prompts

Choose one or two and explore:

- Play through without stopping, even if something goes wrong
- Decide where the emotional high point of the piece lives
- Notice where your attention drifts, and gently bring it back to the narrative
- Imagine you’re performing for one specific listener

 

Sharing for This Week

When you’re ready, share a recording of your full piece or selected section. Audio or video is welcome.

We’ll begin compiling submissions for our Romantic Watch Party on February 13, where we’ll listen together and celebrate everyone’s work.

 

Press record, play it through, and let it be what it is!

387 replies

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    • chuck_levin
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    So here's my recording of Rach, op.33 no.3, from his Etudes Tableaux: 

    https://youtu.be/N5yLzs8-jS4

    Looking forward to hearing everyone else.

      • hot4euterpe
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Hello! I think that your video setting is currently on 'private'. 

      • chuck_levin
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Thank you for pointing that out. I've changed the setting so anyone with a link can watch.  I'm thinking I don't need to re-post the link, but if I'm mistaken feel free to let me know. --

      • Victoria_Macdonald
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       I often think Rachmaninoff sounds too bangy. But you really played this so gracefully and tenderly. I loved it!

      • Vanessa_Ellermann
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      I agree with Victoria. Well done, Chuck!

      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Great playing, Chuck! It has that beautiful, that distinctly Rachmaninoff sense of drama.

      • chuck_levin
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you Juan Carlos, Vanessa, and Victoria. I've always been a huge devotee of Rachmaninoff.  The bulk of his works provide me a huge dopamine response and I am constantly striving to do him justice in my renderings. 

      • Noel_Nguyen
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

        Wow, that was a very good rendition of this very complex piece (to me)! I am never sure how much extra-musical meaning is hidden in those fantastic Etudes-Tableaux. I particularly love how the piece ends, regardless of what it is supposed to convey!

      • chuck_levin
      • 3 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       Hi Noel, and thank you.  I bet there's lots of extra-musical meaning in not only this etude but all of Rachm, really. The very title "etudes tableaux" suggests that Sergei had some particular programs in mind, but he didn't share what they were (to my knowledge).   Glad to hear from other Rachm lovers! So many of his works are SO compelling.

      • Angela_Fogg
      • 3 wk ago
      • Reported - view

      great sound!

    • claudiadm73
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Dominic, hello everyone, I finally managed to record my video without too many jams; it was a really big challenge for me, as I kept getting too excited with every recording attempt... I thank the teachers who from time to time with great care and expertise have accompanied us during these weeks, which have been truly exciting and constructive🤩; it has been an honor and a great privilege to be yours.❤️
    I embrace you and thank you all from the bottom of my heart.🎉

    https://youtu.be/I8gu83U_pr8

      • PViseskul
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       love your voicing and the gentle dreamy flow ❤️

      • hot4euterpe
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Bravo Claudia! You have clearly worked very hard on your layering and continuity. Loved listening to it =)

      • claudiadm73
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you so much, Priya 😊❤️🎉!!

      • claudiadm73
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you so much Dustin for your warm words, you encourage me to continue and trust myself.❤️🤗

      • Hazel
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Wow, that’s great playing! I’ve tried this piece a couple of times but have not managed to get very far. I really liked the big climax. You manage to convey a great feeling of breadth and space. 😊

      • chuck_levin
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Nice work Claudia.  This is a devilishly difficult prelude, and I like how you were able to phrase the extended 2 against 3 passages without breaking  them up, all while figuring out how much/little to pedal to achieve the right balance. 

      • Victoria_Macdonald
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       What a beautifully intimate piece. You really capture all the colors. You definitely rose to the challenge!

      • claudiadm73
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

        Thak you Dustine, you are a treasure❤️.

      • claudiadm73
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you so much Victoria and I really liked your playing the Intermezzo op.118 n. 2 ....I listened to you until the end with pleasure....it is one of my favourite piece and I play it every day with love.Thank you for your choise.🎉😄

      • vbashyam
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Gorgeous and dreamy! 

      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       How beautifully sung, a very touching interpretation. Bravo, Claudia!!

      • claudiadm73
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you so much Juan, very kind💕🌟.

      • Unfrozen Barroom Piano Player
      • Peter_G
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       This has developed so well Claudia. The melody and the descant in the last section coming through so cleanly to a beautiful resolution. Really great work on this Claudia.

      • Noel_Nguyen
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you for playing this piece and for playing it so well! I will soon submit a transcription of the Adagio from Rach's Symphony no.2, which I find to have some similarities with the Prelude. I just love those triplets ascending to heaven.

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