Beethoven's Birthday Challenge!
Coming up in November, we celebrate Beethoven's birthday with a 4-week challenge where we all play his music!
Stay tuned for the launch date of November 18th, when you can start sharing your progress and pieces, culminating in a watch party celebration on his birthday: December 17th!
In the meantime, start thinking about what you might like to play and/or learn!
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I've changed my mind! I've started Op. 28 this week (inspired by one of my TB besties, Andrea, and our teacher, Jarred.)
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Gail Starr I can’t wait to hear it Gail!!!
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Andrea LeVan Andrea (in Germany) is much farther along than I am.
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Gail Starr not after you’ve practiced for two days, Gail!
Looking forward to working on the Sonata together! -
Gail Starr you’re going to be great by December! But what a fun challenge with your friend a little competition is great!
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Andrea Buckland Well, perhaps give me another week?
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Gail Starr Well this is a lovely and formidable piece. It will be nice to hear what each of you brings to it. Gail, I guess we'll have to wait for your Mvt. III to Op. 14/2. That's OK, the wait is going to build anticipation among your fan base and you're more likely to sell out as soon as it hits the shelves!
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I will do my best to keep up... Tonic sucks me in - but I am working on Sonata Op 14 No 2. I have shelved it for a bit while working on some Chopin.... End of semester at the HS.... but... I WILL TRY!! :-) Thanks Natalie for telling me about this!
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Denise Hi! Glad you're joining this challenge! :)
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- I want to master Pathetique Sonata 3rd movement, I have been playing it for some time , but never actually polished. It would be nice to finally learn it :)
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I plan to learn Beethoven's Prelude in C major, Op. 39 No. 2. This small piece visits 12 keys in 76 measures.
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Beethoven last movement moonlight might be to hard for me but always wanted to do it ever since I heard it when I was 13
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Hayden Browne Hey, this is a good start!
A warm welcome in this community from Italy to New Zealand!
Ciao!
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Letizia thanks it's been really doing the courses
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Hayden Browne I'm afraid I wasn't able to open your video. I wonder if I'm doing something wrong?
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Late to the party as usual! one of the very first classical pieces I ever learned was Op. 31 No.3 (Eb, sometimes called "the Hunt"), about 55 years ago (OMG!). If not too late to join, I'd like to use this challenge to try to revive it, starting with the 2nd movement. May not be able to pull it off because I'm also trying to get something ready for the Dec. 26th Holiday Concert, but will give it a try.
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Peter Golemme So, you learned this sonata when you were in preschool?
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Gail Starr Close, but about a decade+ off!
A watershed moment in my musical life came when my highschool French teacher gave me a box full of old classical music she had found in the house she had just moved into. It included the von Bulow edition of the complete Beethoven sonatas. At the same time a friend loaned me his mother's copy of Clara Haskil's recording of Op. 31 No.2 and No. 3. Though I had seen sheet music of the Pathetique and Moonlight before, it had never dawned on me that people actually recorded these things! Even better I soon discovered that the scores for those sonatas were in my von Bulow editions and that you could follow along, with the lady on the record! And then by learning to play the music you could even sound like her (sort of!). So that's how I learned Op. 31 No. 3. It opened the door for me to the serious study of the Beethoven sonatas and then the whole wide amazing world of classical music.
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Peter Golemme What an eye (and ear) opening experience!
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I am also late but have been working on Op 31 No. 1 so will at least do the first movement and I am working on the second movement so will see! This sonata shows that Beethoven does have a sense of humor!
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What an awesome challenge Beethoven remains my favorite composer I love his music the watch party is going to be awesome can't wait to hear all you guys play
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Hayden Browne You should play, too!
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I joined a bit late to participate but hope I can still watch the event / watch party. Do people play live or just link to a video?
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Lauren Plamondon hi Lauren! Nice to see you here! You can watch it, and post videos or comments, as you like! The link is in the calendar for upcoming events.
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Omg! I’m so stocked about this challenge!
I love Beethoven
. He’s my favourite composer.
During this challenge I want to share my performance of the Variations “God Save The Queen” and I’ll be working in the 5th Piano Concerto (“Emperor Concerto”).
Hope you enjoy it!
