Public Space for: Improving your Chopin Mazurka with Jarred Dunn!

 

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. 

 

----------

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.

 

------------

 

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. 

-------

 

• Sign-Up : starting July 14
• Course Period: July 17-31
• Class Size: ALL are welcome!
• Optional check-In via Zoom: July 27th 9am PT

ZOOM CHECK IN VIDEO

https://youtu.be/rvIjk9LS1Qw