Group 4
Welcome to the NEW TWO WEEK INTENSIVE on tonebase!
Improving your Lyricism (feat Chopin)
Post your progress with videos and written commentary on how things are going for you!
- Course Period: June 26 - July 10th
- Class Size: ALL are welcome!
- Optional check-In via Zoom: July 2nd at 11am PT
- ZOOM MEETING Recording!
- https://youtu.be/Fl-ExGT9aZY
Assignment #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQpw6fZBOlE
- Pick a short piece (Mazurka, Nocturne, Prelude) or excerpt of a longer piece (Ballade, Polonaise, Scherzo, Sonata, Concerto). Focus on lyrical/slow sections.
- Learn bass carefully, labelling all chords and cadences.
- SING melodic line. Practice singing until your voice can identify the melody instantly.
- Submit a video: playing the Bass while singing the Soprano.
---
Assignment #2
https://youtu.be/ri2UD1z8sKE?si=w36XWzqb_rao3RAu
-Label all breathing points with an apostrophe between phrase markings. Practice deep breaths between significant points or use a regular breath for phrase changes.
-Sing Bass notes of all chords while playing Soprano melody.
-Submit a video: playing hands together (performance).
-
Group 4: we won't have a Zoom debrief after this TWI, so I'd like to ask you: how do you see your development in the last two weeks? Here are some prompts to get you started:
1) In one sentence, what did you learn from this TWI?2) What skill do you need to practice daily to improve your lyricism in Chopin playing?
3) How easily (or not) was it to practice singing/solfege? What did you learn from it?
4) Which new practice methods began with frustration or struggle, but need to be used regularly until they are habits?
5) How important are harmony and colour to lyrical playing in Chopin?
7) What new understanding(s) did you gain about Chopin's music?8) Do you have a new set of questions or topics to approach in your lessons?
9) How has your listening changed?
10) How has your score reading changed?
-
Jarred Dunn
1) In one sentence, what did you learn from this TWI?
Using harmonic analysis and singing to shape the lines
2) What skill do you need to practice daily to improve your lyricism in Chopin playing?
Singing? (if my partner and neighbours would allow it!
... this one may be quite difficult to implement on a daily basis) 3) How easily (or not) was it to practice singing/solfege? What did you learn from it?
Maybe referring back to the point made in the zoom catch up about the lack of vocal skill getting in the way - I feel that things could elevate further if only I could sing with fuller sound. Finding the range I could sing comfortably was tricky, though. I would say that I started off rather timidly, and got a little more comfortable to let the voice rise and fall in the last assignment. I gave solfege a try when singing the bass and it helped me track where I am in the key and the interval to the next note. Singing just the root of the chords helps to simplify the singing and focusing on the bigger structure.
4) Which new practice methods began with frustration or struggle, but need to be used regularly until they are habits?
Harmonic analysis. I don't think I can do detailed analysis on everything though even the basic such as where the cadences are and where the harmony changes still go a long way.
5) How important are harmony and colour to lyrical playing in Chopin?
Very important to know where the inflexion points are
6) ???
7) What new understanding(s) did you gain about Chopin's music?The importance of LH, and mid-phrase breathing
8) Do you have a new set of questions or topics to approach in your lessons?
No
9) How has your listening changed?
I think ... more awareness when listening to how different elements are interacting to each other and shaping of the bigger structure.
10) How has your score reading changed?
Probably more awareness of the inflexion points
Thank you again for running this TWI, and looking forward to your next one!
-
Jarred Dunn 8) Do you have a new set of questions or topics to approach in your lessons?
On second thought ... maybe any tips on practising the recap with the ringing bells sprinkle over the melody line would be very welcome :-)
-
-
Hi here is my video although it is H.T playing with me singing the bass line. I have attached the music with breath marks as well.
