Group 2
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.
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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.
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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.
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- Sign-Up : starting July 14
- Course Period: July 17-31
- Class Size: ALL are welcome!
- Optional check-In via Zoom: July 27th 9am PT
CHECK IN VIDEO!
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Hi Gary here, looking forward to participate in this two week intensive, as I have not played any of the Mazurksa. I’ve played other Chopin, so looking forward to see where it takes me.
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Gary Hamer Welcome! Hope you choose a mazurka by the end of today so you can start studying LH part and learning about the Mazurka steps in the video above. I'm looking forward to getting to know your playing!
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Gary Hamer Hi Gary, have you decided which Mazurka you'll study/play?
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Jenny Hi Jenny, I went through the mazurka's suggested and going with Opus 30 No. 2. Which are you playing?
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Welcome Everyone! Witaj (PL = welcome)! I'm happy to see so many of you wanting to improve your Chopin Mazurka playing. I look forward to seeing your work soon!
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Hello all,
I've chosen 67 no. 2. It sounds so gorgeous when I listen to a recording (Alexej Gorlatch piano recital 2017). Realistically it's a stretch piece for me, but I couldn't miss this opportunity...
I've heard it played at different tempos, and I definitely prefer the slower one - not sure how the dancers feel about that though?
Thank you for these wonderful suggestions, i'm up early and getting started right now!
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Op.67 No.2 for me. I recently bought an ancient collection of Chopin Mazurkas from eBay. Beautiful but not sure I want to write in it so might need another version too.
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Janet Hi Janet, i've also chosen 67. 2. It's lovely isn't it? I was able to download a really good, clear score from imslp. I did have to scroll through the options to find the clearer copy to print though. Looking forward to seeing how everyone progresses over the next 2 weeks!
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Jenny Yes, it is beautiful. (Although you posted before me, I didn't see your post when I posted for some reason.) I've mainly chosen this one because, like you, I'll find it a stretch piece but at the same time it's no less beautiful for being one of the easier ones.
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Day 2: seems like everyone has found their piece!
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I always enjoy playing the Mazurkas, so I picked one from the list above (op. 67 #4) and made a recording but skipped the repeats for now. I'm very excited to be able to get some feedback to help improve from Jarred, what a wonderful opportunity! Jarred, I've really enjoyed your tonebase livestreams and courses.
I'm using the Henle edition, but am also interested in recommendations for other editions. Sometimes different editions can bring useful info and alternative fingerings. Thank you!
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Brett Gilbert definitely the Ekier for this one, the fingerings are fantastic. I listened to your playing, I think the repeating passages need more varied sound colour and dynamic shape, never let them sound exactly the same. In the A major section you make lovely diminuendo for the last four bars, use that more in the minor section. Where the beats and pulse are concerned, think more about articulating all three beats - you’re dropping the third beat and it makes the piece sound a bit vertical rather than linear. Friedman’s recording could inspire you in this direction, as could Ashkenazy’s.
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Jarred Dunn Thank you so much - excellent advice and I've just ordered the Ekier edition. I'll work on what you suggested and post a follow-up video next week.
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Brett Gilbert great! Can’t wait to hear it again! Powodzenie, do roboty!
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Brett Gilbert
Thank you for posting Brett, nice work. First time for me playing the Mazurkas. You are much further on your playing than myself. Great to hear feedback from Jarred.
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Gary Hamer Thanks Gary. I've been playing a long time so feel secure in the notes but with Jarred's advice hope to make it sound more like Chopin. A great opportunity for us all to learn.
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Brett Gilbert Absolutely Brett, this is really a great resource and we are all here to get to the next step. Whatever level. Thanks
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Brett Gilbert let me know if you have further questions on mazurka topics or Polish music!
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Brett Gilbert Great playing, Brett! It has a powerful dancing sense.
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thank you for this opportunity, I have watched the video already and picked op.6 no.1 . I will learn it tomorrow and post my video up asap. ^_^ very excited to it. Love this Tonebase program as always.
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Here is my first video, Chopin Mazurka, Opus 30 Nr. 2. Working out of the Henle edition. Playing left hand through the first 16 measures. It feels very clunky, this is rather rough take, I wanted to at least get the video posted, I know it need more refinement. I wanted to get some feedback to make sure I am on the right track.
Some observations – the top note of the LH descends nicely from e down to d, from measure 2 to 8, something I probably would not have noticed had josh not mentioned to look for it.
The only accents in my edition are in the right hand, so I am not confident about knowing when to use two or three as a strong beat. I can see that the right hand part will help with that, this is new to me to figure out. That is why I am here, LOL.
I have listened to a few various recordings, clapped, and have been doing my best to analyze.
Any feedback is appreciated, to continue on.
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good work counting and deducing this to its basic chord structure. Accents in the melody on mm.4 and 8 can be treated as thick, vocalized vowels that are slightly more pronounced. The LH part can accommodate the length of the accented soprano half note and delay the third chord subtly. Listen to the bass a bit more to hear a plucked articulation and imagine the quiet resonance that follows on a string instrument.
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Jarred Dunn Thank you Jarred, I appreciate it. I will work on the suggestions and keep moving forward. I am really enjoying this Mazurka the more I work on it.
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Gary Hamer glad to hear it! Good work so far, send another video as soon as you can!
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UWAGA! ATTENTION!
Polskie Instrumenty Ludowe / Polish Folk Instruments click below to hear and see!
https://folk.instruments.edu.pl/pl/instrumenty/categories/category/316
