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Anybody other than me chord this stuff to assist the "flow" of the learning process?

I colored my score.

What do you mean by "chord" it?

You can pick out the chords in the music and write`em down. Mine`s written in Bflat. But many others come into play. Augmented, diminished, it all helps me to join up the left and right hands a tad faster! Like a busker`s sheet.

Yeah, I like doing this and then also memorizing the progressions. By analyzing the harmonic structures and progressions, you'll have a greater understanding of the music, an easier time memorizing it, and a more secure memorization once done.

I don't chord it, but I do practice just playing the block chords when it's a tricky spot. I also don't make such nice colors on mine! Tangleweeds, what do all the colors mean?

So I've been also working on the rest of Op. 2 in case I actually get to do it. I've noticed that in all 3 of the pieces, Tchaikovsky (can we just call him the Tchai-man?) used hemiolas and figures that cross over bar-lines and obscure the time signature. Anyone else encounter these?

I've also noticed he likes to state something and repeat it twice, then move on to another idea, and repeat.

How in the world do you read that? What does it all mean?

The coloring is mostly to highlight the tonic and dominant in the main key, and relative minor. So the main key is G major = green, dominant = D = orange; then shift to relative minor, E minor = blue, dominant = B = purple. I also marked the grace note whatchacallems with slashes of magenta, made the 8va parts radioactive lemon, and what else? traced out clef changes and dynamic markings...

It's kind of a game of highlighting, marking and/or detailing out anything and everything of possible interest or significance, as a way of making explicit in my mind all of the details I might possibly need to remember.

When I went back to university in my 30s (I'm quite a bit older now), I got tested for learning styles, and I'm visual/kinesthetic. One of my study tricks was getting all kinesthetic (notes/lists/outlines in the margins, plus multi-color highlighting) on my visual text (or in this case score). At school I would kind of squint at my multicolor-highlighted textbooks and quiz myself to fill in the info on the basis of my defacements. I got all As, so maybe it worked.

So now I'm kinda doing the same thing with this score, as I use it to follow along with the various professional recordings I've found of my piece on iTunes.

It's all part of an elaborate plot to keep tension out of my hands (and entire being) when I'm at the piano. I've realized that a huge amount of the time I tense up, it's because I'm not entirely certain what's happening next. So I'm trying to be entirely certain about what the score says, so as to stay more relaxed at the piano.

Oh, yes, I do that too. My teacher had me start doing that some time ago, and it actually helps me a bit with memorization too. Because instead of having to remember 5 notes, for instance, I just remember the chord.

I've got Schubert's op 90/3 on the backburner. If you've never heard it, it's got a top melody, a bass line, and tons of chord notes in the middle. I actually wrote out the whole thing as block chords so I could learn it that way. I play the block chords for a few measures, then switch to the music for the same passage.

It's too soon to tell if it's really helping though! So far I've been disappointed - I thought it would be a magic spell that would give me a big breakthrough - nope.

Sam

Writing the chords on the score helps mainly (I think) to identify the notes` order. Like, a B flat chord can come in 3 inversions, anywhere up or down the keyboard. The music identifies the inversion and positioning of the chord.

I know, it`s not as easy as I make it sound. But it does help quite a lot in learning and retaining! There are however, always those chords which defy description!*&%^!! We shall say nowt about them.

Despite their ability to avoid being named they are fairly unique and, certainly for me, their uniqueness makes them stand out and be more memorable.

I always analyse my music before starting but it begins mostly with a structural analysis to find repeated patterns and phrases or anything that might stand out. The harmonic analysis doesn't begin until I'm actually working one phrase at a time, fingering, phrasing, dynamics and all. It's only near the end, when all or most of the phrases have been learnt or when I start to put phrases together that I look at the overall harmonic progress through the piece. I tend to memorise better from a melodic or thematic analysis than harmonic.

"The chord that must not be named." That sounds a little scary.

I'll take a stab at the lovely Berceuse - I've never tried any of his piano music that wasn't in the Classics to Moderns books! It sounds like it will be a nice piece to move into spring with.

The Tchaikovsky Themed Recital is due to take place April 15.
To preserve existing selections, always QUOTE from the latest list then, in any order:

-- Delete the initial "[quote=<name> ]"
-- Delete the final "[/quote ]"
-- Add your name and the bold tags, "[b ]" and "[/b ]", around your chosen piece.

Then submit the new list.

A 30sec clip is available of each piece in the same order as below @ http://www.deezer.com/en/album/4725421 (If you sign up or in with FB, the whole pieces can be played for free)
Or here, if you're restricted from the above due to your location:
http://www.allmusic.com/album/tchaikovsky-complete-piano-works-mw0001360556

Op. 1 No. 1. Scherzo a la russe
Op. 1 No. 2. Impromptu

Op. 2 No. 1. Ruines d'un chateau (Morodiene)
Op. 2 No. 2. Scherzo
Op. 2 No. 3. Chant sans paroles

Op. 4 Valse caprice in D major
Op. 5 Romance in F minor (Ganddalf)
Op. 7 Valse-scherzo No. 1 in A major
Op. 8 Capriccio in G flat major

Op. 9 No. 1. Reverie
Op. 9 No. 2. Polka de salon
Op. 9 No. 3. Mazurka de salon

Op. 10 No. 1. Nocturne in F major (Valencia)
Op. 10 No. 2. Humoresque in E minor

Op. 19 No. 1. Reverie du soir (Dipsy)
Op. 19 No. 2. Scherzo humoristique
Op. 19 No. 3. Feuillet d'album (zrtf90)
Op. 19 No. 4. Nocturne (Rupak Bhattacharya)
Op. 19 No. 5. Capriccioso
Op. 19 No. 6. Theme originale et variations

Op. 21 No. 1. Prelude in B major
Op. 21 No. 2. Fugue a 4 voix in G sharp minor
Op. 21 No. 3. Impromptu in C sharp minor
Op. 21 No. 4. Marche funebre in A flat minor
Op. 21 No. 5. Mazurque in A flat minor
Op. 21 No. 6. Scherzo in A flat major

Op. 37 No. 1 January: By the Fireside (dynamobt)
Op. 37 No. 2 February: Carnival
Op. 37 No. 3 March: Song of the Lark (SwissMS)
Op. 37 No. 4 April: Snowdrop (Pavel.K)
Op. 37 No. 5 May: White Nights
Op. 37 No. 6 June: Barcarolle (Sam S)
Op. 37 No. 7 July: Song of the Reaper
Op. 37 No. 8 August: The Harvest (dire tonic)
Op. 37 No. 9 September: The Hunt
Op. 37 No. 10 October: Autumn Song (Andy Platt)
Op. 37 No. 11 November: Troika
Op. 37 No. 12 December: Christmas (carlos88)

Op. 39 No. 1. Morning Prayer (casinitaly)
Op. 39 No. 2. Winter Morning
Op. 39 No. 3. Mamma
Op. 39 No. 4. Hobbyhorse
Op. 39 No. 5. The Toy Soldiers' March
Op. 39 No. 6. The New Doll (ClsscLib)
Op. 39 No. 7. The Sick Doll (earlofmar)
Op. 39 No. 8. The Doll's Funeral
Op. 39 No. 9. Waltz
Op. 39 No. 10. Polka
Op. 39 No. 11. Mazurka
Op. 39 No. 12. Russian Song
Op. 39 No. 13. Peasant Prelude
Op. 39 No. 14. Popular Song
Op. 39 No. 15. Italian Song (sinophilia)
Op. 39 No. 16. Old French Song (Recaredo)
Op. 39 No. 17. German Song
Op. 39 No. 18. Neapolitan Song (IreneAdler)
Op. 39 No. 19. A Nursery Tale
Op. 39 No. 20. The Witch Baba Yaga
Op. 39 No. 21. Sweet Dreams (AimeeO)
Op. 39 No. 22. The Lark (tangleweeds)
Op. 39 No. 23. At Church (AZ_Astro)
Op. 39 No. 24. The Organ-Grinder's Song

Op. 40 No. 1. Etude
Op. 40 No. 2. Chanson triste
Op. 40 No. 3. Marche funebre
Op. 40 No. 4. Mazurka in C major
Op. 40 No. 5. Mazurka in D major
Op. 40 No. 6. Chant sans paroles
Op. 40 No. 7. Au village
Op. 40 No. 8. Valse in A flat major
Op. 40 No. 9. Valse in F sharp minor (PikaPianist)
Op. 40 No. 10. Danse russe
Op. 40 No. 11. Scherzo
Op. 40 No. 12. Reverie interrompue

Op. 51 No. 1. Valse de salon
Op. 51 No. 2. Polka peu dansante
Op. 51 No. 3. Menuetto scherzoso
Op. 51 No. 4. Natha-valse
Op. 51 No. 5. Romance
Op. 51 No. 6. Valse sentimentale (lyricmudra)

Op. 72 No. 1. Impromptu Prostnikova (Peterws)
Op. 72 No. 2. Berceuse (Anne H)
Op. 72 No. 3. Tendres reproches
Op. 72 No. 4. Danse caracteristique
Op. 72 No. 5. Meditation
Op. 72 No. 6. Mazurka pour danser
Op. 72 No. 7. Polacca de concert
Op. 72 No. 8. Dialogue
Op. 72 No. 9. Un poco di Schumann (Wayne32yrs)
Op. 72 No. 10. Scherzo-fantaisie
Op. 72 No. 11. Valse bluette
Op. 72 No. 12. L'espiegle
Op. 72 No. 13. Echo rustique
Op. 72 No. 14. Chant elegiaque
Op. 72 No. 15. Un poco di Chopin
Op. 72 No. 16. Valse a cinq temps
Op. 72 No. 17. Passe lointain
Op. 72 No. 18. Scene dansante: invitation au trepak

I think I`m going to have to change my tactic. My usual method isn`t working, I`m still on p1 and likely to remain so in the forseeable future ,. . . .Guess I better break it down to a couple o` bars at a time. I`m not going to get a feel for the whole page. Just not gonna happen. . . see what another week brings.

Which chords are these? I have yet to see a chord that can't be named.

Unfortunately, AnneH, Marybee has already taken the Berceuse. The list you used was rather out of date and missing several selections.


The Tchaikovsky Themed Recital is due to take place April 15.

To preserve existing selections, always QUOTE from the latest list then, in any order:

-- Delete the initial "[quote=<name> ]"
-- Delete the final "[/quote ]"
-- Add your name and the bold tags, "[b ]" and "[/b ]", around your chosen piece.

Then submit the new list.


Op. 1 No. 1. Scherzo a la russe
Op. 1 No. 2. Impromptu

Op. 2 No. 1. Ruines d'un chateau (Morodiene)
Op. 2 No. 2. Scherzo
Op. 2 No. 3. Chant sans paroles

Op. 4 Valse caprice in D major
Op. 5 Romance in F minor (Ganddalf)
Op. 7 Valse-scherzo No. 1 in A major
Op. 8 Capriccio in G flat major

Op. 9 No. 1. Reverie
Op. 9 No. 2. Polka de salon
Op. 9 No. 3. Mazurka de salon

Op. 10 No. 1. Nocturne in F major (Valencia)
Op. 10 No. 2. Humoresque in E minor

Op. 19 No. 1. Reverie du soir (Dipsy)
Op. 19 No. 2. Scherzo humoristique
Op. 19 No. 3. Feuillet d'album (zrtf90)
Op. 19 No. 4. Nocturne (Rupak Bhattacharya)
Op. 19 No. 5. Capriccioso
Op. 19 No. 6. Theme originale et variations

Op. 21 No. 1. Prelude in B major
Op. 21 No. 2. Fugue a 4 voix in G sharp minor
Op. 21 No. 3. Impromptu in C sharp minor
Op. 21 No. 4. Marche funebre in A flat minor
Op. 21 No. 5. Mazurque in A flat minor
Op. 21 No. 6. Scherzo in A flat major

Op. 37 No. 1 January: By the Fireside (dynamobt)
Op. 37 No. 2 February: Carnival
Op. 37 No. 3 March: Song of the Lark (SwissMS)
Op. 37 No. 4 April: Snowdrop (Pavel.K)
Op. 37 No. 5 May: White Nights
Op. 37 No. 6 June: Barcarolle (Sam S)
Op. 37 No. 7 July: Song of the Reaper
Op. 37 No. 8 August: The Harvest (dire tonic)
Op. 37 No. 9 September: The Hunt
Op. 37 No. 10 October: Autumn Song (Andy Platt)
Op. 37 No. 11 November: Troika
Op. 37 No. 12 December: Christmas (carlos88)

Op. 39 No. 1. Morning Prayer (casinitaly)
Op. 39 No. 2. Winter Morning
Op. 39 No. 3. Mamma
Op. 39 No. 4. Hobbyhorse
Op. 39 No. 5. The Toy Soldiers' March
Op. 39 No. 6. The New Doll (ClsscLib)
Op. 39 No. 7. The Sick Doll (earlofmar)
Op. 39 No. 8. The Doll's Funeral
Op. 39 No. 9. Waltz
Op. 39 No. 10. Polka
Op. 39 No. 11. Mazurka (MrPozor)
Op. 39 No. 12. Russian Song (Johnny D)
Op. 39 No. 13. Peasant Prelude
Op. 39 No. 14. Popular Song
Op. 39 No. 15. Italian Song (sinophilia)
Op. 39 No. 16. Old French Song (Recaredo)
Op. 39 No. 17. German Song (sydnal)
Op. 39 No. 18. Neapolitan Song (IreneAdler)
Op. 39 No. 19. A Nursery Tale
Op. 39 No. 20. The Witch Baba Yaga
Op. 39 No. 21. Sweet Dreams (AimeeO)
Op. 39 No. 22. The Lark (tangleweeds)
Op. 39 No. 23. At Church (AZ_Astro)
Op. 39 No. 24. The Organ-Grinder's Song

Op. 40 No. 1. Etude
Op. 40 No. 2. Chanson triste (Greener)
Op. 40 No. 3. Marche funebre
Op. 40 No. 4. Mazurka in C major
Op. 40 No. 5. Mazurka in D major
Op. 40 No. 6. Chant sans paroles
Op. 40 No. 7. Au village
Op. 40 No. 8. Valse in A flat major
Op. 40 No. 9. Valse in F sharp minor (PikaPianist)
Op. 40 No. 10. Danse russe
Op. 40 No. 11. Scherzo
Op. 40 No. 12. Reverie interrompue

Op. 51 No. 1. Valse de salon
Op. 51 No. 2. Polka peu dansante
Op. 51 No. 3. Menuetto scherzoso
Op. 51 No. 4. Natha-valse
Op. 51 No. 5. Romance
Op. 51 No. 6. Valse sentimentale (lyricmudra)

Op. 72 No. 1. Impromptu Prostnikova (Peterws)
Op. 72 No. 2. Berceuse (MaryBee)
Op. 72 No. 3. Tendres reproches
Op. 72 No. 4. Danse caracteristique
Op. 72 No. 5. Meditation
Op. 72 No. 6. Mazurka pour danser
Op. 72 No. 7. Polacca de concert
Op. 72 No. 8. Dialogue
Op. 72 No. 9. Un poco di Schumann (Wayne32yrs)
Op. 72 No. 10. Scherzo-fantaisie
Op. 72 No. 11. Valse bluette
Op. 72 No. 12. L'espiegle
Op. 72 No. 13. Echo rustique
Op. 72 No. 14. Chant elegiaque
Op. 72 No. 15. Un poco di Chopin
Op. 72 No. 16. Valse a cinq temps
Op. 72 No. 17. Passe lointain
Op. 72 No. 18. Scene dansante: invitation au trepak

Don't be so pedantic, PP.

We're just talking about chords that don't fall readily under a particular umbrella. E.g. M23 in Bach's Prelude, BWV 846. Either the B or C could be the non-essential note and the chord could be an Ab dim7 or Dm7b5 chord.

Oh, thanks zrtf! I was a little worried that my selection had got lost. And I'm already working through the first page. Sorry, AnneH. (But you might look at Op.72, No.5 (Meditation), or No.8 (Dialog). They're really beautiful too.)

I've just downloaded the score for the Chason Triste and delighted to see it is only 2 pages.

In listening to a few from the list, I was immediately attracted to this one. Eventually I will want to do a nice production of it. Proof will be in the pudding, as they say, in how far along I get with this in preparation for the recital.

I could be wrong, but think this will be easier than my Joplin choice. Both will be a challenge though and I've been slow off the mark. Time to get movin ...