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Hello, I was wondering if you could point me to any impressionistic student pieces? (i.e. for students not at the level of even the easiest Debussy) Thanks in advance, red boat
Not even the easiest Debussy? Le Petit Negre is often used with very early students.
Impressionistic? "Le Petit Negre" and, to some extent, "Golliwog's Cake Walk" don't strike me as impressionistic as much as incorporation of ragtime rhythms into European music.
Maybe Satie's Gymnopedies or Gnoisiennes? These are on the slower side. I'm worried about the stretches for smaller hands. But Satie has a LOT of pieces and there might be one among them that gets the feel in a smaller space.
Not even the easiest Debussy? Le Petit Negre is often used with very early students.
Impressionistic? "Le Petit Negre" and, to some extent, "Golliwog's Cake Walk" don't strike me as impressionistic as much as incorporation of ragtime rhythms into European music.
Indeed. But it IS Debussy. And it's a late work (along with the rest of the Children's Corner).
The Children's Corner Suite, from which Golliwogg comes from, is not easy by any definition. It is very, very late intermediate or more realistically, early advanced.
"Those who dare to teach must never cease to learn." -- Richard Henry Dann Full-time Private Piano Teacher offering Piano Lessons in Olympia, WA. www.mypianoteacher.com Certified by the American College of Musicians; member NGPT, MTNA, WSMTA, OMTA
BTW, and FWIW, N. Jane Tan composed a number of "impressionistic" pieces at all levels. Some are in her method books, others are stand alone. Her Twelve Days of Christmas is a solid intermediate but with a lot of pedagogical considerations. I believe Willis Music still publishes it. FWIW, I'm using it with two students at the moment. For some reason, it fits the season quite well and both 8th grade boys enjoy working on it.
If you're not familiar with her material, every piece (not song, please) she penned was carefully crafted to foster pianistic development. The are a delight to teach and great fun for audiences as well.
"Those who dare to teach must never cease to learn." -- Richard Henry Dann Full-time Private Piano Teacher offering Piano Lessons in Olympia, WA. www.mypianoteacher.com Certified by the American College of Musicians; member NGPT, MTNA, WSMTA, OMTA
The Children's Corner Suite, from which Golliwogg comes from, is not easy by any definition. It is very, very late intermediate or more realistically, early advanced.
No one has suggested Golliwogg as a beginner piece. I mentioned Le Petit Negre only.
Not even the easiest Debussy? Le Petit Negre is often used with very early students.
Unfortunately, yes, but it shouldn't be. Properly executed, it's upper intermediate to lower advanced.
I think the OP is looking for pieces easier than this or other Debussy. Debussy is not the only impressionistic composer. For example Isidore Philipp's Feux Follets (Jack o'Lanterns) composed in 1928, would be slightly easier than Petit Negre.
"Those who dare to teach must never cease to learn." -- Richard Henry Dann Full-time Private Piano Teacher offering Piano Lessons in Olympia, WA. www.mypianoteacher.com Certified by the American College of Musicians; member NGPT, MTNA, WSMTA, OMTA
Well, we'll agree to disagree about the suitability of Le Petit Negre. I have seen it used with "good" early students quite often. It's in the Applause, Book 1. Golliwogg, of course not. Much harder.
Sometimes pieces sound harder than they are. That's part of makes teaching and playing fun. And of course, you're listening to an artist, not a student.
"Those who dare to teach must never cease to learn." -- Richard Henry Dann Full-time Private Piano Teacher offering Piano Lessons in Olympia, WA. www.mypianoteacher.com Certified by the American College of Musicians; member NGPT, MTNA, WSMTA, OMTA
C'mon guys. I know pieces can sound harder than they are. I like those, actually! I like them a lot.
But Le Petit Negre is structurally quite simple and doesn't require nearly as much finger dexterity to master it (IMO, of course). And I mean master it within reason. Of course all "simple" pieces sound better when a pro is playing. It's easy to find a pro version of LPN too. Le Petit Negre requires a good sense of rhythm and good counting skills, which puts it off limits to baby beginners. But the piece is quite playable by a decent second year student.
Are they rated together on any commonly referenced level guides?
Le petit negre is in Keith Snell's level 5 repertoire book, but, IMHO, it should be rated around level 7. The syncopation alone would make it level 7.
I'm not saying the Philipp piece is easier--it is just one of those show pieces that kids can play as soon as their hands can reach an octave. It might be a tad harder than Le petit negre, but they are after very different effects. The Philipp piece has wider intervals that little kids can't physically reach, but the rhythm is definitely easier.
And, no, a decent 2nd-year student cannot decently play Le petit negre. That'll be an OUTSTANDING 2nd-year student. I haven't taught one like that yet.
Hinson's guide lists Feux-Follets as M-D (moderately difficult). That's only one step short of D, and above int. (intermediate) and easy. Unfortunately, he doesn't rate Le Petit Negre. Children's Corner (with Golliwog and Dr. Gradus) is rated M-D as well. This is harder music than LPN.
And, no, a decent 2nd-year student cannot decently play Le petit negre. That'll be an OUTSTANDING 2nd-year student. I haven't taught one like that yet.
