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Hi. I have a student preparing CPE Bach's Solfeggietto but we're having some difficulties. I felt she was well prepared for this piece but am now having second thoughts. Before assigning this piece, where would you feel your student should be in studies? What literature would already have been prepared? Any favorite preparatory pieces that you've had success with?

With the Solfegietto, a student should do plenty of arpeggio exercises several octaves -making sure that their is a clear, precise connection between hands. Work with the metronome until speed can be built. Also point out the chordal structures of the piece and have your student play the arpegios as chords.

As for what level your student should be at, well if she is playing the Solfegietto, she should be able to play the easier pieces in the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. Also the easier Clemnti Sonatinas.

For prep work try using one of the small preludes-Prelude in C Major BWV 939. Its a lot easier than the Solfegietto but good prepatory work. Just make sure the student is using 2 beats per measure instead of 4.
Blessings

Ruth

Thanks, Ruth. The arpeggios may be the trick. Everything else you've mentioned we are doing - and her preparatory work has been precisely the track you've suggested. Although now that I look back, we've had regular glitches every step of the way. Clementi sonatinas almost perfect - but not quite. Bach preludes almost. Arpeggios worked on but set aside for awhile. We've been focusing on Russian scales which are fine - but we'll go back and revisit arpeggios. Chordal structure - yup. We've done the analysis. Metronome - yup. This is a very dedicated, astute student. Although lacking natural expression - I always have to teach it. I'm just concerned because her progress on this piece is far slower than I expected. We'll see what transpires over the next few weeks. Thanks.