Ornamental Passages in Chopin's Piano Music

By Dr. Nancy Allred

Featuring practice tips for:

Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (m. 84)

Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1 (mm. 34, 35, 37)

Ornamental passages in Chopin’s piano music add a beautiful element that is probably unmatched in the piano repertoire. These passages display Chopin’s love of singing, and bring a serene vocal quality to his hauntingly beautiful compositions.

Teaching Cross Rhythms - part 6

By Dr. Nancy Allred

Featuring practice steps for the Serenade (Ständchen) by Franz Schubert

(3 against 2)

This segment of teaching cross rhythms will focus on the beautiful Serenade (Ständchen) by Franz Schubert. It is a lovely example of 3 against 2, with triplets in the RH and duplet 8ths in the LH.  The Serenade (Ständchen) D 889, was originally composed as a lied (art song) for solo voice and piano. It was composed in July 1826 in the village of Währing. There are many arrangements or transcriptions of Schubert's Serenade. This version is a simple piano solo, which combines the piano accompaniment of the lied with the vocal part.

Teaching Cross Rhythms - part 5

By Dr. Nancy Allred

Featuring practice steps for Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2 – by Johannes Brahms

(2 against 3)

Last week a cute DSU student knocked on my studio door and asked for help with the cross rhythm section (mm. 49-56) of the Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, no. 2 by Johannes Brahms. I was in the middle of an online lesson, so I couldn’t help her right then, but later, I found her in a practice room and gave her a few tips. I promised her that I would email her some practice sheets, which I did, and also encouraged her to watch my YouTube videos on cross rhythms. 

Teaching Cross Rhythms - part 4

By Dr. Nancy Allred

Featuring practice steps for Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 – by Chopin

(3 against 2)

This segment of teaching cross rhythms will focus on the beautiful Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 by Frederic Chopin. It is a lovely example of 3 against 2, with triplets in the RH and duplet 8ths in the LH. This is a particularly challenging example as there is only a single beat of “3 against 2” in the entire piece. The difficulty for students is feeling the 3 against 2 because of where it comes from and where it is going after that beat.

Teaching Cross Rhythms - part 3

By Dr. Nancy Allred

Featuring practice steps for "Glassworks," by Philip Glass
(3 against 2)

Piano Q&A on YouTube: Teaching Cross Rhythms - pt 3

My wonderful colleague, Dr. Glenn Webb, reminded me of a marvelous chamber work, Glassworks, by the distinguished composer, Philip Glass. The first movement, “Opening” is a terrific example of 3 against 2. The opening movement has triplets in the RH and duplet 8ths in the LH. It is repetitive throughout, and I love this repetitiveness because, so often in
cross rhythms, there will be a single beat of “3 against 2,” or “2 against 3.” This can be quite a challenge to feel that rhythm when everything before and after that beat can be so different. In this movement, Philip Glass has given us a beautiful and mesmerizing piece of 3 against 2, and he has also given us the repetition necessary to truly learn to feel this wonderful rhythm!

Teaching Cross Rhythms - part 2

By Dr. Nancy Allred

Featuring the Sonata in F Major, K. 332 (1st movement) - by Mozart

Piano Q&A on YouTube: Teaching Cross Rhythms - pt 2

In continuing our discussion of teaching those pesky cross rhythms, I will focus on an excerpt from the Mozart Sonata in F Major, K. 332 (1^st movement). There is a wonderful passage of 2 against 3 in the first movement that continues for two measures, which is so helpful as the 2 against 3 is repeated 6 times!

Teaching Cross Rhythms - part 1

By Dr. Nancy Allred

Piano Q&A on YouTube: Teaching Cross Rhythms - pt 1

My first experience with cross rhythms was in middle school. My piano teacher, Rowan Taylor, assigned me to learn the Serenade by Schubert, which is a transcription of an art song for voice and piano. The Serenade is a wonderful example of “3 against 2,” with triplets in the RH, and duplet 8ths in the LH.