Continuing in the same imaginative air as before the intermediate etudes are anything but a chore! These are of course more difficult with more frequent appearances of compound meter and 5/8! These etudes can really show that meters with a 5 don’t have to be terrifying! Other things that make these etudes fun are the interesting uses of syncopation and ornaments. The trills in “Vienna Vibes” give a real majestic feel to some already stately rhythms. And the grace notes in “The Grasshopper” are too cute to leave out! As before, there are some pretty clear forms, but this time when a section returns it is usually ornamented or varied slightly. Did I also mention flutter tonguing? You’ll have to go find that yourself!
A few of the advanced etudes made me want to replace some old classics with some new. Might I suggest: “Stars and Polkadots” and “Among the Elves” for starters. We can negotiate later. One piece introduces a mega-dose of mixed meters with 5/8, 7/8, 6/8 all thrown together in one piece and changing in the manner of
rapid fire! Be on your toes! The tempo markings change DRAMATICALLY throughout this last set giving way to a real counting challenge sometimes. Looking for a note challenge? One piece contains FIVE key signature changes!
So were these etudes for me or my students? If I’m being honest, probably both. I really enjoyed how they imitate some moldy oldies, but also work on the fundamentals without one having to force life into the music. It was nice to have something to imagine from the mostly program music titles. Some of them gave me some real challenges too! Enjoy working hard on these, or will you be hardly working?
Highlights
Range of notes: F1-C3
Rhythms: quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, syncopation, dotted half note, dotted quarter, thirty-second notes
Time Signatures: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, cuttime, 6/8, 12/8, 5/8
Key Signatures: no flats/sharps, one flat, two flats, three flats, one sharp, two sharps, three sharps
Other: mordent, dynamics, accents, staccato, 1st and 2nd ending, grace notes, trill, flutter tonguing, mixed meter, slurs
More ornaments like trills, grace notes, flutter tonguing
Lesser used meters and compound meters make more of an appearance
Can continue to focus on some simple forms
Highlights
Range of notes: C1-C4
Rhythms: half note, quarter note, eighth note, sixteenth note, dotted quarter, dotted eighth, sixteenth triplet, thirty-second, sectuplets, septuplets
Time Signatures: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 5/4, 6/8, 3/8, 5/8, 7/8
Key Signatures: no sharps/flats, one flat, three flats, one sharp, two sharps, three sharps, four sharps, five sharps
Other: mordent, trill, grace notes, mixed meter, accents, staccatos, dynamics, slurs
More focus on odd meters
Mixed meters make an appearance in a challenging way
One piece contains five key changes, that made my brain hurt a little
Can we talk about replacing some moldy oldies with some new favorites?
Wide range of tempos
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