Composers of the Month

Sergei Rachmaninoff:

Prelude in C# minor
Played by Emil Gilels:

Played by Rachmaninoff himself:

Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini

Prelude in G minor Op. 23, No. 5

Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor

Piano Concerto No. 2

Piano Concerto No. 3

Composers Workshop

Mozart Rondo Alla Turca (Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331, 3rd movement)- Listen for the memorable melody in this famous piece.

Moonlight Sonata - Listen to the harmonic progression in this sonata.

Schubert Impromptu in A flat major - This piece switches from minor to major.

Petzold Minuet in G - what is the time signature in this piece? Hint: listen for the strong beats.

Mozart K. 545 - Listen to the bass pattern in the left hand at the beginning.

Chopin Waltz in A minor - This is a waltz-style accompaniment with a bass note followed by two chords.

Go Tell Aunt Rhody - This piece is in ABA form. What other pieces do you know in this form?

Winter Music

E. Walteufel – Skater's Waltz

L.E. Larson – Winter's Tale for Orchestra, Op. 18

N. Rimsky-Korsakov – The Snow Maiden (an aria from the opera)

A. Glazunov - The Seasons (scene from the ballet)

P. I. Tchaikovsky – Seasons:
January

December

P. I. Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 1, "Winter Dreams"

A. Vivaldi – Winter from Four Seasons

We'd love to hear from you!
  Do you have any ideas or thoughts about any other practice tip we have published this year? Let us know how they worked for you. Were you able to solve a problem spot or learn a tricky passage?

Perhaps you have your own practice tips that you'd like to share with other readers. Write to us and we'll include the best ones in the magazine or on the website.

We also accept original artwork, music, poems, jokes and stories. Submissions that don't appear in the magazine might make it into the Kids Corner.

email: [email protected] or send a letter to Piano Explorer, 200 Northfield Road, Northfield, Illinois 60093