Dmitri Kabalevsky
1904-1987


 

Dmitri Kabalevsky (pronounced Cab-a-lef-skee)

He wrote different types of works including many for singers and pianists. Many of his pieces were written for students. Listen to these performances by piano students.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFXvsYfqrio (Clowns - see page 3.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKHveOJYxZ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsw7shj2QRE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbPAeDpr7oE

Have you ever played a piece by Kabalevsky? If you have, tell us which one and what you thought of it. (Send email to editor@pianoexplorer.net)

Chord Progressions
  The chords used in a piece affect how the music sounds and how it makes you feel. Listen to these examples to learn more about chords and chord progressions.

This music group shows how many pop songs use the same 4 chords. Listen as they sing a line from many different songs, but the chord accompaniment remains the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaolC3sxca0

Here a pianist shows a chord progression of I  IV I V7 I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epAQGp-a018

Here the video shows how you can write a song using just 3 chords.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh_448qCe3c&feature=related

In this example, the pianist plays Czerny etude in D, which is arpeggios in RH over block chords in Left
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7obzZd5GY2k 

Contest Winners - Congratulations to all who entered!

Younger Division
1^st place
Vincent Lyau, age 10, "Manta Ray"

2^nd place
Claire Kimani, age 6, "The Pretty French Poodle"

3^rd place
Alexander Cordogan, age 9, "The Leopard"

Honorable Mention
Jana Heady, age 10, "Dance of the Three Penguins"

Fletcher Curran, age 9, "Playful Penguins"

Older Division
1^st place
Elijah C. C. Wood, age 14, "The Toad and The Cricket"

2^nd place
Matthew Meyer, age 12, "Midnight Owl"

3^rd place
Brendan Shi, age 16, "Penguin's Trek"

Honorable Mention
Ricky Flowers, age 13, "The Swan"

Alice Wilbur, age 13, "The Lonely Camel"
 

"Flight of the Bumblebee" Listen to this famous piece played on the clarinet. The clarinetist is able to play the fast passages and make the music sound exciting. This is one of the reasons the clarinet is such a useful instrument in different types of musical groups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwCU72rDJFw

Benny Goodman-May 30, 1909 - June 13, 1986 was an American jazz musician who was an amazing clarinet player. Here are some recordings he made.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBcjapFTR-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pINSUXeOJ0

We'd love to hear from you!
  In this issue, we've included tips on preparing for recitals and using videotaping as a practice tool. Have you tried either of these ideas? Did they help?

  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: editor@pianoexplorer.net or send a letter to Piano Explorer, 200 Northfield Road, Northfield, Illinois 60093

Key Signature Quiz

1. How many sharps are in C major?
    a. 0
    b. 1
    c. 2
    d. 3

2. How many sharps are in A major?
    a. 0
    b. 1
    c. 2
    d. 3

3. How many flats are in F major?
    a. 0
    b. 1
    c. 2
    d. 3

4. How many sharps are in G major?
    a. 0
    b. 1
    c. 2
    d. 3

5. How many flats are in B flat major?
    a. 0
    b. 1
    c. 2
    d. 3

5. How many sharps are in D major?
    a. 0
    b. 1
    c. 2
    d. 3