07/04/2024
How a piano beginner starts.
Surprise Symphony by Haydn simplified to minimum notes travels through all beginner piano methods. But surprise is still there and we all love surprises!
I like the story or legend about this masterwork by myself. A composer (Josef Haydn) conducted his creation in a grand hall in Germany. He enjoyed his music, orchestra played very well, especially second slow movement. Oh, with his eyes closed and light smile on his face, Josef was totally lost in music, but suddenly he heard (and may be others too) terrible, loud snoring 😴 in the audience! He pulled himself together and with all his feelings showed musicians to play loud (forte) with all drums and metal objects available in the orchestra. They did not have much in 18 century, only later, just in case of sleeping audience, composers like Wagner, Maller and others double or triple their instrumentation or like Ives had two orchestras , but it’s not for beginners yet. Any way , that’s a moment! all beginners and our composer like this “Bam!” Surprise!- no one sleeps anymore.
For pedagogical variety- teacher plays, student conducts and developed his sense of dynamics ).In any arrangement, the teacher should start snoring, and exactly on forte jump in place like waking up and looking around not recognizing reality.
Teachers spend a lot time to make “piano hands” , sometime just say simple “play beautifully” and a student start to move hands with grace, not long though 😉 but it’s another story…
