Learning Classics The Simply Music Way
Found in: Playing-Based Methodology, Reading
Barbara G., Massachusetts
Recently I was looking for a copy of Für Elise online when I can across “Asturias (Leyenda) by Isaac Albeniz. It is the Prelude to his Cantos de Espana Op. 232 No.1. (Spanish Songs)
I was totally unfamiliar with this piece before seeing it online. The piece is 7 pages long, “showy”, and challenging. I decided to print it off and see if I could learn it the SM way.
As I looked at it I saw repeating patterns all over the place. There hand shapes, repetitions, sentences, etc. It travels all over the keyboard with big jumps, so Controlling The Events, to play cleanly and slowly, is a must.
As a teacher coming from a traditional, note-reading background, who could play advanced pieces only by reading, this is a treat! By taking one line at a time and looking for the “Learning Clues” I am now playing the first 3 pages, without music, VERY slowly. The temptation is for me to look and play it by just reading, but I am sticking to the SM methods. It is a lot of fun.
If you have advanced students that come from a traditional background, once they have a good grasp of the SM Rhythm and Note Reading Programs, this could be a good project. You may have to only give them one page (or one or two lines if need be) at a time so they are forced to learn well each section before moving on. And yes, I do mean cutting up the sheet music so they physically only have the lines or page you want them to play. I know that for myself, coming from a traditional reading background, that note reading is much easier for me, because it is what I am used to. Thinking of the patterns, sentences, etc and how they relate and connect to each other is much harder.
Unknown
Hello Barbara,
I am a new SM teacher and was reading your post “Classics the SM way.” You mention looking for the “Learning Clues.” What specifically are you referring to?
Barbara
I look for Learning Clues like those that we use to teach/learn the Foundation pieces. Meaning:
- Musical sentences that reoccur;
- Patterns/Shapes in the melody that repeat or reoccur moving up or down;
- Reoccurring rhythms;
- Chords that have shapes that move up or down;
- How the 2 hands relate: what is the rhythmic ratio.
If there are no reoccurring shapes or patterns then I try the following:
- Look for the shape of a group of notes in the melody;
- What does my hand look like to play this section;
- How does that shape move to the next shape.
I have gone through Levels 1 through 5 (and part of 6), Accompaniment 1, Reading Rhythm
1, Reading Notes 1, Arrangements 1-2.
The Learning Clues accumulate as you go along, so if these clues do not sound familiar, don’t worry, you’ll get to them. I have been teaching SM for 3 years and it has taken me this long to get a good grasp of how to find “Learning Clues” and how to teach them effectively. Remember SM is about learning a way of learning, not just learning how to play individual pieces.
