Curated Paths
Each path is constructed with a singular goal in mind; in the title of each path is its stated goal. The path will contain a blend of tutorials and technical exercises which will progressively help to assemble a foundation required to reach the stated goal.
You are of course, free to learn each piece or exercise in its entirety, however, it may sometimes be the case that to harvest what is useful and helpful towards your goal may only require that you learn a segment of the piece instead of the piece in totality. Where this is the case, I will specify in the description at each step.
Each course will be laid out by level (starting at the lower levels and progressing towards higher levels). Depending on your level of ability, you may wish to start the course at a point that is commensurate with your level of playing. For example, if your playing is at around level 4 or 5, you may wish to start the course where level 2 or 3 pieces are featured. Think of each course as a hop-on/hop-off tour bus, you can hop-on at the pieces appropriate for your level, and choose to hop-off when you feel that the goal has been sufficiently achieved.
Before embarking on any of the paths below, I would recommend watching the Blueprint for Perfect Technique lecture series to ensure developing correct habits and abiding by efficient principles. Especially of you consider yourself a beginner or an early intermediate player.
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Gnossienne no. 1 by Erik Satie
Level 1: The utility of this piece lies in learning to jump freely in the left hand between bass notes and chords while the right hand plays the melody.
Level 1: The utility of this piece lies in learning to jump freely in the left hand between bass notes and chords while the right hand plays the melody.
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Catalogue of Afternoons by Max Richter
Level 2: This is an introspective and minimalist piece which is very repetitive (making it great for technical practice) and features a ton of syncopations.
Level 2: This is an introspective and minimalist piece which is very repetitive (making it great for technical practice) and features a ton of syncopations.
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Gollum's Theme (easy) by Howard Shore
Level 2: A simple enough piece arranged across a surprisingly wide range in the LH especially. Becoming familiar and comfortable with spacious movement across the keys is the main utility of this piece in the context of this course.
Level 2: A simple enough piece arranged across a surprisingly wide range in the LH especially. Becoming familiar and comfortable with spacious movement across the keys is the main utility of this piece in the context of this course.
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Passacaglia by Handel/Halvorsen
Level 3: This piece sound busy and sounds more difficult than it really is. The key to this music is in its left hand jumps.
Level 3: This piece sound busy and sounds more difficult than it really is. The key to this music is in its left hand jumps.
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Opening from 'Glassworks' by Philip Glass
Level 3: Another minimalist piece by a different composer. This one focuses all its attention on a 3 against 2 rhythm.
Level 3: Another minimalist piece by a different composer. This one focuses all its attention on a 3 against 2 rhythm.
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Berlin by Frank Delange
Level 4: An extremely satisfying and ethereal piece to perform. The composer is himself a pianist so it was written to be very comfortable for the hands regardless of speed or the abundance of notes in every bar. Rhythm between the hands is again the salient variable.
Level 4: An extremely satisfying and ethereal piece to perform. The composer is himself a pianist so it was written to be very comfortable for the hands regardless of speed or the abundance of notes in every bar. Rhythm between the hands is again the salient variable.
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Model Of The Universe (The Theory of Everything) by Johann Johannsson
Level 1: Beautiful and touching music that can be played by an absolute beginner. A rare treat, because piano music at this level usually comes in the grating form of ‘Old Macdonald Had A Farm’
Level 1: Beautiful and touching music that can be played by an absolute beginner. A rare treat, because piano music at this level usually comes in the grating form of ‘Old Macdonald Had A Farm’
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Because This Must Be by Nils Frahm
Level 1: A hypnotically simple but musically rich piece that does well to introduce a beginner to the piano and its color palette.
Level 1: A hypnotically simple but musically rich piece that does well to introduce a beginner to the piano and its color palette.
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Prelude in C Major by Bach
Level 1: The first prelude of the famous Well-Tempered Clavier: Book 1. Like all Bach, this piece will train finger dexterity and control.
Level 1: The first prelude of the famous Well-Tempered Clavier: Book 1. Like all Bach, this piece will train finger dexterity and control.
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Plastic Bag (American Beauty) by Thomas Newman
Level 1: This piece plays with broad, open sonorities so very beautifully. A wonderful way to become acquainted with the piano’s capacity to blend and layer sound.
Level 1: This piece plays with broad, open sonorities so very beautifully. A wonderful way to become acquainted with the piano’s capacity to blend and layer sound.
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Gollum's Theme (easy) by Howard Shore
Level 2: A simple enough piece arranged across a surprisingly wide range in the LH especially. Becoming familiar and comfortable with spacious movement across the keys is the main utility of this piece in the context of this course.
Level 2: A simple enough piece arranged across a surprisingly wide range in the LH especially. Becoming familiar and comfortable with spacious movement across the keys is the main utility of this piece in the context of this course.
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Christmas Time is Here (A Charlie Brown Christmas) by Vince Guaraldi
Level 2: A simple but elegant arrangement of a warm, timeless classic. A first dip into jazz.
Level 2: A simple but elegant arrangement of a warm, timeless classic. A first dip into jazz.
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Pavane For A Sleeping Beauty by Ravel
Level 2: Ravel stands in a class of his own when it comes to color and imagination. This piece is a case in point.
Level 2: Ravel stands in a class of his own when it comes to color and imagination. This piece is a case in point.
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Level 2: Jazz from Japan. Like its whiskeys, it's surprisingly good.
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Honour Him (Gladiator) by Hans Zimmer
Level 2: This piece will teach you temperance and patience. It sounds best when spaces are used thoughtfully.
Level 2: This piece will teach you temperance and patience. It sounds best when spaces are used thoughtfully.
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Passacaglia by Handel/Halvorsen
Level 3: This piece sounds much more complex than it really is to play. This one's a crowd-pleaser, to be sure. Great one to have in the chamber at cocktail parties.
Level 3: This piece sounds much more complex than it really is to play. This one's a crowd-pleaser, to be sure. Great one to have in the chamber at cocktail parties.
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Sixth Station (Spirited Away) by Joe Hisaishi
Level 3: Often overlooked in favour of more familiar themes from the film like ‘One Summer’s Day’, this piece flies under the radar. It is, however, one of my favourite pieces of his because of the unique space it manages to create. There is a quality of austerity and frankness in the music without any loss of the magic and nostalgia that Hisaishi’s music has become known. This makes for a very unique experience when learning and performing.
Level 3: Often overlooked in favour of more familiar themes from the film like ‘One Summer’s Day’, this piece flies under the radar. It is, however, one of my favourite pieces of his because of the unique space it manages to create. There is a quality of austerity and frankness in the music without any loss of the magic and nostalgia that Hisaishi’s music has become known. This makes for a very unique experience when learning and performing.
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The Light She Brings by Joep Beving
Level 3: It plumbs satisfying depths with very basic and approachable pianism. Loads of bang for your buck.
Level 3: It plumbs satisfying depths with very basic and approachable pianism. Loads of bang for your buck.
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Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel
Level 3: The most famous tango of all time, and a pretty simple but effective arrangement to boot.
Level 3: The most famous tango of all time, and a pretty simple but effective arrangement to boot.
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Level 4: insert ‘offer you can’t refuse’ joke here
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Piano Concerto No. 21 - Andante by Mozart
Level 4: Mozart’s music prizes elegant simplicity above all else. This piece is a preeminent testament to this fact.
Level 4: Mozart’s music prizes elegant simplicity above all else. This piece is a preeminent testament to this fact.
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O Christmas Tree (A Charlie Brown Christmas) by Vince Guaraldi
Level 4: Some more Charlie Brown Christmas music. This one comes with all the charm and warmth of the now familiar ‘Christmastime Is Here’, but with denser chordal work, and therefore more harmonic colour to enjoy.
Level 4: Some more Charlie Brown Christmas music. This one comes with all the charm and warmth of the now familiar ‘Christmastime Is Here’, but with denser chordal work, and therefore more harmonic colour to enjoy.
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Level 4: A beautiful, simple melody. Good for the soul.
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2001: A Space Odyssey by R. Strauss
Level 4: Obviously a cultural favourite. What’s interesting about this piece is that it will be the first during this course that you will be asked to play basically as loud as possible, which is, of course, super fun. Remember however not to push or force any sound. All sound, big and small, is generated with the weight of the arms and body. See ‘Sound Production’ in the Blueprint course for a deeper dive.
Level 4: Obviously a cultural favourite. What’s interesting about this piece is that it will be the first during this course that you will be asked to play basically as loud as possible, which is, of course, super fun. Remember however not to push or force any sound. All sound, big and small, is generated with the weight of the arms and body. See ‘Sound Production’ in the Blueprint course for a deeper dive.
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