MusicCoach difficulty
42/100
Elementary
Level of the complete work
We have no level specific to this movement. The figure above is that of the complete work: within a cycle, movements often differ widely in demand.
Estimated skills
Theory
Harmonic analysis
1
Style
Character and style
1
Tone
Touch control
1
Style
Classical style
1
What to play next?
Each suggestion combines difficulty gap, risk, confidence and skill overlap. The first two cards in each column are the most useful pedagogically.
Gentle step
The safest next step.
Gentle
Piano Sonata in F major, K. 547a
Mozart
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Elementary (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Style classique and Analyse harmonique — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Gentle
Piano Sonata C major Hob. XVI:10
Franz Joseph Haydn
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Elementary (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Connaissance des formes and Indépendance des mains — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Balanced step
A genuine step up, without a jolt.
Balanced
Piano Sonata e minor Hob. XVI:34
Franz Joseph Haydn
partial transfer
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up: this piece moves you into Intermediate (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Connaissance des formes and Balance mains — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Balanced
Piano Sonata F major Hob. XVI:23
Franz Joseph Haydn
partial transfer
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up: this piece moves you into Intermediate (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Connaissance des formes and Ornements romantiques — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Ambitious challenge
A useful leap with guided practice.
Challenge
Piano Sonata No. 6
Mozart
new reflexes
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Trilles and Style classique — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Challenge
Piano Sonata No. 10
Mozart
new reflexes
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Trilles and Style classique — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Same level
Same level
Variations in A Major
Mozart
new reflexes
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Elementary (around grade 4 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. What changes is the skill in play: Passages rapides and Doigté complexe — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Same level
Fugue in C major, BWV.953
Johann Sebastian Bach
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Elementary (around grade 4 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. What changes is the skill in play: Polyphonie à trois voix ou plus and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Same level
Seven variations on «Willem van Nassau»
Mozart
new reflexes
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Elementary (around grade 4 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. What changes is the skill in play: Rythmes pointés and Passages rapides — the pitfall is the pulse drifting as soon as the writing thickens: subdivide with the metronome.
La sonate présente un caractère enjoué et clair, avec des phrases chantantes et des échanges réguliers entre main droite et main gauche qui demandent de l'articulation décidée plus que de la bravoure virtuose. Parmi les difficultés techniques, le