MusicCoach difficulty
35/100
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
Knowledge of forms
1
Style
Classical style
1
Rhythm
Polyrhythm 2 against 3
1
Style
Modern and contemporary style
1
Sight-reading
Sight-reading
1
Technique
General technique
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
Sonatina, BB69, Sz.55
Béla Bartók
close skills
low risk
fair confidence
A short step up, staying in Elementary (around grade 4 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Style classique and Connaissance des formes — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Gentle
Sonatina in C major, op. 13, no. 1
Dmitry Kabalevsky
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Elementary (around grade 4 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Style classique and Connaissance des formes — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Balanced step
A genuine step up, without a jolt.
Balanced
Sonatina für Radio, W.58
George Antheil
close skills
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Elementary (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Demi-pédale and Style classique — the pedal is set by ear, note by note: misjudged, it blurs the harmony instead of joining it.
Balanced
Sonatina
Béla Bartók
partial transfer
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Elementary (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Indépendance des mains and Style classique — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Ambitious challenge
A useful leap with guided practice.
Challenge
Intermezzo in A major from Mikrokosmos Vol.4 No.118
Béla Bartók
new reflexes
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Intermediate (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. The demand here is musical rather than mechanical: Nuances — the notes will be secure long before the musical line: work in whole phrases, singing the main voice.
Challenge
Chromatic Invention (2)
Béla Bartók
new reflexes
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Intermediate (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Polyphonie à trois voix ou plus — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Same level
Same level
3 Klavierstucke, BB8
Béla Bartók
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Elementary (around grade 3 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. The skill that will carry the work: Style moderne et contemporain — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Same level
Mikrokosmos Vol.1 No.1-36
Béla Bartók
new reflexes
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Elementary (around grade 3 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. The skill that will carry the work: Technique générale — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Same level
Sonatina Op.20 No.1
Friedrich Kuhlau
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: Indépendance des mains and Style classique — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.