Here are some more challenging activities for older students. You wouldn’t want to try these with most under 10s. Plus as before – a few harder challenges for you!!
But first a story! It’s 2015 and I had just published the first edition of Doremi Piano. Rebecca and I were having lunch at the British Kodály Academy Summer School in Leicester. Suddenly she said, “Oh, you’ve got to show Orsolya your book!” and proceeded to drag me over to her table. If you don’t know Dr Orsolya Szabó then you’re missing out. She’s incredible!
To say she’s a concert pianist, and professor at the Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest and at the Kodály Institute, Kecskemét doesn’t do her justice. She is unique and incredible. In my piano lessons she connected me with the music, my instrument and my emotions with such passion that tears are always shed. Well for me at least. If you ever get the chance to learn from her or even just speak to her, YOU MUST!
Anyway, I did NOT want to show her my books! #impostersyndrome But Rebecca insisted. Orsolya was so excited. She stroked them, she opened them, she read them and I held my breath. I was about to faint when she said “Daaarling, I LOOOOOOVE THEM” in her beautiful Hungarian accent. Then she looked me straight in the eye and with no messing she said….
“And then…. Bartók!”
Of course I took her advice and I use Bartók with all of my students. Both in piano and musicianship. So here is some Bartók for you.