How To Teach Bach Invention No.13
Today in our How To Teach Intermediate Piano Repertoire series we are looking at Bach’s Invention No.13 in A minor. I prefer to use this one as a student’s second invention, after learning either No.1 in C Major or No.8 in F Major. It is at a similar difficulty level to the Invention No.14 in B-flat major.
To view my video covering the Invention No.1, please click here.
To view my video covering the Invention No.14, please click here.
Editions that I recommend:
Henle urtext edition of the Inventions and Sinfonias
Alfred Masterworks edition of the Inventions only or the Inventions and Sinfonias (Palmer)
Syllabus listings for difficulty level:
RCM Level 8
Illinois AIM Level 9
Jane Magrath Level 7-8
Skills and Knowledge Required to play this Invention well:
A minor key signature
16th and eighth notes in common time
Many accidentals to make 7th chords - last the entire measure
Articulation
Syncopation
Sequences
Ability to hold a steady, appropriate tempo without rushing
(Note that this piece does NOT include any ornaments!)
In Part 2, I discuss how to help your student play this expressively as well as reliably under pressure. I offer several practice suggestions to go beyond the basics and really “level up” with a piece like this to get it ready for performance.
Perhaps you haven’t yet downloaded my
💪 30 Practice Strategies to Make Your Students Invincible Under Pressure 💪
Several of the strategies I mention in this second video are included in this free resource which you can download by clicking here.
I’m thrilled to relate that I had a student perform this as one of her recital pieces last weekend, and she NAILED it. She's generally a pretty expressive player, but not always an accurate or reliable one. We used many of the techniques I'm recommending to you in her preparation for that performance!
Teachers, how about you? Do you enjoy teaching this piece Do your students - like mine - always want to play it too fast?
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