How To Teach Burgmüller Ballade
Today in our How To Teach Intermediate Piano Repertoire series we are looking at Burgmüller’s Ballade Op.100, No.15. While it can be challenging to teach "overplayed" pieces such as this one (we always seem to be fixing the same problems!), this is one of my favorites because of the fact that this piece is a great vehicle for expression. Students often perform best when they can focus on just that - playing expressively and communicating the drama.
This piece is contained within several elementary method books. Have you checked out "Method to Masterworks" yet? It’s your guide to smoothly transitioning your student from a method series into intermediate repertoire.
Edition that I recommend:
Other editions to consider:
Piano Adventures Lesson book 5 (Randall & Nancy Faber)
Alfred Premier Lesson book 6 (Dennis Alexander, Gayle Kowalchyk, E. L. Lancaster, Victoria McArthur, and Martha Mier)
KJOS Piano Repertoire: Romantic & 20th Century Level 4 (Keith Snell)
The Developing Artist: Piano Literature 3 (Randall & Nancy Faber)
Syllabus listings for difficulty level:
Illinois AIM Level 6
Jane Magrath Level 4
Skills and Knowledge Required to play this Invention well:
C minor and C Major parallel keys
Etude of LH melody with RH chords
3/8 time with sixteenth note patterns
Articulation - staccatos, slurs, 2-note slurs, lifts
Varied articulation between the hands
Technical etude for being willing to “bounce” around the keyboard
Extreme dynamics
Opportunity for imaginative engagement - “ballade”
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