'Think in Music' – Paino Masterclass & Workshop

Piano Workshop for Teachers – 4th of May

Date: Saturday, 4th of May 2024
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Location: Soundskool Boeng Keng Kang

Goals

Students enhance their music knowledge and technical skills with awareness and independence, learning how to Think in Music and avoiding any kind of useless mechanical repetition. Therefore, they have a chance to develop their creativity while preserving their uniqueness.

Topics Discussed During Workshop

• Music as a form of communication, its structures and rules 
• How NOT to practice: dissociation between sound and its meaning 
• Tension-resolution in music (or Dominant-Tonic relationship), and how to manage it 
• What is “tempo” and how to use a metronome during our practice in the proper way
• Improvisation as creative process and why it is essential in our regular practice
• How to prevent technical faults, memory leaps and other music mistakes 
• How to practice with awareness and prepare examinations and competitions 
• How to solve stage fright in live performances, examinations or auditions 
• How to choose a music edition properly and the correctness of simplified editions

Piano Masterclass for Students – 5th of May

Date: Sunday, 5th of May 2024
Time: 10 - 11 am
Location: Soundskool Boeng Keng Kang

Topic 1: Classical Improvisation – how to improvise a prelude
in baroque and romantic style.

In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in classical improvisation, acknowledging the proficiency of composers like Bach and Mozart in this skill. While classical improvisation was neglected for a period of time, it is now being reintegrated into music curricula.

The workshop aims to demonstrate the ease of learning classical improvisation, showing participants how to create simple preludes from basic structures and develop them further.

Topic 2: Bach Little Preludes, Inventions and Well Tempered Keyboards as the Foundation of Keyboard Playing – Learning and Practice Strategies

Bach's Little Preludes, Inventions, and the Well-Tempered Keyboard are pedagogical works aimed at developing a "cantabile style" and compositional skill. Often, they are approached solely as technical exercises, lacking attention to baroque phrasing and contrapuntal knowledge.

In the masterclass, participants will learn to analyze the structure and counterpoint of these compositions, enabling them to compose and improvise simple two-part inventions and master the baroque style effortlessly.

Topic 3: Sonata in Classical Era. Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven – Learning and Practicing Strategies

Sonatas, key compositions of the classical era, stem from a simple cadence between Tonic and Dominant (or Tonic and Mediant in minor keys).

In the masterclass, participants will learn to identify this cadence and use it as a foundation to construct original movements, following the composer's instructions in the score.

Topic 4: Concerto in classical era. Haydn, Mozart works for keyboard and orchestra – learning and practicing strategies

In the masterclass, participants will explore the musical dialogue between soloist and orchestra in classical concertos. Over 3-4 rehearsals, emphasis will be placed on classical style, articulation, and phrasing.

Depending on the situation, the maestro may conduct and play, or solely conduct, allowing piano students to take on the role of soloists. Concertos will be chosen in advance to ensure thorough preparation from the outset.

About Alberto Firrincieli - Italian Pianist and Music Educator

Alberto Firrincieli, an accomplished Italian pianist, harpsichord player, composer, and scholar, has garnered prestigious accolades including the Honor Award of Knight of the Star of Italy and the second prize in the International Contest “SIMM 2018 – New Music for Harpsichord”.

He serves as Assistant Professor at Assumption University of Thailand, where he founded the IKA - International Keyboard Academy and the ITYO – Italian Thai Youth Orchestra.

He directs the Bangkok International Piano Festival and collaborates with numerous international institutions, recording CDs, publishing books and academic articles, and presenting lectures and performances worldwide.

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