The Sonata in C sharp minor was a great favorite from the moment of its publication, and Beethoven jokingly even pretended to be annoyed about it, as he considered many of his other sonatas to be finer works musically; but still the “Moonlight Sonata” remains a warm favorite.

Probably the fact, technically, the lovely slow movement with which it commences is well within the reach of very moderate performers on the pianoforte may help to account for its extreme popularity over its fellows, since so many amateurs are able to derive pleasure from their own rendering of it.

Beethoven wrote thirty-two sonatas in all, of which certainly nearly half are still as beloved and admired as ever they were, and continue to form an absolutely essential part of the repertoire ofevery pianist. He brought the sonata form to its highest perfection, and, having found the models of his predecessors too stilted and formal for the wider expression of his thoughts, he made innovations of what in those days were considered the most daring kind, and improved upon the forms he found. Read more

I HAVE chosen the first movement of the Sonata in C sharp minor of Ludwig Van Beethoven, commonly known as the “Moonlight Sonata,” as the subject of my specimen lesson, because it is so universally beloved by all sorts and conditions of people, and is so well known. It is, therefore, one which all students of the pianoforte must learn. I will first give a short history of the Sonata, as this should also be of special interest to students.

The Sonata in C sharp minor, which was entitled by Beethoven himself “Quasi una Fantasia,” was one of two sonatas written in the year 1801 and published in March, 1802, and forming together Opus 27.

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Piano scales and chords to play to develop you technique on piano.

Scales In Thirds With Fingerings Marked

I. Right hand.

These fingerings can be used in all tonalities.

II. Left hand.

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Perhaps this might occasionally be successful with a natural-born genius, but it would be an exceptionally gifted being who would govery far without any method or school, as we call it, to start with. You can also find this kind of genius on some videos of the youtube music section dedicated to pianists.

For the human mind needs, at the outset, the guidance and direction in all the arts of certain elementary rules, born of the amassed experience of the best teachers and thinkers; and the complete assimilation of these rules are the best aids and helps to the attainment of a more perfect self-expression, when the time comes for the individuality of a great talent to assert itself. Read more

This acquiring of the cup-like position of the hand will be found enormously useful later on, in the playing of scales and arpeggios , as it allows easy passage of the thumb under the other fingers. In connection with the striking of the keys by the fingers, I would further say that merely putting down the finger and letting it strike with its own weight, is no good, as the sound produced thereby is inadequate and uncontrolled. My idea is that when lifted, the finger must be brought down with a certain amount of pressure upon the note which is struck.

This pressure should be produced from the forearm and transmitted through the fingers to the key, the wrist being all the time absolutely relaxed. Later on, as the student arrives at a higher development of finger technique, the articulation can be exercised purely from Read more