Competition repertoire deadline is December 4th. Have you checked the repertoire list?

Dear teachers,

This year will be a fun and intense competition, I am sure, and well organized.  Make sure your student's applications are on time.  If you think that you have until January because your student is planning to play a NYSSMA selection, think again!  Dan Fogel has created a list of all repertoire previously submitted to past competitions.  This year we are fortunate to have this helpful source.  HOWEVER,  the piece your student is playing needs to be on the Competition Repertoire History list or you need to submit a COPY of the piece to our president by December 4th.  Got that?

Oh, and another reminder.  No originals for Johanna, please.  Send copies only.





All the best,

Ellen Johansen

Honors Recital Date!! Mark your calendar

Please make a note on your calendar.  The 2014 Honors Recital will take place on June 5, 2013 at the Staller Center of Stony Brook University.  It has been added to the SPTF calendar.

Twenty Three Great Piano Works

                                                         Twenty Three Great Piano Works

By Fred Barnett

In our never-ending quest to productively serve students to the fullest, we, no doubt, strive to cover as many pedagogical bases as possible: sight reading, technique, interpretation, memorization, practicing procedures, NYSSMA preparation, theory, etc. just to name of few.

In addition, if possible, providing a comprehensive overview of piano literature as it currently exists, a glorious marvel at our disposal, could most probably motivate students to set their sights on hoping to eventually learn some or more of the inspirational gems.

Robert Greenberg, Music Historian and Inspirational Lecturer of the Teaching Company, has attempted to compile, discuss, and demonstrate on CD what he considers ” The 23 Greatest Solo Piano Works” Acknowledging the impossibility of including hundreds more, the 23 chosen, for stylistic understanding are:  

(1) J.S. Bach - The Well Tempered Clavier, Book One

(2) J.S Bach - Goldberg Variations

(3) Mozart - Piano Sonata in Minor, K.457

(4) Beethoven - The Appassionata Sonata

(5) Beethoven - Diabelli Variations, Op. 120

(6) Schubert - Piano Sonata No. 21 in Bb Major

(7) Chopin - Preludes, Op. 28

(8) Chopin - Ballade in Gm, Op.23

(9) Schumann - Kreisleriana

(10) Liszt - Years of Pilgrimage

(11) Liszt - Sonata in B Minor

(12) Brahms - Handel Variations, Op. 24

(13) Brahms - Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118

(14) Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition

(15) Debussy - ”The Sunken Cathedral”

(16) Debussy - Preludes, Book One

(17) Albeniz - Iberia

(18) Ravel - Valses nobles et sentimentales

(19) Scriabin - Piano Sonata No. 5

(20) Rachmaninoff - Etudes-tableaux  

(21) Prokofiev - Piano Sonata No. 7

(22) Copland - Piano Variations

(23) The A-List (student pieces)

The entire CD set, a potential resource in introducing piano literature, including music,

narration, and course book, is available from The Teaching Company, $69.95;

1-800 - 832-2412

Happy Thanksgiving