Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum When to start Burgmuller's Op. 100

My son went through a number of Clementi's Sonatina Op 36 movements before Burgmuller Op 100. Op 100 pieces look simpler than they are IMHO. They are difficult to play technically well.

I'm glad you mentioned sonatinas. It reminds me that I usually don't begin Burgmuller until the student has progressed to the easier Kuhlau sonatinas, which are a bit more challenging than the easier Clementi.

Huh. I've always thought sonatinas, even the easier ones, were harder than some of the easy Burgmuller stuff.

Good point! My son also did some Kuhlau as well before Burgmueller. And then progressed to the more difficult Clementi.

This thread caught my eye because my daughter is learning the Arabesque (Op. 100, No. 2) right now. It is included in the Piano Adventures Level 4 Performance book, about two-thirds of the way through.

As I recall, PA doesn't even introduce sixteenth notes until Level 3B, so I wouldn't think most students would be ready to jump into the Burgmuller immediately after PA Level 3A.

You're right - most students wouldn't be able to. However, the two students I mentioned are very bright and have played lots of supplementary material that's at early intermediate level. They're familiar with 16th notes, and wouldn't have a problem knowing how to play them. My only hesitations after reading these posts would be about the technical demand they make. Just because these two kids can read very well doesn't mean they're ready for the challenges presented in Burgmuller. I went to the music store on Saturday and picked up several books of etudes and Celebration's Perspectives. They all looked promising, and I'll have to take my time to peruse them later. Thanks for also mentioning the Clementi Sonatinas. I do believe some Sonatinas are included in their classical book, but they haven't gotten their yet.

Cleaning house yesterday, I came across my copies of Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield's Etude series, published by Alfred in 3 volumes. Ms. Clarfield has taken etudes from Czerny, Hanon, Heller, Burgmuller and others and compiled them both by level and by technique each addresses. It's a very useful series and rather than using Burgmuller Op 100, you might want to consider this series.

I have this book (Level 1) and am really enjoying it. My teacher assigns a Czerny piece each week. The Burgmuller pieces take a bit more time for me to master (2-3 weeks),but I have been playing for 1 year and 3 months and don't find the demands of the Burgmuller pieces to be too much.