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My oldest student is stuck in a romantic mode. She loves Chopin and plays it well. I'd like to find her a more syncopated, 'zippy' piece to play and all i came up with is Shumann's schnell und spieland I found this piece relatively easy to learn, but i have heard it is ridiculously hard.

Any suggestions? It doesn't have to be a long piece.. just something she'd like that would give her a break from the romanticism of Chopin. - it must be classical - she's like that.

The Schumann isn't really syncopated (except for some LH things). As for zippy, there are hundreds of light, quick pieces from the 19th century, so I'm not sure what it is you're looking for that's difficult to find. Lots of Grieg, Mendelssohn, and Heller, and other Schumann seems to fit the bill...

Hi apple,

You may want to look over intermediate solos in "American Impressions" by Jennifer Linn (HLSPL). The last piece in the book "Spirit of the West" is described in the introduction as useful for work on syncopation and has "driving 16th note patterns" and is a "great showpiece".

So far I have only played the first piece "Wilderness Morning" and I'm really enjoying it.

Even though the student says she only wants classical pieces, an introduction to these pieces may broaden her interests.

Bach's Solfeggietto

I have to second this. I have purchased all of Jennifer Linn's materials and my students love them. They are very beautiful and once a certain pattern is learned, easy to perform and practice.

thanks for the suggestions.. she knows Bach's Solfeggietto
and plays it with gusto - that would be perfect.. maybe she can revisit it with drama.

Well, what about something by MacDowell. His work is always good for Festival as well.

There are 12 etudes in Op. 39 and another 12 in Op. 46.

The Gigue from Bach's French Suite #5 is a lively and rhythmic piece.

that gigue is an excellent suggestion.. i like it when i already possess the music.

HA!

Somehow my suggestion of Flight of the Bumblebee disappeared.

Anyway, just a thought. Not sure if it is classical enough but something fun that I learned while a teenager studying classical pieces.

Witches' Dance

Bach, French Suite No. 6, Courante

Scarlatti, Sonata in D Minor, K. 141

Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata, 3rd movement

Schubert, Impromptu in E-flat Major, Op. 90, No. 2

Grieg, March of the Dwarves

Just a side note: I think it's more commonly published as "Dwarfs". I recall reading that Tolkien accidentally used the spelling "dwarves" in the published version of The Hobbit. He mentions in a letter that it was an unintentional mistake. But now the spelling has stuck and is used in certains games etc.

Albert Pieczonka's Tarantella (19th century). Fun!

My latest favourite zippy piece is called "Witches On The Wind". It's addictive.

"The Gigue from Bach's French Suite #5 is a lively and rhythmic piece." which is what i chose.. the poor girl was sooo tired yesterday. Her family has been in the midst of moving in and out of 3 houses while their new farm house is being built. She is a tireless worker.. her younger adopted siblings keep her busy.

I told her we ought to take a 2 or 3 week break until they get moved. she was skeptical. I don't even know if she knows where the piano is.. which house.. which room. poor thing.

I am going to enjoy revisiting this piece tho for sure.

Neapolitan Dance (from Swan Lake suite) by Tchaikovski