Studiegids

Content

The course consists of 22 hours lesson. The first lessons are introductions to the diverse instruments which a keyboard player should master: organ, cembalo, pianoforte, (modern) piano.

In ‘practical music analysis’, given by Alessandro Cervino, students learn to perform harmonic reductions of a composition at first sight. They also learn to immediately recognize harmonic functions and basic formal aspects of a composition while playing it. 

In ‘comparative keyboard elaboration’, given by Kris Wittevrongel, scores are used to move from (unedited) score-playing, to keyboard adaptation and/or free elaboration.

Compositions that are exemplary for the language development of the different instruments (cembalo, organ, piano) are explored, as well on the initial instrument as on other instruments. We make use of Toccata’s, Fantasia’s, early polyphonic forms, chorals (from Lutheran modal originals, through Bach harmonisations, to romantic arrangements), English hymns, (from colla parte playing and/or accompaniment, to thematically related improvisation),…

Course material

Scores, text excerpts and exercises which are handed out in the lessons.

Format: more information

Practical music analysis

Students are coached to reduce a score to its basic chordal structure, to recognize the harmonic functions and the formal outline. Elements of music analysis will be gradually introduced and assignments will be given in order to speed up the mental processes of recognition of those elements. During each lesson the progresses and the individual work of the students will be evaluated.  

Comparative keyboard elaboration

For each theme, score examples are analysed in order to achieve a quick understanding of tempo, motoric and harmonic-melodic essence. After playing these initial examples, the teacher will guide the student in the search for a keyboard-appropriate language. The sound result must be coherent with the investigated style but the aimed result will be adapted to the actual improvisatory skills of each student. The biggest amount of work will be done during the lessons, but assignments or further elaboration based on the ideas that have been set out, are not excluded.