Advanced study – classical repertoire
The four major periods of Western classical music – Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-21st century – offer a wealth of choices for further piano study. The pupil may want to achieve a balance between different musical styles or choose to focus on a particular period or composer. The level of the repertoire extends to that of the final year recital of an undergraduate degree.
In drawing on the tradition of the Russian pianistic school, the teaching focuses also on aspects of technique beyond the pure mechanics of piano study. It seeks to cultivate qualities such as a singing tone and variety in tonal colour, nuance in phrasing and dynamics, rhythmic precision and a natural rubato, a controlled polyphonic touch, the use of free wrist and arm motion, a command of basic pedalling techniques, the use of idiosyncratic fingerings, an appreciation for historical context and personal interpretation, and a sense of deepened musical expressiveness.
Musical samples: