Friedrich Kuhlau : Sonatina in C, Op. 20 No. 1

[Cally1245]

How do u do it so smooth? Im playing it right now and its pretty choppy.

Ure good. Keep uploading!

[PSearPianist]

@Cally1245 Thank you. The answer is: practising, and listening very carefully to what I am playing.

[MinecraftAddict991]

you're real good at playing kuhlau, keep uploading!

[PSearPianist]

@MinecraftAddict991 Thank you for that - I'll try!

[rocketman12333]

His sonatinas are really good, they're more melodically complex than Clementi, they remind me of Mozart too in a way

[PSearPianist]

@rocketman12333 That's a very good sum-up, and I agree that they are Mozartian!

[PSearPianist]

@22dimethylhexane I am not a teacher and probably can't remember what I did on the video. All I can suggest is that you make your hand glide over the notes and make full use of your arm and wrist to ensure that whatever fingering you use there is no strain or awkwardness in your movements.

[FranGilbert3]

Porque tan rapido?. MAESTRO

[PSearPianist]

@FranGilbert3 Trato de llevar a cabo la sonatina en el ritmo que se adapte a mí!

[FranGilbert3]

@PSearPianist EXCELENTE!!!

[SSccaarrllaattii]

Thanks for posting. I have been having fun learning this piece, and it's nice to hear a performance of it.

[PSearPianist]

@SSccaarrllaattii Thanks for that. I hope you continue to have fun playing it!

[RedHeels93]

You might be a piano teacher! You play so elegant :) God bless you

[PSearPianist]

@RedHeels93 Thank you very much.  I'm not actually a piano teacher at all - but I get paid for playing!

[dogsoxable]

I love this piece! I played in the Canadian Kiwanis Festival last year, and it was one of my favourites. I love any piece created by Kuhlau.

[PSearPianist]

@dogsoxable Thank you. Maybe I will play some more of his music.

[missawesomedudette1]

A man like you playing the piano should have more views! It is absolutely brilliant!

[PSearPianist]

@missawesomedudette1 Thank you for that!

[hfndi]

very nice!!! bravo!!

[PSearPianist]

@hfndi Thank you!

[kenanirish]

Excellent

[PSearPianist]

@kenanirish Thank you!

[herckgilpierre]

Hi! I just posted up my interpretation of this song for my piano recital this month. I put it as a video comment to this one, check if you like it!

Thanks!

[PSearPianist]

@herckgilpierre Thank you. I'll take a look.

[ilovepiano0800]

You play it so well.. I wish I could play as well as you can... Lovely piece.... (:

[PSearPianist]

@ilovepiano0800 Thank you - and keep practising!

[MrFlyinghorses]

perfect!! I playing piano too, and I play op 20 num 1, tenia algunos fallos pero los pienso mejorar !!

[PSearPianist]

@MrFlyinghorses Gracias - y le deseo éxito en su estudio de la sonatina!

[dougnickerson]

nice

[PSearPianist]

@dougnickerson Thank you!

[Cherrya996]

Awesome

[PSearPianist]

@Cherrya996 Thank you!

[lSimplementeYop]

It's good

[PSearPianist]

@lSimplementeYop Thank you!

[PSearPianist]

@raffi213 Thank you very much. I'm glad you also have gained pleasure from playing this piece.

[ElsRoso]

I like this very much thank you so much

[PSearPianist]

@ElsRoso And thank you for your kind comment!

[bluemargaritagirl]

I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!

Are you a piano teacher and an accompanist or solo piano performer?

[PSearPianist]

@bluemargaritagirl I mainly do accompanying - I don't teach at all.

[bluemargaritagirl]

I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!

[PSearPianist]

@bluemargaritagirl Thank you - I'm pleased to hear that!

[L4Lit]

I am teaching myself how to play this and listening to you play helped me so much! This song is SO beautiful.

Thank you!

[PSearPianist]

@L4Lit Thank you very much - I am glad I helped you, and I wish you every success in your study of the piece.

[DeathGodRiku]

to think there was a time when I could play this even a little bit. that time is now gone.

[PSearPianist]

@DeathGodRiku Maybe with some work you could do it again?

[DeathGodRiku]

@PSearPianist I really had no interest in playing the piano. At the time it interested me, but after a while I decided it wasn't my thing. I did manage to memorize one song by Bach. first phrase only and I forget which one it was. It was a Waltz in G major I believe

[agent101glitterg1]

it sure doesnt sound like this when i try to play it good thing im not playing it at the winter recietal

[PSearPianist]

@agent101glitterg1 Maybe it sounds better when you play it? I'm sure it would be a good piece for your winter recital as audiences like to hear this sort of music.

[agent101glitterg1]

@PSearPianist thx but im really not ready for the winter recital i know im gonna play it for the spring recital though i did do fur elise that way

[elpidakimad1]

@agent101glitterg1 

[raffi213]

I like the way how you play the piece. Ive been practicing it recently and this video helped me see how I need to do the scales correctly. By the way, Friederich Kuhlau was German. He emigrated to Denmark after Napoleon ransacked his hometown of Hamburg

[PSearPianist]

@raffi213 Thanks very much for that - I am glad you found the video helpful. You are right about Kuhlau being born German, although he did become a Danish citizen.

[ashleyrcks1]

im in junior high, but im doing this song for piano in the same version. thank you for putting this out. it has helped me with lots of things

[PSearPianist]

@ashleyrcks1 That's great. I wish you every success with it!

[MusicNinja2987]

my fave sonatina

great job learning right now

[PSearPianist]

@MusicNinja2987 Thank you. I wish you every success in your study of it!

[iswimbro]

Very beautifully played. Learning this song right now and this video has helped me through some parts.

[PSearPianist]

@iswimbro Thank you. That's great to hear, and I wish you good luck with your study of the piece!

[PutYourHeadOut]

Your playing inspired me! Thank you. I just wish my old finger could fly over the keys like yours. Thanks. Maria

[PSearPianist]

@PutYourHeadOut Thanks very much - and I hope you have more than one finger to fly over the keys!

[Searchingxmyxway]

Is is the same song at 3:40? because I'm presently learning it and I don't have the sheets for that part :(

[PSearPianist]

@Searchingxmyxway Yes it is. Maybe you are not learning all the movements (there are three).

[Searchingxmyxway]

@PSearPianist that's what I thought, thank you :) I will probably ask for the other movements because I've learnt the first one within the two last 2 weeks and I had until the end of the school year (in June). So I'm glad you've uploaded this, it helped me a lot!

[bosseed]

it's been a long time

[PSearPianist]

@bosseed Yes - and I have played a lot of music in that time!

[slayejad]

how long have you been playing?

[PSearPianist]

@slayejad Over 45 years!

[sujinmcho]

I procrastinated for a while.. but I finally got the piece! I used this video as a reference and it helped a lot :) especially when I was learning the Rondo section. Thanks so much!

[PSearPianist]

@sujinmcho I am very pleased to have been a help to you, and hope you get great enjoyment from playing the piece!

[SWEEPALS]

nicely played old boy, i,m learning this too and hope to play it as fluently as yourself.

Kind Regards Chris.

[PSearPianist]

@SWEEPALS Thanks Chris, and good luck with your own study of the piece!

[TheNatasha12345678]

amazing im learning to play this myself I like it it's very pretty. Keep up the good work

[PSearPianist]

@TheNatasha12345678 Thank you - and good luck with your own study of the piece!

[IHelpNexon]

What grade is this sheet im learning it right now

[PSearPianist]

@IHelpNexon Difficult to say. Probably Grade 5 on the British ABRSM - but that is only a guess as I am not a teacher!

[riribun]

good



[PSearPianist]

@riribun Thank you!

[sujinmcho]

i'm learning this piece right now, but the scales are so hard to master...i sorta skipped in the book to Mozart's sonate in C major. I'm studying Sonatinen album 1..

do you have any advice on how to make scales smoother?

[PSearPianist]

@sujinmcho I don't teach piano, so cannot give detailed advice. I would suggest that you are careful to make your hand glide over the places where you pass thumb under fingers to play the scale - think in terms of whole hand, wrist and arm movements and not just the fingering.

[sujinmcho]

@PSearPianist thanks so much, though i don't think i'll be playing for a bit because i burned my fingers while cooking....because i was thinking about playing :)

[PSearPianist]

@sujinmcho Painful! I hope they heal up very quickly!

[specter290]

@sujinmcho move you whole arm to the right, thats wat i do to play the scales in the 1st movement; im currently learning the adante and idk if i want to learn the rondo 

[sujinmcho]

@specter290

thanks for the advice :) and the rondo is worth learning after you get past the sight reading

[PSearPianist]

@specter290 On the whole, yes - but there are great pieces in all kinds of music.

[specter290]

is the g tied on the second measure?

[PSearPianist]

@specter290 Yes, it should be.

[0872531415]

นุ่มนวลมากครับ...

[PSearPianist]

@0872531415 ขอบคุณมาก!

[ntptennis]

it's fast and dolce

[PSearPianist]

@ntptennis Thanks - I hope you liked it.

[ntptennis]

yes i likeed it

[mattutumrs]

you are very good

[PSearPianist]

@mattutumrs Thank you!

[wond8]

5:57 does it has to be this fast?

[PSearPianist]

@wond8 Not necessarily - as long as you capture the spirit of the music in your own way.

[pianorocks111]

great playing! u played it so wel! im lerning this piece 2 and i hope that wen im don i can sound as good as u!

[PSearPianist]

@pianorocks111 Thank you.  Good luck with your study of the piece - and you should of course aim to sound better than me!

[1980Caterina]

bravo

[PSearPianist]

@1980Caterina Thank you!

[TheAmm9]

i have been trying to play it and i am now trying to play the rondo part but u play very well

[PSearPianist]

@TheAmm9 Thank you - and I wish you every success with the rondo!

[Carliekinz]

ahh you make this look so easy. i'm learning it now, hope it sounds as good!

[PSearPianist]

@Carliekinz Thank you - and good luck with your study of the piece. But beware - the previous commentator thought I had played some wrong notes. I don't know which they are (if they exist) - so be careful!

[TheAmm9]

@Carliekinz i have played it and if u r at least grade 5 it will be easy 4 u but it sounds herder than what it really is

[likemyoung18]

its not the write notes

[PSearPianist]

@likemyoung18 I certainly hope it is! - but if I have made any mistakes, send me a message!

[suzanna8767]

I though that the piece is fast , but after seeing your preformance, I know that I played too fast. Many thanks~

[PSearPianist]

@suzanna8767 Thank you for that. My speed may not necessarily be the best possible, of course!

[suzanna8767]

Great~~ I love this~thx~

[BlackIsOut]

o god the first second i thoutgh mozart 545

[PSearPianist]

@BlackIsOut That's interesting -maybe Kuhlau had it in his mind!

[uinaky]

I like your interpretation, when I was studing music, that piece was my firts sonatina when I was in the first year!!! Is very nice to remind.

[PSearPianist]

@uinaky Thank you. I am pleased to bring back good memories for you!

[colourfulwithaU]

When you do those 16th note runs, it sounds sloppy. Work on precision.

[PSearPianist]

@colourfulwithaU Sorry about that - maybe I used a little rubato!

[wond8]

i'm also playing this song at this moment but the part of 1:46 - 2:04 i can't play fluent i hope you are enjoying with you skill with piano. this is really nice

[PSearPianist]

@wond8 Thank you for that. Keep practising and you will master the part you find hard!

[kakiaxD]

you play really good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!bravo!!

[PSearPianist]

@kakiaxD That's very kind. Thank you!

[flasidex]

ho yes, this es grate. im a piano student, and this is may homework, tanks.

[PSearPianist]

@flasidex Thank you - and good luck with your study of the piece!

[UltraSimon007]

Those fasts bit feel a bit sped up. I've read a few comments saying 'this feels slow', but this is honestly the speed I thought it was meant to go at. Any faster and those fast bits are ruined through distortion, particularly given how melodic they are. But eh, I'm not expert.

Nicely played anyway. Are you sight reading?

[PSearPianist]

@UltraSimon007 Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Although I use a score, I am not sightreading - I wouldn't dream of putting something on here that I had not properly thought through and practised. I hope it sounds as if I have prepared the piece!

[UltraSimon007]

@PSearPianist Don't worry, I didn't mean it in that way at all. It definitely sounds like you've practised the piece thoroughly, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone of your calibre could simply sight read the piece. Given that you've probably heard it dozens of times, the interpretation is already there to work from.

I only ask since I've seen a few professional pianists sight-read some tremendously hard pieces (music college) and have since reconsidered the notion that one must rehearse.

[PSearPianist]

@UltraSimon007 Thanks. I am actually a good sight-reader, and often have to read some difficult pieces for auditions, master-classes etc. But with those there are techniques for glossing over details one does not have time to read, and even improvising accompaniments just to keep going. When you see accompanists at music college read through music put in front of them, it may be that they have played it before, or are playing for someone very familiar with the piano part.

[holypicklesmofo]

good voicing and shadowing but it could have been faster....im 13 and ive been playing for 6 yrs and im doing this for a youth performing arts audition...thx it helped a lot!

[PSearPianist]

@holypicklesmofo Thanks for your comment - and good luck with your audition! I think my speed is about right, but these things depend on the tone of the piano, the acoustic etc. etc.!

[holypicklesmofo]

@PSearPianist yeah yeah ik...just depends on your style too i think... ik another friend who plays this and he does it completly different..but its still amazing in a different way. thanks!

[UltraSimon007]

@holypicklesmofo You're very talented then. Congratulations, and best of luck!

[ellenbeechicago]

Incredible! You are so good pianist. I've been trying to play this. It helped a lot. Thank you.

[PSearPianist]

@ellenbeechicago Thank you for that - I'm glad you found my video useful.  Good luck with your own study of the piece!

[tblueberry2009]

ur greaT~!!

[PSearPianist]

@tblueberry2009 That's kind!

[Swordarcher]

fast fingerwork! I fail at that part! haha

[PSearPianist]

@Swordarcher Keep practising!

[Swordarcher]

@PSearPianist thank you!

[ruizhi567]

my friend bet me to play this on my vlioin. INSPOSSAIBLE cant do that much double stops:(

[PSearPianist]

@ruizhi567 I don't play the violin, but I am sure you are right. However what you could do is play the melody with just a few notes of double stopping here and there to suggest the harmony. Maybe your friend would not notice that you were not playing everything!

[Jonern67]

That was some great playing indeed Phillip, I am learning this piece now, and you certainly play it fantastic! I would say that this is the best version on YouTube. Both thumbs up, and a definite favourite.

Greetings from Jonern in Norway!

[PSearPianist]

@Jonern67 Thank you Jonern! As I write it is freezing here, and it must be even colder in Norway! Good luck with your work on the piece.

[zusanli66]

Hello Philip

Your idea to spread so much good music not very popular is fantastic. Good work hoping youìll go on. Pasquale, Naples, Italy

[PSearPianist]

@zusanli66 Thank you Pasquale. I will certainly continue the work (although it is difficult to practise when the weather is hot here in UK, as it is now!).

[Lalitamusic]

Hello Phillip thank you for sharing this wonderful music with the world. I see there are at least 5 or 6 of your clips up that I have yet to take a look at, so over the next couple of says I will do that. This was beautiful and you are an excellent pianist.

Love

Lalita

[PSearPianist]

@Lalitamusic That's a really kind comment, Lalita. It is indeed wonderful music!

[Runnerduck16]

great!

[PSearPianist]

@Runnerduck16 Thank you!

[SuperMilliee]

lmao, i played this b4!

[PSearPianist]

@SuperMilliee Pleased to hear it!