Bertini - Rondo

Background

Monsieur Bertini was a French pianist and teacher who also managed to find time to compose pieces for his pupils.

Pupil Match & Suitability

This is quite a short; relatively straight forward piece. Just make sure that your pupil knows their way around the piano and especially round A major scales and chords I, IV and V.

Style & Tempo

This is an elegant piece with a lovely lyrical RH melody.

This is not a traditional Rondo as there is no ABACA, just an AB with a varied final A.

Phrasing & Articulation

The RH consists of a beautifully phrased melody. Teach it by:

• Demonstrating it

• Singing it and getting your pupil to sing it as well, breathing at the end of each slur.

Tone & Texture

The RH melody should be even and flowing, like water over stones.

To avoid bumps on the RH thumb C #, move fingers a little further up the keys.

Technique

When the RH has sharps, make sure that fingers are further up the keys in order to avoid bumps in the tempo and tone.

Fingering

Observe the suggested fingering- it will ensure a good legato phrase.

Pedalling

Pedalling is not necessary at this level, but here is a piece which lends itself to learning to use the pedal.

Apply it to longer dotted note values, especially, and the piano really 'sings'.

Teaching Strategies

Warm up with A major scales, arpeggios and broken chords and the broken chords of I, IV and V.

Try some of these activities and games suggested on the tabs below:

Practice Tips

Work out what is easy, what is hard and what lies in between.

Students will get bored if they only ever practice the really hard bits.

Final Performance

Bertini Rondo Grade 2 Level
A lovely balance between hands helps to give this performance a sense of refinement.

The phrasing is eloquent and the forte tone carefully judged.

An excellent flowing performance will have an excellent balance of RH melody against LH accompaniment, a contrast of tone in the middle section and a crescendo to the final chords. Nothing will be harsh or unexpected and it will be an elegant and charming miniature.

A good performance would be at the recommended tempo mark, have a good balance between the hands i.e. RH singing out over the LH, and include some dynamics.

A sound performance would have a tempo approaching the recommended metronome mark and accurate notes and rhythms.