Classic pieces that sound like pop

Here is a question: what pieces from the classic repertoire can you convince students to learn using the argument that it will help them to play pop music? Maybe the answer is none? Of course, there is no classical piece that sounds like Otis Spann or the kind of boogie woogie playing that rock pianists use to accompany Chuck Berry songs like 'Johnny B Good'. I'm wondering if there are pieces that use the kind of arpeggiation and left hand support that could be used to accompany some of the less 'rock' type songs one hears on the radio. Or, at least, that are close enough that you can convince a student that she is not wasting her time with lessons.

Jeez... After three months of learning nothing but scales, theory, and silly little practice songs, I'd be overjoyed for ANY piece of music!

What about Saint-Saens' version of Danse Macabre? What an incredible, whirling, exciting chaos of thunderous sound! Just about anything by Lizst. How about some of the waltzes of Strauss? If you have any pupils who enjoy George Winston or David Lanz, you could probably get them to play some of Erik Satie's compositions. (Gymnopedies, etc.)

Best Wishes,

Why not take a lesson from the guitar instructors and actually teach her 'Johnny B. Good'? If a student wants to play pop music, there really is not a good reason to force them to learn classical music. They can go back and play some classical pieces later on. Music should be fun. Whatever my students want to learn that is what I teach. I have many students who are learning ragtime, jazz, latin and pop music from me. I also have a few students who want to learn classical music. There really is not one style for all students. I think you should teach what your students are interested in.

Well, that is my two cents worth. Good luck!

Dan

Gershwin, the Preludes. Rialto Ripples (more diffucult).

Scott Joplin - many are well-known tunes (from movies), generally not too diffucult.

Gottshalk. Similar to ragtime, though earlier and (I would say) more complex.

Can be very exciting, but also very difficult.

I date back to the days when 'Bumble Boogie' was popular, but I don't expect Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Flight' would quite fit the purpose you visualize.

Debussy- Golliwog's Cakewalk form 'Children's Corner'

Erwin Schulhoff wrote a lot of jazzy short pieces, though many are difficult. I particularly like the 'Tempo di Fox a la Hawaii' movement from one of his dance suites.

I second the Gershwin, Joplin and Gottschalk motion.

Elena http://www.concertpianist.com

Well there's the Prelude in C minor,... oh, pardon me, 'c minor' by Chopin, Op 28, #20. Could that be the magic?

I think it's important for students to find teachers that can teach the material that they are going to end up playing.

Personally I take lessons from a classically trained pianist because I want to play classic pieces. If I was predominently interested in pop/jazz I would find a teacher that teaches that type of music as they will know the tricks and tips necessary to play that music.

~ Knute

Czerny 'Art of Finger Dexterity' Op.740, Book I for starters. For example No.1 : With slight variation in the left hand, and a snappy tempo you'll find that Eric Clapton really didn't write the music part of 'Lay Down Sally'.

Later exercises have left hand work that begs to be (if not already) boogie woogie.

Then on to JS Bach if they really aspire to be a jazz pianist.

There's Bartok and Ginestera pieces starting at easy levels that build good rhythm skills and Ginestera uses great harmonies and big chords.

For starters,

Debussy- Litlle dark complexion ('Le petit negre)

Of course those two pieces sound like jazz because Debussy was exposed to that 'new' music at the time.

Or Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata No.32, Op.111, part two - Arietta, from measure 48 , played by mr. Pogorelich - it rocks, hard ! [Pogorelich shows no respect for the composers - he recreates the music :-) ].

For even more modern music, one should pick some Bach. Stamatis Spanoudakis , in his 'synthesised' music, makes heavy use of 'Bach patterns'.

Or listen to the 'Classics with a beat' concoctions.

But if the student wants to play pop music what's the point in forcing her/him learn classical repertoire ?

she is not wasting her time with lessons.

Are you an evangelical classicist?