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 Elton Joel RW2   2'25
With apologies to them both. A rock piano solo without lyrics.

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Recording (mp3, 1.9MB)

 Elegy RW2   2'25
Many, many parts to weave and balance - needs ensemble skills, even though it's for solo piano.

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Recording (mp3, 1.6MB)

 Grumpy Trolls RW2   2'25
A contest piece with bite. Storms and stamps all over the piano before the jump-up-and-bow finish.

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Recording (mp3, 1.2MB)

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 Snowflakes RW2   2'25
A delicate picture piece - how many shades of quiet can you play?

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Recording (mp3, 0.9MB)

 MicroWaltz RW2   2'25
Less than a minute long. For early intermediate students.

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Recording (mp3, 0.8MB)

 Processional RW2   2'25
A concert opener that quickly breaks out of its initial stately reserve.

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Recording (mp3, 2.6MB)

 

Deadwood Students                 back to magazine homepage

by Philip Johnston

Introduction | Groundhog Day Students | "Whatever Students" | Phantom Students Bookless Wonders | The Bulldozer Chatterbox | Mannequins | The non-practicer
The Arguer | Painful Parents |"Can't do" students | Checking the final score

Type 8: Arguers

I don't need my students to organize a parade in my honour every time I make a suggestion, and I genuinely enjoy conversations that result in me being persuaded by a stronger idea. But some students will oppose everything that's said, almost as a reflex action.

This means that instead of spending 30 seconds putting in a new fingering, you have to listen to a 30 minute defence of the old one. In their eyes you're not a mentor—you're an obstacle, put on this planet to thwart their already-evolved-and-beyond-reproach ideas.

So if having the temerity to suggest to the student that "f means loud" puts you on the sharp end of a Socratic dialectic, then you have to wonder whether they really need you or not. If they would prefer to think that "f" means "play an f", then so be it, but they can think that in somebody else's studio.

 

DEADWOOD TALLY: Could your student be described as an Arguer?

A) Absolutely. Just about every suggestion I make is contradicted (10 points)
B) I can sometimes get through, but frequent arguments make it hard work (6 points)
C) It's an occasional problem (2 points)
D) Not at all (0 points)