What is a sonata? It is, simply, a piece of music played by an instrument. In the hands of Beethoven, though, oh what music! Beethoven wrote his Piano Sonata in A major, Op. 2, No. 2 when he was only 25 years old. Clearly, the composer was young, vibrant, masterful. This sonata is definitely a challenge for a pianist. Some might say, it's impossible to play as written. In this video, though, Dr. Duane Hulbert gives tips and techniques to master this and other Beethoven sonatas.
1:08 Play the 32nd notes lightly.
1:30 Float hands across the keys
2:57 Float hands INTO the keys and lift up.
3:18 Have fun with the scales as they are passed off from right to left hands.
4:13 Start practicing slowly.
5:02 Stop & Go practicing
5:34 Play with staccato touch, not phrased.
5:49 Play the "Alberti bass" with a light touch.
6:38 Play the thumb extremely light.
7:22 "Cheat" by using the left hand to help out the right in the octaves.
8:42 Ignore Beethoven's fingerings here. Let your left hand take the bottom voice.
8:56 Beethoven included a scherzo which needs to be played with a "snap."
9:51 Lift the hand at the end!
10:45 Push forward and up with the left hand.
12:22 Put in a little pedal with a light, upward arm gesture.
12:49 Be sure to give the little rest some space.
13:45 Play the staccato with a downward touch.
To hear the first movement played in its entirety, please go to our companion video: • Beethoven's Sonata Op....
Dr. Hulbert received his BA and MM from The Juilliard School of Music and his DMA from The Manhattan School of Music. Hulbert received the Gold Medal at the 1980 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and also won prizes in the 1981 Leeds Competition and 1985 Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. He has performed as a soloist with symphonies across the United States and has given recitals at Merkin Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In 2002, his recording of the piano works of late-romantic Russian composer Alexander Glazunov was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Solo Instrumental Recording. David Hurwitz of ClassicsToday.com called the CD “a production that makes the best possible case for this really excellent but sadly neglected repertoire.” Dr. Hulbert taught at the university level for over thirty years.
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