Taught by renowned pianist
John O'Conor
In this lesson, Irish pianist John O'Conor performs and guides you through the first movement of Beethoven's so-called "Moonlight Sonata."<br><br>As O'Conor points out, the biggest difficulty of the movement is balancing the accompaniment with the melody in the right hand. You shouldn't approach the key too vertically or risk over-articulating the triplets. Instead, pet each key almost horizontally back towards your body, as if painting with a paint brush, and you'll create a smooth and flowing texture.<br><br>To express the melody effectively, O'Conor insists, you must really listen to the decay of each note. Your work is not done once the key is struck.<br><br>These techniques will take you through most of the movement, as the texture remains more or less uniform throughout. O'Conor shows you nuances, hidden melodies, pedal tricks, and expressive devices, that will improve your musicality and allow you to find your own voice in this most famous piece.
"Moonlight Sonata" - I. Adagio sostenuto
In this lesson, Irish pianist John O'Conor performs and guides you through the first movement of Beethoven's so-called "Moonlight Sonata."
As O'Conor points out, the biggest difficulty of the movement is balancing the accompaniment with the melody in the right hand. You shouldn't approach the key too vertically or risk over-articulating the triplets. Instead, pet each key almost horizontally back towards your body, as if painting with a paint brush, and you'll create a smooth and flowing texture.
To express the melody effectively, O'Conor insists, you must really listen to the decay of each note. Your work is not done once the key is struck.
These techniques will take you through most of the movement, as the texture remains more or less uniform throughout. O'Conor shows you nuances, hidden melodies, pedal tricks, and expressive devices, that will improve your musicality and allow you to find your own voice in this most famous piece.
"Moonlight Sonata" - II. Allegretto
In this lesson, Irish pianist John O'Conor guides you through the second movement of the Moonlight Sonata, what Liszt called "a flower between two chasms."
the movement is brief, but filled with charming and sensuous moments. Paying close attention to Beethoven's dyamic and articulation markings can help you bring character and charm to the A Secion.
The Trio section move forward more, O'Conor claims. The syncopated rhythms bring contrast to the straightforward rhythms of the opening, and prepare you for the A Section's return. A variation in dynamics in the final phrase will set the stage for the feverish final movement.
"Moonlight Sonata" - III. Presto agitato
In this lesson, Irish pianist John O'Conor tackles the Presto Agitato finale of the Moonlight Sonata.
There's no way to get around the movemen'ts difficulty, O'Conor explains. It requires diligence and patience. O'Conor stresses the importance of strengthening your finger technique through exercises, developing reflexes and sensitivies, and getting comfortable effortlessly dropping the fingers into the keys.
O'Conor demonstrates practice strategies to help build speed that can be applied to virtually the whole piece. The movement is filled with sudden dynamic and expressive shifts and driving rhythms. O'Conor brings your attention to score, and helps you make sense of Beethoven's markings – although the final decisions are up to you.
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Unlock Course →Irish pianist John O'Conor's unanimous 1st Prize at the International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna in 1973 opened the door to a critically acclaimed career as an international soloist, recording artist, and sought-after teacher.
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