Taught by renowned pianist
Claire Huangci
The six pieces of Debussy's Children's Corner are studies in tenderness and imagination. While not overtly virtuosic, the music is beyond the reach of children. Rather, like Schumann's Kinderszenen, Debussy's suite are works for more mature players to revisit the wonder and enchantment of childhood. Join Claire Huangci as she walks you through the suite, one piece at a time, and shares her secrets on how to color and choreograph its memorable characters.
Introduction
In this course overview, Claire Huangci introduces the joys to be found in Debussy's Children's Corner suite, beloved by students, teachers, and music lovers alike. Return to a world of childlike wonder as she walks you through the suite, insights sparking discovery and delight on every page.
Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
An ironic nod to Clementi and Czerny, whose training pieces entitled "Gradus ad Parnassum" were meant to help piano students ascend to the heights of virtuosity, Debussy's miniature of the same name is a delightful twist on the 19th-century finger exercise. While it is indeed a study in touch and finger dexterity, as Claire Huangci shows, it is at the same time a whirlwind of color and a wistful tribute to childhood.
Jimbo's Lullaby
Meet Jimbo, the stuffed Elephant whose pentatonic lullaby is a study in left-hand finger pedal. Join Claire Huangci as she shows you how to capture Jimbo's clumsy movements and realize a dialogue – between Jimbo and a child, perhaps? – by playing two melodies in the same hand at the same time.
Serenade for the Doll
Join Claire Huangci as she presents Debussy's exotic Serenade for the Doll, who moves about awkwardly by the hand of a child and provides the pianist with a mix of challenges in pedaling and dynamics, layering and voicing, and the shifting moods.
The Snow is Dancing
Arguably the most challenging piece in the whole Children's Corner, Debussy's "The Snow is Dancing" is a study in touch, tempo, and the distribution of unlike layers between the hands. Claire Huangci breaks down these technical hurdles, showing you how to simulate a snowglobe at the keyboard and the melody that emerges out of it.
The Little Shepherd
Debussy's "The Little Shepherd" is a picture of pastoral life featuring three calls by a solo flute, and three choral responses. Join Claire Huangci as she shows you how to imitate the flute, color the chorus, and create a dialogue between the two.
Golliwogg's Cakewalk
A perennial favorite among students, "Golliwogg's Cakewalk" is one of Debussy's experiments in ragtime, featuring an ironic quote from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. While the character of Golliwogg hasn't aged well into the 21st century, Claire Huangci approaches the work as a comedic dance, teaching you how to master its technical obstacles and enjoy the work's quirky charms.
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Unlock Course →A one-time child prodigy, Claire Huangci has succeeded in establishing herself as a highly respected artist, captivating audiences with her “radiant virtuosity, artistic sensitivity, keen interactive sense and subtle auditory dramaturgy.”
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