Rearranging music

Ms Scarlett · Post by **Ms Scarlett** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:14 am

Hi there to one and all. I was just wondering if anyone out there has any tips for me on rearranging some music so that I can play it properly? I've played the piano since I was a kid but am always held back by the fact that I have quite small hands. I have a pretty good span now, after 20 odd years of practice, can do an octave easily enough, but still really struggle with pieces that have lots of big chords and octaves. Specifically, I am currently teaching myself to play The Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin and just cannot play the 2nd section and will never be able to do so with any satisfaction. The jumps are just too frequent and big. So, rather than giving up I thought I might try to slightly rearrange the score to make it a bit easier. So, if anyone has any suggestions about how to go about this I would be very grateful. In the past, I have taken the lowest one or two notes out of a chord in the left hand to make it playable and wondered if this applies also to the right hand melody. Also, as it is mainly made up of octaves etc and I don't just want to be playing one note in the right hand, what do I replace the bottom note with? Thanks in advance for any help. :guitarist

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:49 am

Hi Scarlett, well I don't play the piano but my husband does. He is pretty good too. I will have him read your post and see if he can suggest anything for you. I love to hear my husband play--he recently got a brand new electric keyboard and joined a band with my brother in law. We had a huge party and the band played...they were really good. I think he will be able to help you! He is sleeping now--will tell him when he wakes! Robin

Ms Scarlett · Post by **Ms Scarlett** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:15 am

Cool, thanks for that. I too have had to buy a keyboard as my house just isn't big enough for a proper piano. I've been really surprised by the quality of the sound actually. Not the same as a piano but not far off... Mind you, it did cost me nearly Ã‚£1000!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:42 am

Chonsi plays professionally as well. She's teaching now, but I'm sure she'll weigh in as soon as she sees this.

actionfigurestepho · Post by **actionfigurestepho** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:47 am

Hi there! I often have the same problem when playing because my hands are so small. If I have a hard time spanning an extra large bass clef chord usually I'll just hit the octave. When you don't want to play octaves, take a look at the chord structure. Strike the original chord with both hands if necessary to hear how it sounds, than try striking the top note and a third, or a fifth. See if it gives you the same kind of feel.

As far as the leaps and jumps go, again, run the melody through with both hands slowly if you have to. Are there middle notes you can take out? Sometimes there are a lot of embellishments in a score and you can take them out.

Try this. If you still need an arrangement I have a Readers' Digest Condensed version I can send to you. I'd try to rearrange the original first, because the condensed version it obviously missing some parts. It's quite shortened, but it's easier for us people with little hands. PM me if ya want me to send it to you.

Ms Scarlett · Post by **Ms Scarlett** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:41 am

Hey, thanks for the reply. My main problem in the second section of the Maple Leaf Rag is the change (right hand) from octaves, which I can make just fine, to other large chords in between. So you're saying that I could replace the octaves with 3rds and or 5ths? I've had some success rearranging other parts of it but seem to be struggling with the 2nd section. Thanks for the offer but I don't really want to play an easy peasy abridged version. I know I'll never play the real version properly but want to get as close as I can. I shall have a go at it over the weekend and let you know how I get on. Thanks

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:42 am

Ms Scarlett wrote: Hi there to one and all. I was just wondering if anyone out there has any tips for me on rearranging some music so that I can play it properly? I've played the piano since I was a kid but am always held back by the fact that I have quite small hands. I have a pretty good span now, after 20 odd years of practice, can do an octave easily enough, but still really struggle with pieces that have lots of big chords and octaves. Specifically, I am currently teaching myself to play The Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin and just cannot play the 2nd section and will never be able to do so with any satisfaction. The jumps are just too frequent and big. So, rather than giving up I thought I might try to slightly rearrange the score to make it a bit easier. So, if anyone has any suggestions about how to go about this I would be very grateful. In the past, I have taken the lowest one or two notes out of a chord in the left hand to make it playable and wondered if this applies also to the right hand melody. Also, as it is mainly made up of octaves etc and I don't just want to be playing one note in the right hand, what do I replace the bottom note with? Thanks in advance for any help. :guitarist
My dear Miss Scarlet:

You can find a much easier score to play so you do not have to have the stretch of the hand, but a basic question first. Do you do your exercises? How many Hanon's do you do a day? If you want to play the original, you need to get in shape, just like if you want to run the race you do the warm ups.

Now, if you want an easier version to play, you can always play just the basic 1-3-5 chord, not an octave. That should help the stretch not be there. You can do the basic altering of the chords in ascension on up. PM me if you want on where to find some easier version to play-you only want the left hand I assume. Go for it! Play some of that great Stuff!

Move over Bach......................

Ms Scarlett · Post by **Ms Scarlett** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:53 am

Ok ok, I admit it, I don't do my exercises. I've played the piano since I was about 8 (28 now!) but was without a piano for a few years due to moving around a lot, being a student etc. I suppose I've got out of the habit of practising every day and think my hands are pretty out of shape. When I play for more than 30minutes or so, my hands actually ache. So, I suppose I should be doing some exercises. I've never heard of Hanons. I always used to just do scales, arpeggios and then play some easy stuff by Clementi or something similar. Given that I've been out of regular practise for a few years now, how long do you think it might take to get my hands back up to being as strong as they used to be? I can still make the same spans as before, it just hurts after a while! The other problem is that I spend my whole day chained to a computer now, which I didn't before, typing all day which I don't suppose does my hands many favours.

When you say just play the 1-3-5, do you mean starting from the top note? So, if it's meant to be an octave of C for example, I play the top C then the 3rd and 5th note from there? It's actually the right hand I'm having the most problems with at the moment.

I'll give that a go and promise to do some hand exercises! And cut my nails!