10-Year Program for Harp Students of Beatriz Martin-Ruiz

 

The purpose of this program is to provide students with guidance during their harp studies. It is broken up in three major groups: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.  Each year has been designed to be comfortably completed in one school year. Each year the student will find a list of minimum technical and musical aspects to develop, as well as methods, or books of etudes that will be used during that year. A list of Solo and Ensemble repertoire has also been provided. This is intended as a reference, but the students should aim to complete the minimum requirements for each year before they move on to the next year/level. Once the minimum requirements are satisfied, the amount of pieces prepared by the student will depend on his/her personal aptitude. At the end of each year a list of additional books has been included; they are not required, but strongly recommended. To strengthen each student’s musical knowledge and harp background, I encourage the harp teacher to arrange for a time to discuss the reading assignments during private lessons, or in master classes. Also included is a list of general requirements for the final examinations (juries) at the end of each year.

 

Following is a general description of the goals intended for each major group.

 

BEGINNER LEVEL

 

This three-year cycle covers learning to read music and understanding and using musical terms; simple harmony with chords and tonalities; basic music history; understanding and mastering all the basic finger and feet exercises; and tuning the harp – students will be required to participate in all studio recitals.

 

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

 

In this cycle of three years the student is expected to develop full hand-feet coordination with more advanced technique. Music History and Harp History are crucial as the student will be exposed to a wide variety of composers and styles, sight-reading and memorization become top priorities, for developing professional skills and for developing repertoire.

 

 

ADVANCED LEVEL

 

In this four-year cycle we will work to prepare for auditions and competitions. Finger independence should be mastered by now; we focus on endurance, and repertoire. One full-length recital, from memory, is required. Each year the student will perform regularly with harp ensembles and chamber groups, and get involved in orchestral repertoire classes and staged mock auditions. [By now we will be in college-level classes, although not necessarily in college]

 

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YEAR 1

 

TECHNICAL ASPECTS TO DEVELOP       Hand position        

Fixed hand Chords

Intervals 

Arpeggios

Introduction to Scales

 

MUSICAL ASPECTS TO DEVELOP Reading notes on treble clef and bass clef

Playing on time

Basic Rhythms

 

METHODS/ ETUDES                    10 ETUDES FROM:                     (6 minimum)

Bochsa, 40 Easy Etudes, Op. 318, Vol. 1

Grossi, Metodo Per Arpa

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE                     5 PIECES. FOR EXAMPLE:           (3 minimum) McDonald/Wood, Harp Solos, Vols. 1-3

Calvo-Manzano, El ABC del Arpa

Paret, First Harp Book

 

HARP ENSEMBLE                       2 TO 4 PIECES TO CHOOSE FROM         (2minimum)

Woods, Christmas Carols for All Harps

Woods, Hymns and Wedding Music For All Harps

Biggs, Light Classics

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   Carman, Master Glossary of Symbols

One Music Dictionary

 

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 10

The student will play a total of 4 pieces, chosen by the jury

*     2 etudes

*     1 piece of solo repertoire

*     1 piece of ensemble repertoire

 

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YEAR 2

 

TECHNICAL ASPECTS TO DEVELOP       Hand position                             Basic Tuning

Replacing strings               Chords

Fixed hand                      Arpeggios

Basic Scales                      Some Pedals

 

MUSICAL ASPECTS TO DEVELOP Rhythms

Dynamic Control

Musical expressions (Italian and French)

Tonalities

 

METHODS/ ETUDES           10 ETUDES FROM:                     (6 minimum)

Bochsa, 40 Easy Etudes, Op. 318, Vol. 1

Grossi, Metodo Per Arpa

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE           5 PIECES, FOR EXAMPLE:           (3 minimum)

McDonald/Wood, Harp Solos, Vols. 1 -3

Woods, Disney Songs for the Harp

Grandjany, Easy Pieces for The Harp

Ca1vo-Manzano, Cuaderno de Ana Magdalena Bach

 

HARP ENSEMBLE                       2 TO 4 PIECES FROM:                          (2 minimum)

Renie, Les Pins de Charlannes (2 harps)

Woods, 50 Christmas Carols for All Harps (2 or more)

Woods, Hymns and Wedding Music For All Harps (2 or more) Grandjany, Eleanor & Marcia (2)

Grandjany, Sally & Dinny (2)

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   Weidensaul, Scientific Tuning

 

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 10

The student will play a total of 5 pieces, chosen by the jury

*     2 etudes

*     2 pieces of solo repertoire

*     1 piece of ensemble repertoire

 

 

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YEAR 3

 

TECHNICAL ASPECTS TO DEVELOP       All Exercises  Evenness (rhythm, accent)

All Pedals      Speed                    Ear Tuning

 

MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT   Basic Harmony (Chords and Tonalities)

Basic Music History

 

METHODS/ ETUDES           10 ETUDES FROM:

Bochsa, 40 Easy Etudes, Op. 318, Vol. 2

Grossi, Metodo Per Arpa

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE                     AT LEAST 5 PIECES. FOR EXAMPLE:

                                                McDonald-Wood, Harp Solos, Vols. 4 and 5

                                                Dussek, Six Sonatines

Naderman, 7 Sonates Progressives, Op. 92

Woods, 76 Disney Songs for the Harp

Calvo-Manzano, El Pequeño Mundo de los

Ninos: El Soldadito de Plomo

 

HARP ENSEMBLE                       2 TO 4 PIECES FROM:                                                                                             

Grandjany, Quatre Preludes (2 or 4 harps)

Soler, Sonata en Re (3 harps)

Bach-Gounod, Ave Maria (2)

Pachelbel, Canon in D (2)

Rachmaninov, Rhapsody (3)

Pach, America Sings (3)

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   McDonald, Thoughts for the Students

Bochsa, History of the Harp

 

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 17

The student will play a total of 5 pieces, chosen by the jury:

*     2 etudes

*     2 pieces of solo repertoire

*     1 piece of ensemble repertoire

 

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YEAR 4

 

TECHNIQUE                               Long Scales            

                                                Chords/Rolls/Arpeggios

                                                Finger Combinations

Complete Hand/Feet Coordination: Pedal Exercises

MUSICAL CONCEPTS                  Basic Harp History and Organology

Basic Harp Maintenance

METHODS/ETUDES            10 ETUDES FROM:

Lariviere, Exercises et Etudes. Op. 9

Bochsa, 50 Studies. Op. 34, Vol. I

B. Martin-Ruiz, Harp Technique

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE                     5 -7 PIECES OF MEDIUM DIFFICULTY. EXAMPLE: Dussek, Six Sonatines

Naderman, 7 Sonates Progressives, Op. 92 Hasselmans, Follets, or Patrouille

Mayer, Sonata

Zabaleta, Spanish Masters (16th -17th Centuries) Debussy, En Bateau, or First Arabesque

ENSEMBLE/CHAMBER                 2 TO 3 PIECES. FOR EXAMPLE:             (2 minimum) Barber, Duets for Harp

O'Carolan, Concerto for 2 harps

Calvo-Manzano, Concierto de Soler

Bach, Deux Menuets, et Une Polonaise

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   Rensch-Erbes, Harps and Harpists

Weidensaul, Scientific Practicing

 

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 17

The student will play a total of 5 pieces, chosen by the jury

*     2 etudes

*     2 pieces of solo repertoire

*     1 piece of ensemble repertoire

 

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YEAR 5

CONCEPTS                                Sight reading                   

Memorization                                                                            

Developing Professional Skills                                           

Auditions/ Harp Competitions

Big Ensembles

 

METHODS/ETUDES            10 ETUDES FROM

Lariviere. Exercises et Etudes, Op. 9

Bochsa, 50 Studies, Op. 34. Vol. 1 and 2

B. Martin-Ruiz, Harp Technique

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE           5 TO 7 PIECES, FOR EXAMPLE:

Calvo-Manzano, Sonatas Españolas del Siglo XVIII

Calvo-Manzano, Coleccion de Obras Para Arpa de Haendel Hasselmans, La Source

Tournier, Au Matin

Pierne, Impromptu-Caprice

Glinka, Variations on a Theme by Mozart, or Nocturne HaLffter, Tres Piezas Breves, Op. 13 A

 

ENSEMBLF/CHAMBER                 3 PIECES. FOR EXAMPLE:

                                                Haendel, Harp Concerto

                                                Calvo-Manzano, Fantasia

                                                Calvo-Manzano, A Night in New York

                                                Prokofiev, Love for the Three Oranges

                                                Rensch-Erbes Collection

Joplin, Two Rags (3)

Liszt, Liebestraum (3)

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   Bullen, Principal Harpist

Jennings, The Harpist's Complete Wedding Guide Book McDonald, Thoughts for the Teacher

 

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 18

The student will play a total of 4 pieces, chosen by the jury

*     2 etudes

*     1 piece of solo repertoire

*     1 piece of chamber repertoire, or a harp concerto

 

 

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YEAR 6

 

CONCEPTS                                 Sight reading

Memorization

Auditions/ Harp Competitions

Big Ensembles

 

METHODS/ETUDES                     10 ETUDES FROM:

Salzedo, Conditioning Exercises

Bochsa, 50 Studies, Op. 34, Vol. 2

Martin-Ruiz, Harp Technique

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE                     5 TO 7 PIECES. FOR EXAMPLE:

Godefroid, Etude de Concert. Op 193

Dussek, Sonata in C

Debussy, Clair de Lune

Rota, Sarabanda et Toccatta

Prokofiev, Prelude Op. 12

Britten, Interlude from Ceremony of Carols

Tournier, Jazz Band

 

ENSEMBLE/CHAMBER                 3 PIECES. FOR EXAMPLE:

Dittersdorf, Concerto for Harp and Orchestra

Roslyn-Rensch collection

Grandjany, Aria in The Classic Style

Berlioz, Trio from L'Enfance Du Christ

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   Balderston, On Teaching the Harp

                                                Tournier, The Harp

Dearing, Making Money Making Music

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 18

The student will play a total of 4 pieces chosen by the jury

*     2 etudes

*     1 piece of solo repertoire

*     1 piece of chamber repertoire, or a harp concerto

 

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YEAR 7

 

 

FOCUS                                      (College Applications) Competitions

One full-length Recital

Developing Repertoire: Solo, Chamber, Ensemble

 

METHODS/ETUDES                     AT LEAST 12 ETUDES (4 OF EACH) FROM. Dizi, 48 Etudes

Posse, Eight Great Concert Etudes

Bach-Grandjany, Etudes

Martin-Ruiz, Harp Technique

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE                     AT LEAST ONE PIECE FROM EACH STYLE.EXAMPLE: Hindemith, Sonata

Roussel, Impromptu

Revel, Impromptu

Guridi, La Del Alba Seria

Tournier, Images (any)

 

ENSEMBLE/CHAMBER                 1 CONCERTO, 1 CHAMBER PIECE

                                                Debussy, Dances Sacree et Profane

                                                Samuel-Rousseau, Variations Pastorales

                                                Boieldieu, Concerto

Saint-Saens, Morceau de Concert

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   Norris, A Musician's Survival Guide; A. Guide to Preventing and Treating Injuries

Lieberman, You are Your Instrument: The Definitive

Musician's Guide to Practice and Performance

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 18

The student will play a total of 3 pieces

*     1 etude chosen by the jury

*     1 solo or chamber piece chosen by the jury

*     1 solo or clamber piece chosen by the student

 

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YEAR 8

 

FOCUS                                      (College Applications)

                                                Competitions

One full-length Recital

Developing Repertoire: Solo, Chamber, Ensemble

 

METHODS/ETUDES                     AT LEAST 12 ETUDES (4 OF EACH) FROM: Dizi, 48 Etudes

Posse, Eight Great Concert Etudes

Bach-Grandjany Etudes

Martin-Ruiz, Harp Technique

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE                     AT LEAST ONE PIECE FROM EACH STYLE:

                                                Bach, Italian Concerto, or Suite No. 1

Britten, Suite for Harp

Faure, Impromptu

Glanville-Hicks, Sonata

Godefroid, Carnaval de Venice

Godefroid, La Danse des Sylphes

Tournier, Theme and Variations

 

ENSEMBLE/CHAMBER                 1 CONCERTO, 1 CHAMBER PIECE

Ravel, Introduction and Allegro

Debussy, Sonata for Harp, Flute, and Viola

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS         Owen, Carlos Salzedo: From Aeolian to Thunder Inglefield, Marcel Grandjany: Concert Harpist

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

Total number of pieces to present: 18

The student will play a total of 3 pieces

1 etude chosen by the jury

1 solo or chamber piece chosen by the jury

1 solo or chamber piece chosen by the student

 

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YEAR 9

 

FOCUS                                      (College Applications)

                                                Competitions

One full-length Recital

Developing Repertoire: Solo, Chamber, Ensemble

Harp Pedagogy

 

METHODS/ETUDES                     AT LEAST 12 ETUDES (4 OF EACH) FROM: Dizi, 48 Etudes

Posse, Eight Great Concert Etudes

Bach-Grandjany, Etudes

    Martin -Ruiz, Harp Technique

SOLO REPERTOIRE                     AT LEAST ONE PIECE FROM EACH STYLE

                                                Guridi, Zortziko Zarra

Parish-Alvars, La Mandoline

Parish-Alvars, Serenade Op. 83

Spohr, Fantaisie

Saint-Saens, Faintasie

Salzedo, Variations on a Theme in the Ancient Style Haendel, Chaconne

Tournier, Feerie

ENSEMBLE/CHAMBER                 1 CONCERTO, 1 CHAMBER PIECE

Mozart, Flute and Harp Concerto

Britten, A Ceremony of Carols (with Choir)

Brahms, Four Songs (with Choir)

 

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   Bochsa, Universal Method

Lawrence, Method for the Harp

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 10-18 etudes, 8 pieces

The student will play a total of 3 pieces

*     1 etude chosen by the jury

*     1 solo or chamber piece chosen by the jury

*     1 solo or chamber piece chosen by the jury

 

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YEAR 10

 

FOCUS                                      (College Applications)

Competitions

One full-length Recital

Developing Repertoire: Solo, Chamber, Ensemble Harp

Pedagogy

 

METHODS/ETUDES                     AT LEAST 12 ETUDES (4 OF EACH) FROM: Dizi, 48 Etudes

Posse, Eight Great Concert Etudes

Bach-Grandjany Etudes

Martin-Ruiz, Harp Technique

 

SOLO REPERTOIRE                     AT LEAST ONE PIECE FROM EACH STYLE

                                                J.C. Bach, Sonata

Renie, Legende

Caplet, Divertissements

Maayani, Toccata

Echevarria, Capricho Español

Tournier, Sonatina

 

ENSEMBLE/CHAMBER                 1 CONCERTO, 1 CHAMBER PIECE Ginastera, Harp Concerto

         Hindemith, Concerto for Woodwinds, Harp and Orchestra

ADDITIONAL BOOKS                   Renie, Method for Harp (2 volumes)

 

JURY REQUIREMENTS

 

Total number of pieces to present: 10-18 etudes, 8 pieces

The student will play a total of 3 pieces

*     1 etude chosen by the jury

*     1 solo or chamber piece chosen by the jury

*     1 solo or chamber piece chosen by the student

 

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