8.
Small assignment: Arrangement for piano 6–12 hands
Explore playing inside a grand piano to stimulate the imagination. Create an arrangement to be played on piano with 6 to 12 hands.
Assignment author
Sanna Ahvenjärvi
Basics
Minimum time required
Goal and output
Pedagogical goal
Creating an imaginative and colourful arrangement to be played on the piano by multiple players
Concrete output
Arrangement for piano, multiple players
Work progress
- The goal is to create an arrangement for piano 6 to 12 hands of an existing piece.
- The reference work is the version created by The Pianoguys of One Direction – 'What makes you beautiful'. Talk about the different ways that you can play a grand piano.
- Have students select a piece to arrange using various playing techniques:
• find a piece that does not have too many chords in it
• one student may play the melody on the piano keyboard
• a couple of students may play bass notes inside the piano using mallets
• a couple of students may play accompanying notes inside the piano by plucking high strings with fingers, plectrums or plastic cards
- The piano can be prepared if desired, for instance by laying a chain across the strings.
- Write down the arrangement in the form of a score.
Topics in the assignment
Musical structures and analysis
Playing an instrument & singing
Notation & music terminology
Arranging & parts
Music technology
Styles & techniques
Imagination & other arts
Tools
Detailed description of tools
A grand piano is ideal for this assignment, but it can be done using an upright piano too, although it is far more challenging to play inside an upright piano than a grand piano. You will also need mallets, material for preparing the piano (e.g. a chain) and plectrums or plastic cards for plucking or scratching the strings.
Additional material
Further assignments
Assignment suitable for further study
