Final stage of learning
Lesson time: (2min 13sec)
Julia Zilberquit shares her final tips for polishing Tchaikovsky's 'April: Snowdrop', from following the dynamics to finding freedom in this allegretto.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Perform Tchaikovsky's "The Seasons" - March, April, June, October
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Music Lesson: Preparing the Piece
As I stated before, the final stage of preparation is the same as it was in March. Here are the steps to effectively prepare:
1. Learn the Text
- Know the Structure: Familiarize yourself with the layout of the piece.
- Play from Beginning to End: Whether you choose to do this with the score or without is totally up to you.
2. Follow the Composer's Markings
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It's crucial to adhere to all markings and dynamics.
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This piece is composed of:
- Little crescendos
- Little diminuendos
- Innuendos
Everything is very, very important.
3. Separate Yourself from the Music
- Look at the piece from an outside perspective.
- Ensure you can perform it from beginning to end.
- Know your dynamic plan; understand what's going on.
- Have your ideas and allow yourself the freedom to enjoy the performance.
Additional Freedom in Performance
I want to share one more bonus about this piece in particular. Unlike the March, October, and June pieces, which are all on the slower side, this one is an allegretto. This gives us great performance freedom:
- Slower Side: Playing it slower will still sound beautiful.
- Middle Tempo: This is usually the tempo I prefer and like.
- Faster Tempo for Virtuosos: Those who enjoy showcasing their technique in the 16th notes of the middle section could play it a notch faster, but remember, the truth often lies somewhere in the middle.
I hope you love and enjoy April as much as I do, and I hope you're able to apply all my tips to make this piece a successful addition to your piano repertoire!
About the instructor

Russian-born American pianist Julia Zilberquit has earned critical acclaim as a recitalist, chamber musician and recording artist. She was praised by The New York Times as "an outstanding soloist" after her Carnegie Hall performance of Cesar Franck's symphonic poem Les Djinns for piano and orchestra with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, Warner Classics released her CD Bach: Complete Solo Keyboard Concertos. This recording features the premiere of two Bach-Vivaldi Concerti Grossi arranged by Ms. Zilberquit for piano and orchestra, and was hailed as a "gorgeous rendition" by the prestigious Gramophone Magazine. Her arrangement of the Shostakovich Concertino for 2 Pianos, Op. 94 for piano and orchestra was premiered at Carnegie Hall; she has performed it worldwide to critical acclaim and recorded it with Vladimir Spivakov and the Moscow Virtuosi. Other recordings include a solo recording, The Mystery of Bagatelles, released by Naxos. The CD was praised as a "superb performance" by The Washington Post, and described as an "adventurous program, sparkling with unusual clarity and pointillistic luminescence" in London's Piano Magazine. Her recitals have taken place at major concert halls including New York's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the 92nd Street Y, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Engagements at major international music festivals include appearances in Seattle, Colmar (France), Klangbogen (Vienna), Valery Gergiev's "White Nights" (St. Petersburg), Richter's "December Nights" (Moscow), "The Palaces of St. Petersburg," the Bard Music Festival in New York, and the Penderecki Festival (Poland). A native of Moscow, Julia Zilberquit was born into a family of musicians. She graduated from the Moscow Gnessin School of Music and The Juilliard School (class of Bella Davidovich). She lives in New York City with her husband, son and daughter. In this course she draws on that artistry to guide you through four movements of Tchaikovsky's "The Seasons" - March, April, June and October - so you can shape their poetry and colour at the keyboard yourself. read more




