Tutorial on Schindler's List

Welcome Back!
Hi there. This is Andrew here. Welcome back to this tutorial on Schindler's List. We're going to be playing and learning all about this wonderful piece of music for Grade 7, composed by the fabulous John Williams. Everyone knows that name as a world-famous composer for movies. This is one of his great scores that has been transcribed for the piano.

John Williams: A Renowned Composer
John Williams needs no introduction. I think everyone knows his scores from:

• Superman
• Star Wars
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Jaws
• Jurassic Park

He has composed so many fabulous, wonderful movie scores. I encourage you to read the information sheet that comes with the music. There's some great background information about Schindler's List and how Spielberg got John Williams to create the score. It's definitely worth checking out.

Raising the Bar in Grade 7
As we approach the repertoire for Grade 7, it's important to begin to raise the bar, not just in getting the right notes, but also in expressing the music the way a professional musician would. Examiners will be looking for a level of musicality in the higher grades, unlike the early grades where they might not pay as much attention to that.

Expressive Expectations

There's a great expectation for you to start playing at a level that incorporates the elements of music that is called for. For example:

• Tempo: The piece indicates to play expressively and with rubato.
  • Rubato: This term comes from the Italian rubare, which means "to steal." It offers flexibility with the music, encouraging you to have a sense of internal rhythm rather than being metronomic.

Technical Aspects of the Piece
Now, let's discuss the technical aspects of this piece. Some key points include:

• Hand Size: The piece requires quite a big hand. There are stretches, such as the interval of a minor tenth. If you have small hands, you might need to roll some notes.
• Bars:
  • In Bar 1, there's a roll on the heartbeat notes (B flat), which you can manage with practice.
  • In Bar 2, there's a big chord. Consider using middle C in the right hand and bringing the thumb down on the B flat.

Rolling Techniques

• For Bar 5: Use the thumb to play both F and G together.
• For Bar 8: There's an unusual chord in the left hand (A and E flat). Rolling this is acceptable and consistent with the piece's texture.

Cultural Themes

Now, let's move to Bar 12, where the Jewish folk theme emerges. John Williams draws upon the cultural heritage of the Jewish people with Klezmer music, which is characterized by:

• Mindful Harmony: Listen for the sharpened seventh in the harmony.
• Expressive Melodies: This theme allows for expressive qualities to shine.

Advanced Pianistic Textures

• Bar 26: This introduces more advanced textures with semiquavers. Focus on playing the melody clearly against the accompaniment.
• Bar 31: Take this section slow and ensure you use the correct fingering for accuracy.

Final Sections and Recap

• Bar 36: The original theme returns with a more elaborate left-hand texture. Strive for a beautiful interplay between the hands.
• Bar 40: You'll encounter double semiquavers in both hands. Slow practice helps with maintaining evenness.

Recap of Key Points

• Practice the left-hand stretches and rolling the tenths.
• Use the thumb on the F and G notes.
• Bring out the singing quality in your play, imagine it as a folk song from Bar 12.
• Pay attention to nuanced pedal changes to maintain clarity in harmonies.

Lastly, I hope these insights will assist you with some of the technical challenges of this piece. Enjoy the expressive qualities of the music! If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message. Best of luck learning this piece!