Learning Supplements for Intermediate Song 9: Melody Op. 68 No. 1
from 30 Progressive duets for Low-G Ukulele
This is installment number 19 of 30 supplemental learning lessons to accompany the Book 30 Progressive Duets for Low-G Ukulele: Purchase HERE
History and Background
Melody (Op. 68, No. 1) is a piano piece from Robert Schumann's Album for the Young (Op. 68), a collection of 43 short works composed in 1848 for Schumann's three daughters:
Composition
Schumann composed the pieces in less than a month and said, “I don't remember ever having been in such good musical form… the pieces simply poured out, one after another”.Character
The piece is easy and melodious, and is considered one of the more conventional pieces in the collection.Difficulty
The piece is considered challenging and requires the player to control phrase dynamics over time and play with a cantabile right-hand touch.Playing
To play the piece, players can imagine one singer playing the first theme and another singing the second theme. They can also use a supple wrist and relaxed arms to create a lyrical singing tone.
Schumann's Album for the Young is considered an educational work that's suitable for children and beginners. The pieces are often titled to suggest a scene or situation, such as "Soldiers' March" or "The Poor Little Orphan Girl".
Learning Supplements: Useful Scales
Audio Play-Along
This lovely piece finds Uke 1 in the 7th position again, but, this time, in the key of C. Try using your thumb and index finger to pluck the double notes in measures 8, 11, 16 & 19. Maintain as much legato connection between the notes as possible. Uke 2 offers some fabulous arpeggiated chords that require some strength and dexterity. The tablature in the book is highly recommended for this challenging and beautiful part. I think of this as 2nd position with the one backwards stretch to fret 1 for the C# in measures 8 and 16. This one is fun to play and to listen to when both parts are locked in together!
Uke 1 Audio
Uke 2 Audio
Both Parts Audio
