Chamber Music for Novice-level Players

Photo by Ekow Asan: Violinist and educator Jill Schultz

If you are a late-starter or emerging chamber music player, I want to welcome you to the world of chamber music. I hope your journey will be filled with new friends, lots of fun, learning, and beautiful music. Chamber music is something you can do for many years  and you will never run out of music to play and things to learn.

But where would you find music that would be at a level good for you? How can you make that assessment?

Often you can assess your skill level by the number of major and minor scales and arpeggios  you can play in different keys and the number of octaves you have mastered.   Rhythmic knowledge may be determined by your ability to play in different meters. State school music lists ( in New York this would be the NYSSMA list) also rank sight-reading by rhythmic ability and knowledge. This can be a great tool for your to determine the level of piece you can handle.  

This article is meant to give you some helpful hints and provide some terrific titles for you to try. At the end I will provide a very brief list  of some titles that will be successful, but it’s just a taste of what might be hundreds of works. Remember too, that you can find any combination of instrument grouping ( 3 cellos anyone?) so you can always find something for the players that may be available to you.

Where to find music?

IMSLP

If you haven’t heard about IMSLP, it is a terrific first place to check for music.  I really don’t know what IMSLP stands for but I’ve always thought “I am such a lucky person” would be good. Here you will find hundreds of pieces to download for free. You will have to ignore the ad at the top and, if you are using the free version, you will have to wait a few seconds before you can download the music. You can also pay for this service ( it’s inexpensive) and you won’t have to wait to download items. It is challenging to navigate this site at first. I’ve discovered that the easiest way for me to find music has been to type what I want in a google search followed by IMSLP. It usually pops right up.

One good place to start on IMSLP is to type in “string quartet albums IMSLP” . These are collections of string quartet movements that have been put together to be playable by intermediate players. The collections feature different composers so you’ll get a good mix of styles.

Edition Silvertrust

When you get tired of “the standard” pieces that you might encounter in a chamber music situation or from other players, this site has hundreds of pieces that you’ve never heard of! They give a brief description of the work, its instrumentation, and often a technical level. Look for the ones that are listed as technically easy. You might start first with composers who have also written student string methods in the 1800’s. They would have been tuned into the needs of emerging students as well as polished players. Names like Lachner, Maza, Rode, DeBeriot spring to mind. These will all be tuneful and fit string technique beautifully.  After you find something you think you might like, see if you can find it on Youtube and take a listen. After that, you can check IMSLP since all these pieces will be outside of the public domain before you purchase.

Chamber Music Repertoire for Amateur Players – A guide to choosing works to match players’ abilities by Harold Haynes

Every person has different talents and I think we should all be grateful that there was someone in the world who had the patience and brainpower to put together this guide. Not only has the author listed hundreds of pieces, but he lists the difficulty of each instrument in the group. For example, there might be a string quartet where all the parts are rated of equal difficulty, or ones where the first violin is more difficult than the other parts etc. You can order it from SJ Music in the United Kingdom for £17.95 plus shipping and handling.

Sheet Music Plus also has lots of free downloads, and easy contemporary music if you are so inclined – and don’t be shy! If there is a title you want for a pop piece that is not written for your instrument, get an easy piano version with a treble and bass clef part ( sorry violas) as see if you can make it work. Sheet music plus also has a transposition feature so if there’s something you want in a different ( easier) key it’s easy to obtain.

JW Pepper –  I know this is mostly orchestral but there are so many good titles here that I had to include it. Since most of these pieces are written for student level string players, you will find many to enjoy that are fun to play, including outstanding arrangements of technically challenging pieces that otherwise would be too difficult to enjoy.  Moreover, the pieces are recorded so you can hear them being played before a purchase. This is sometimes an expensive option since you might have to purchase a set of multiple parts ( although they often list individual parts and an extra score for separate purchase). But read below ….. There is a secret!

Your local middle and high school music teacher will already own tons of titles. They will be delighted to help you in any way they can. They may be able to let you borrow music and make suggestions from their library. School music teachers are a great resource for you in your community. They can be a great resource for you.

Graded Lists-

Each state has a school music association that produces a graded list of repertoire, including chamber music repertoire. Sometimes you need to purchase these lists ( if you get them without the fancy binder, they are not expensive) and with luck you can find them posted by a music store in the hopes that you will purchase the pieces from them. Hickeys Music is one such place for New York, but I’m sure there are others.

These lists also include sight reading levels. Checking them for your rhythmic knowledge is a great way to establish the level of the pieces you can handle.

An important caveat for all your pieces! Make sure that whatever piece you select also has a score. (That is all the parts printed together). This will make everything from rehearsing to locating a section if someone gets lost so much easier! Also, try to find music where the measures are numbered or at least have rehearsal letters. This will save you an infinite amount of time and frustration when trying to find your way in a rehearsal or reading session.

Often you can hear a piece being played on YouTube and see the score scrolling by. This is a huge help to jump start your understanding of the piece, and the entrances of each instrument.

I realize that we all have the option to download music onto iPads for many reasons. There are services that, for a fee, will open up entire libraries of music to you.  Henle Library is one. Just remember that you will only have access to your part and that your other players will have to supply their own. You are also only “renting” it in a sense, so you will not be able to print it out. You can often find used copies on sites like eBay or libraries like the Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center in New York or the Philadelphia Free Library in Pennsylvania.

Technical Considerations

When selecting a piece to play as a string player there are certainly things to keep in mind that will help maximize your enjoyment and minimize frustration.

Often emerging string players are afraid of higher positions so seek out music with a limited range. This is sometimes helpful, but a much more important consideration is to scan the music for the type of string crossings involved. Lots of quick arpeggiated figures, or repetitive slurs over strings that require steady rhythm for many measures are difficult. String instruments are singers! The more melodic for all instruments, the better.

Keys – The easiest keys for string players are C G, D for cello and viola and A for violin ( and their relative minors) because these allow us to use many open strings. If you are playing with winds, then F or B flat are good options. If you are playing with piano, look for piano parts that don’t jump around too much.

Rhythm – Anything with extended use of syncopation will require rehearsal and will not be easy to sight read. Off the beat entrances are also tricky, especially for an emerging player with limited experience in how to handle them. Look for any hooked bowings to make sure you have an idea of how these are managed.  Rhythm challenges shouldn’t be a total deterrent, but it’s something to keep in mind when trying to assess difficulty.

Intonation –

Intonation is more demanding from an ensemble of only two players than from an ensemble of three or more.

In chamber music including piano, often the pianist will need to be at a more advanced level than the other players. That said, playing with piano adds rhythmic stability and helps with intonation since it is fixed on the piano.

Intonation is more demanding from an ensemble of only two players than from an ensemble of three or more. In chamber music including piano, often the pianist will need to be at a more advanced level than the other players.

Forms

All music that you will play exists in established forms and there are two that are really tricky and might not be your best bet for an easy, enjoyable reading session.

The first would be a Gavotte. Gavottes are a dance form in two beats per measure where the melody starts on the second half of the measure. Ouch! For the longest time you will want the melody that you play or that you hear others in the group play as starting on the first beat. That is what makes this such a difficult thing to keep together. Not all Gavottes are titled “Gavotte” but they will still follow this form. Again, this shouldn’t deter you from a delightful Gavotte, but it will inform you that there will be this difficulty.

Fugues are characterized by a melody that is also a harmony and this melody will start at different places for each instrument. These are not great sight reading choices for emerging players because once one person gets out, it’s not possible to get back in, since the fugue theme can start anywhere and follow anyone. Fugues are often the last movement of a piece or may exist as a section within a longer movement ( usually towards the end of the movement).

My favorite form for emerging players would be the Rondo. The melodic form of a Rondo is A B A C A D etc. As you can see the A section will come back over and again. This gives the group a guidepost to aim for no matter what has transpired in between. Also, since it’s repeated throughout the movement, players really get a chance to learn it. Rondos are often the middle or last movements of a piece.

I thought of adding a list of pieces here but there are too many categories and too many different instrument groupings for this to be practical. Still, here are a few ideas to get you going.

Trios

Baroque – Telemann – type in “Telemann trios IMSLP” and take your pick. They will all be playable and fun.

Rocherolle – Trios for Intermediate pianists

String Quartet

Mozart “Band Two” string quartets – This collection has 16 string quartets ( starting with k156) that are all lovely. This is something you will want to own.

Haydn – op 20  There are 5 of these and they vary in difficulty but are all worth the effort.

Piano Quintets

Elfira Andree – Piano quintet

I hope this encourages you all to begin a wonderful journey with chamber music.

Jill Schultz Ed.D.  is a violinist/educator whose workshops called Skills and Drills is designed to help late starter and emerging string players enter and enjoy the world of chamber music.

More Articles

A special birthday gift: a newly commissioned chamber work!

Looking for the perfect birthday gift for a chamber music lover's milestone birthday? ACMP member flutist Trish Maxson had just the right idea: commissioning a brand-new piece of music by Jonathan Newmark for her friend Cindy Buhse's 60th birthday, for the unusual combination of flute and 2 violas. It's not easy to find a piece for that exact combination, and Trish wanted something she could play with Cindy and her daughter Emma who both play viola. The time was right for a "made to order" contemporary composition. Read all about it and download the score!

Read More ↗

NAOC Adventures in Vancouver, Canada

ACMP Executive Director Stephanie Griffin made new musical friends in her native British Columbia by connecting with NAOC councilors in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.

Read More ↗

An ACMP Love Story

Dr. Nancy Jiang (pianist/violinist from Australia) first played chamber music at the home of Toronto NAOC Councillor Carol Kirsh. Little did she know that chamber music sessions with Carol would lead her to meet the love of her life, Stefano Morra (ACMP violinist in Paris, France.) Read about their ACMP romance and wedding!

Read More ↗

The Queen of Paradise Orchestra Project of Papua New Guinea

In 1975, the year El Sistema was founded in Venezuela, a tiny new country was founded on the other side of the world: Papua New Guinea. One of the world’s least explored and most rural nations, PNG would seem to have little in common with the homeland of El Sistema. But in 2018, El Sistema came to Papua New Guinea.

Read More ↗

In memoriam: John Dexter, longtime coach and former violist of the Manhattan String Quartet

ACMP mourns the loss of John Dexter, who passed away on May 21, 2023. A long-time member of ACMP, he participated as a professional coach in the Home Coaching program and was deeply committed to helping chamber music players to improve their skills, develop musical insight, and expand their repertoire.

Read More ↗

ACMP 2023 Giving Report

ACMP Foundation has awarded a total of $193,875 USD to organizations and individuals in 14 countries its 2023 fiscal year to date, distributed over four grants programs: Chamber Music Workshop and Community Music, Play-In, Home Coaching and Just Play. 19% of ACMP's giving supported workshops, community programs and individual ACMP members outside the United States.

Read More ↗

Two CMA Events this Week to Celebrate National Chamber Month in NYC: May 17 and 18

National Chamber Music Month is an annual celebration and awareness campaign that brings attention to the creativity, resilience, and stylistic breadth of ensemble music performed today. This year, CMA is celebrating National Chamber Music Month with two events at National Sawdust in Brooklyn.

Read More ↗

New Video: The April 15 Kronos Quartet Master Class

ACMP's second online master class with the Kronos Quartet on its 50 for the Future repertoire was a huge success! Congratulations to all three quartets who played so beautifully, and you can now watch the entire class on ACMP's YouTube channel.

Read More ↗

Breakfast with Joshua Bell on May 9 in NYC: 15 Free Tickets for ACMP Members

New opportunity for ACMP members in or near New York City: After Arts has offered 15 free tickets to a breakfast talk with violinist Joshua Bell for members of ACMP.

Read More ↗

2023 Worldwide Play-In Weekend: May 19-21

The ACMP Worldwide Play-In Weekend is less than a month away: Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21. There are seven ACMP-supported Play-Ins that weekend so far, and keep checking this article and the Events and Workshops Directory for more!

Read More ↗

Puccini and Piazzolla in the Pizzeria

Illinois-area ACMP member Tom Cappaert recently received a "Just Play" grant from ACMP for an informal concert at a pizzeria in Quito, Ecuador in March.

Read More ↗

Kronos Quartet Master Class Live-Stream and Repertoire

Watch the live-stream of ACMP's second online master class with the Kronos Quartet on Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 2pm to 5pm Eastern on YouTube, and discover new and exciting repertoire by West African composers Angélique Kidjo and Fodé Lassana Diabaté, and Chinese composer Wu Man.

Read More ↗

Travels and Adventures with ACMP Pianist Nicholas King

New York City pianist Nicholas King just made a trip to Tokyo, Japan - connecting with local players through the ACMP Directory and with the help of ACMP's Japanese ambassador Sayoko Yamashita. Read ACMP's recent interview with Nick after his return from Japan.

Read More ↗

How to Hold a Play-In

Watch the video of ACMP's online workshop "How to Hold a Play-In" with panelists Peter Aupperle, Susan Alexander, Michael Knoch, Virginia Feldman, Phyllis Kaiden and Bob Myers. Get some expert tips on holding a Play-In and organize one yourself for ACMP's 2023 Worldwide Play-In Weekend, May 19 - 21.

Read More ↗

Creating a Culture of Listening: Exploring Conscious Listening Workshops with Steinway Artist Hsing-ay Hsu

Join pianist and ACMP Holiday Caption Contest winner Hsing-ay Hsu for her unique online "Conscious Listening Café", and read about her approach to deepening your listening experience.

Read More ↗

Kronos Quartet Second Master Class: Saturday, April 15

Join ACMP and the Kronos Quartet on Saturday, April 15 at 2pm Eastern for our second online master class on newly commissioned works from the Kronos "50 for the Future" library.

Read More ↗

List your Summer or Fall Workshop in the CMA Directory of Festivals, Schools and Workshops

Once again, members of the ACMP community (individuals, coaches, event managers and organizations) are invited to submit listings for inclusion in Chamber Music America's printed Directory of Festivals, Schools, and Workshops.

Read More ↗

ACMP at the CMA National Conference

ACMP was delighted to present a session at Chamber Music America’s 45th National Conference at the Westin New York at Times Square (New York City) on January 7, 2023. Moderated by ACMP Grants Committee Chair Susan Alexander, the panel included two amateur chamber musicians with widely different experiences: Paris Brann Milane of the Bronx and Karl Irikura from the Washington DC metropolitan area; and one professional musician who had dedicated his career to working with amateur musicians, Lenny Matczynski, a life-long coach and former Executive Director of The Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in New Hampshire. Watch the video!

Read More ↗

GO FOR BAROQUE……an early music workshop in NYC

This March, longtime friends and colleagues Dale Stuckenbruck and Lisa Terry offer a workshop in Manhattan for experienced amateur string players, recorder players and viol players, where all will get a chance to explore Baroque music focusing on Baroque style, meter and emphasis. Inspired by their friend, violinist Janet Hoffman, Dale and Lisa have done a number of workshops and presentations in recent years and are excited to be working together again.

Read More ↗

How to hold a Play-In: January 28, 2023, 2pm ET on Zoom

Join ACMP for a free online workshop on How to Hold a Play-In! Just in time to prepare for the 2023 Worldwide Play-In Weekend: May 19-21, 2023.

Read More ↗

 

All Articles By