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The latest product in the Millennium Kopprasch series from Jeffrey Agrell is one that I think will have wide appeal, Accompanied Kopprasch.
In Volume I what Agrell has done is create simple accompaniments for the first 34 of the Kopprasch etudes, mirroring the content of book one of the most common editions. To my knowledge this is a first and a really welcome addition. Two major points:
- These are simple accompaniments, on the level that most horn studios have someone in it that plays piano well enough to play these, making them much more viable for performance in a studio class or even on a recital, and,
- They will change how you view Kopprasch.
With the recent passing of Myron Bloom this is as good a time as any to expand on that second point. I was not a Bloom student, but I was the only horn Graduate Assistant/Assistant Instructor at IU for three years during my Doctoral studies with Michael Hatfield, I’m very familiar with his teaching. Bloom had a very (VERY!) definite way he wanted Kopprasch to be played. As a pedagogical tool, there is a place for this type of use of Kopprasch for teaching, and for that clarity in teaching. Bloom was not alone in this either, many a teacher has treated Kopprasch as a set of mechanical exercises, ones geared especially toward learning a particular type of short articulation and a very literal control of dynamics. I am certain that Bloom spent many lessons on just the first two beats of Kopprasch 10 looking for perfection of articulation in just those two beats.
Again, this is a valid (if “old school”) approach to using and playing the venerable Kopprasch etudes. But, if you approach playing these now with piano in that same manner, you will be frustrated. Playing with piano requires — even enforces — a more musical approach and concept to playing these etudes. The piano, besides providing a pitch reference, creates an entirely different mood and will completely change your thinking about what Kopprasch is or could be. And this is a good thing.
I should also mention that, as with the other publications in this series, it is neatly printed and bound, and a huge bargain at only $14.99. From the USA the link to purchase on Amazon is here, and from other countries search your Amazon site, these are available worldwide.
