{"id":893,"date":"2026-02-13T21:19:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T05:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.archiechen.com\/?page_id=893"},"modified":"2026-02-22T23:05:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T07:05:20","slug":"solo-repertoire","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.archiechen.com\/es\/solo-repertoire\/","title":{"rendered":"Solo Repertoire"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/span>\"Solo
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Solo Repertoire<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solo Piano Repertoire<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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A comprehensive course cultivating creative independence, advanced technique, and deep musicianship across all style periods \u2014 from Bach and Scarlatti to Debussy, Prokofiev, and beyond<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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ABOUT THE COURSE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cultivating the Complete Concert Pianist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The purpose of this piano course is to cultivate a student’s creative independence as a performer, while fostering well-rounded musicianship. Through the development of fundamental knowledge in sound production, technical skills, musicality, and sensitivity, students grow into confident, expressive artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students develop a thorough study of repertoire representative of several style periods, gain superior knowledge of historical, theoretical, and performance practice issues pertaining to the repertoire, and demonstrate increasing levels of technical and musical maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A semester repertoire list submitted at the end of each term serves as a record of achievements \u2014 valuable for audition portfolios, graduate school applications, and professional biography development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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“The solo repertoire course is not merely about learning pieces \u2014 it is about developing the habits, knowledge, and inner life of a serious musician. Every work becomes a gateway to a richer understanding of what it means to perform.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Dr. Archie Chen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2726 \u00a0All four style periods: Baroque to Contemporary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2726 \u00a0Weekly studio lessons with Dr. Chen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2726 \u00a0Semester repertoire list & portfolio<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2726 \u00a0Performance class & jury preparation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2726 \u00a0Available in Spokane or remotely<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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REPERTOIRE BY STYLE PERIOD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four Centuries of Piano Literature<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The course spans the full sweep of the piano repertoire \u2014 from the contrapuntal mastery of the Baroque through the dramatic depth of the Romantic era, the impressionist colour of the early 20th century, and the bold language of contemporary composers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Baroque<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Composers: <\/strong>J.S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, G.F. Handel, Fran\u00e7ois Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Representative works: <\/em>Well-Tempered Clavier \u00b7 English & French Suites \u00b7 Partitas \u00b7 Keyboard Sonatas \u00b7 Ordres<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Classical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Composers: <\/strong>Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Clementi, Hummel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Representative works: <\/em>Piano Sonatas \u00b7 Theme & Variations \u00b7 Bagatelles \u00b7 Character Pieces<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Romantic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Composers: <\/strong>Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, Mendelssohn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Representative works: <\/em>Nocturnes \u00b7 Ballades \u00b7 \u00c9tudes \u00b7 Impromptus \u00b7 Intermezzi \u00b7 Fantasies \u00b7 Character Pieces<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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20th Century & Contemporary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Composers: <\/strong>Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Bart\u00f3k, Scriabin, Shostakovich, contemporary composers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Representative works: <\/em>Pr\u00e9ludes \u00b7 Images \u00b7 Sonatas \u00b7 Toccatas \u00b7 Suites \u00b7 Works by living composers<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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COURSE FOCUS AREAS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What You Will Develop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The course addresses every dimension of the complete pianist \u2014 from mechanics and memory to interpretation, stage presence, and the intellectual life of a serious performer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udfb9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advanced Piano Technique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Systematic development through exercises by Czerny, Hanon, Cramer, Heller, Chopin, Liszt, and Pischna \u2014 alongside the technical demands of the repertoire itself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Repertoire Breadth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A wide-ranging study of works from all four major style periods ensures fluency across diverse musical languages, aesthetics, and historical contexts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udfa7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critical Listening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Active listening to reference recordings develops an informed aesthetic ear \u2014 the ability to perceive, describe, and critique musical performance at a high level.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udfbc<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sight-Reading Fluency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Weekly sight-reading practice builds the reading skills essential for rapid learning, collaborative music-making, and professional versatility.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performance Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Historical and theoretical study of each work \u2014 its context, style conventions, and editorial issues \u2014 informs authentic, informed interpretation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udfad<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage Craft & Artistry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Preparation for studio class, recital hour, juries, and degree recitals builds the performance confidence and stage presence of a professional artist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What You Will Achieve<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Upon completion of the course, students will have demonstrated nine core competencies spanning technical mastery, repertoire knowledge, performance skills, and musical independence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repertoire Across All Periods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acquire a strong familiarity with a wide variety of solo repertoire spanning Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary style periods.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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02<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advanced Technical Command<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Develop advanced piano technique through systematic study of technical exercises alongside the demands of the assigned repertoire.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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03<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keyboard Theory & Scales<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Achieve mastery of scales, arpeggios, chords, and cadences in all major and minor keys, in progressively demanding configurations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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04<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sight-Reading Fluency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acquire genuine fluency and confidence in sight-reading \u2014 an essential skill for every working professional pianist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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05<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Performance Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Demonstrate excellence as a performer through appearances in studio class, Recital Hour, studio recitals, juries, and degree recitals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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06<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repertoire Listening Culture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Develop familiarity with the most significant works in the piano literature through dedicated, active listening to quality reference recordings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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07<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critical Listening & Feedback<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gain critical listening skills and the ability to communicate thoughtful, constructive criticism of live and recorded performances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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08<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistent Practice Habits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Establish a focused, disciplined, and consistent daily practice routine \u2014 the bedrock of sustained musical growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent Learning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Develop the ability to learn new repertoire independently, with initiative, intellectual curiosity, and artistic self-direction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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FEATURED PERFORMANCE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venezia e Napoli, S.159 \u2014 Franz Liszt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A performance by Dr. Archie Chen. Liszt’s Venezia e Napoli is a set of three character pieces evoking the spirit of Venice and Naples \u2014 one of the great showpieces of the Romantic piano literature, and a paradigmatic example of the repertoire studied in this course.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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