Burgmüller Op. 100 No. 3: La pastorale: tempo and how to practice it

Burgmüller Op. 100 No. 3: La pastorale is part of “25 Études faciles et progressives, Op. 100” by Friedrich Burgmüller (1806–1874). Main focus: technique in the service of the character named in the title. In our transcription it is in G major, in 6/8 time, and 29 bars long. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 60 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 78 and work up to the target of ♩ = 99. Difficulty 2/10 (beginner).

The pattern and its fingering

First bar of our transcription, note by note, with the fingering the app shows.

Right hand	G–B–C–D–B–E
Left hand	G–B–D–G–B–D–G–B–D–G–B–D

■ right hand (finger above) · ■ left hand (finger below)

What it trains

Technique in the service of the character named in the title.
Phrasing, dynamics and balance between melody and accompaniment.

How to practice it

Picture the scene in the title before you play: the character decides the tempo and the touch.
Play the melody alone while singing it in your head; then add the accompaniment more softly.

Tempo ladder: ♩ = 60 → ♩ = 69 → ♩ = 78 → ♩ = 88 → ♩ = 99. Only move up a step once the take comes out clean; in the app, the progressive metronome does it for you.

Composer	Friedrich Burgmüller (1806–1874)
Work	25 Études faciles et progressives, Op. 100
Difficulty	2/10 · Beginner
Key	G major
Time signature	6/8
Bars	29
Suggested tempos	learn ♩ = 60 · practice ♩ = 78 · target ♩ = 99
Where the target tempo comes from	composer's metronome mark: ♩. = 66, i.e. ♩ = 99, printed in the first edition (Paris, 1851)
Transposable	no
Status in the app	Available
Copyright	public domain: Burgmüller died in 1874