Burgmüller Op. 100 No. 20: La tarentelle: tempo and how to practice it

Burgmüller Op. 100 No. 20: La tarentelle 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. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 120 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 189 and work up to the target of ♩ = 240. Difficulty 4/10 (intermediate).

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

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

Tempo ladder: ♩ = 120 → ♩ = 154 → ♩ = 189 → ♩ = 214 → ♩ = 240. Only move up a step once the take comes out clean; in the app, the progressive metronome does it for you.