Prelude in C Minor – Study Guide Part 1 (Level 3)

Introduction

The Prelude in C Minor by Alexander Morovsky is a wonderful introduction to Russian Romantic piano music, offering students an expressive yet structured piece to develop technique and musicality. At Level 3, we focus on mastering hand stability while introducing slight shifts beyond the traditional five-finger position. The goal is to establish fluency in navigating key changes and controlled dynamics within a moderately slow tempo.

Adjustments for Level 3

To make the piece accessible at this level, we maintain both hands in a fixed position: Left Hand at C3, Right Hand at C4. However, to introduce small positional shifts, the following modifications are included:

• Both hands extend beyond the standard five-finger position to include B2 and B2# (C minor modulation).
• Alternation between E♭ (from C minor) and E natural is introduced to develop key awareness.
• The study is limited to bars 1–15, focusing on Andante Moderato for better control of phrasing and tempo.

Sheet Music

View the full sheet music on Piano Marvel:

Prelude in C Minor – Piano Marvel

Technical Challenges and Comparison to Masterpieces

This level introduces several key challenges:

• Hand positioning and slight shifts: Unlike strictly five-finger pieces, here students must extend their fingers beyond their resting position, preparing them for later hand movement fluency.
• Black and white key alternation: Moving between E♭ and E natural within the melody creates a subtle but essential hand adjustment.
• Controlled articulation: The contrast between legato phrasing and occasional detached notes builds early expression control.

These techniques are commonly found in early Romantic miniatures, such as Schumann’s Album für die Jugend and simpler Tchaikovsky Children’s Album pieces. The structured phrasing and dynamic shifts resemble those found in Chopin’s Preludes, though simplified for beginner players.

Supporting Pieces from Piano Marvel

To reinforce these techniques, we recommend the following method books and exercises available on Piano Marvel at Level 3:

• Hanon Exercise No. 1 – For finger independence.
• Beyer Etudes – Strengthening hand position control.
• Burgmüller: Arabesque Op. 100, No. 2 – Introducing expression and phrasing.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Mastering bars 1–15 of Prelude in C Minor at Level 3 is a fantastic step toward expressive playing while developing flexibility in hand positioning. As you gain confidence, continue refining articulation and tempo control before progressing to Level 4, where you will work on a fuller range of the piece with increased technical demands.

Continue with Part 2, the Cantabile (Level 4).

For personalized lessons and structured guidance, take official Piano Marvel lessons with Tabea Hirzel and refine your technique under expert instruction.