Wish My Life Away - Laura Shigihara

2. Performance Difficulties and Technical Analysis:

• Rhythmic Complexity: The occurrences of syncopation, particularly in measures 4-6 and 20-24, present a significant challenge for many pianists.

• Hand Coordination: The need for independent hand coordination is critical, especially when executing the left hand's accompaniment while allowing the right hand's melody to sing out clearly.

• Dynamic Control: The score requires nuanced dynamic contrast throughout, especially in sections like measures 6-8, where the pianist must skillfully shape phrases to convey emotional depth.

• Rhythmic Syncopation: Scores a difficulty level of 7/10.

• Hand Independence: Scores a difficulty level of 8/10.

• Dynamic Control: Scores a difficulty level of 6/10.

Addressing the Challenges:

To overcome the highlighted difficulties, pianists may consider the following strategies:

• When comfortable, practice these measures slowly at first, progressively increasing speed as confidence grows.

2. Independent Hand Exercises:

3. Dynamic Control Exercises:

• Mark the score with dynamic indications to help visualize emotive phrasing. In lieu of a higher dynamic range, practise each phrase incrementally, focusing on achieving a balance between the melody and accompaniment—especially in measures 6-8.

• Progressive Breakdown: Break down each section into smaller parts. Work on merely two or three measures at a time until perfect.

• Mirror Technique: Use a mirror to observe hand movements, ensuring each hand moves comfortably, particularly in measures requiring independence.

• Recording Yourself: Record practice sessions. Listening back helps identify areas needing adjustment, specifically in timing and dynamics.

Unique Characteristics:

"Wish My Life Away" is composed in F Major with a 4/4 meter and a moderate tempo of 72 BPM. The overall structure effectively combines lyrical melodies with harmonically rich accompaniment, making it accessible for both beginner and intermediate pianists.

Chord Progression and Sections:

• The score presents a balanced use of chords, moving between I (F), IV (B♭), and V (C) chords predominantly, providing a solid harmonic foundation.

• Specific measures, particularly the first few bars, showcase a repetitive yet compelling motif with a blend of arpeggiated chords that enhance the melodic flow.

• The use of syncopation and a variety of rhythmic patterns introduces an engaging dynamism, particularly evident in measures 4-6 where the left hand maintains a steady bass line while the right hand experiments with rhythmically varied melodies.

Melodic Embellishments:

The piece features subtle ornamentation, such as grace notes and passing tones, especially in measures 11-13, where these embellishments enrich the melodic line and create a seamless connection between phrases.

Rhythmic Elements:

The contrasting rhythm patterns across different sections stimulate interest. For example, the syncopated rhythms in measures 20-24 elevate the excitement, while measures 30-32 showcase simpler rhythmic figures that maintain a reflective quality.

Wish My Life Away

• Artist
  Laura Shigihara
• Number of imitations:
  151
• Genre
  Laura Shigihara
• Key
  F
• Tempo
  72
• Pages
  4
• Notation
  Laura Shigihara
• Compose
  Tatebush
• Introduction
  Wish My Life Away' - Tatebush, This music is undefined, arr. by Laura Shigihara, Suitable for all students to learn