Learn to Play Flocons de Neige from RCM Bridges Preparatory Level on Classical Guitar
Flocons de Neige is a fun piece with unique challenges. In addition to being an interesting study in the PAM right-hand pattern, it’s also a brain-bender of sorts.
The RCM Bridges Series has many tunes, old to modern, that are fun to play and musically compelling. The early levels especially are must-haves for any classical guitarist.
Watch the video below for tips on how to practice and learn it, so that you play it beautifully.
Click here to purchase the RCM Bridges Preparatory Level Book.
Click here to purchase the RCM Bridges Preparatory Level Book.
Related: Listen to Other Pieces from the Bridges Series
About Flocons de Neige, by Frederic Costantino:
Flocons de Neige (French for “Snowflakes”) by Frederic Costantino conjures images of falling snow and whirling snowflakes.
With a steady repeating rhythm and all notes in the lower (open) position, we’d think this a simple tune. But it’s remarkable easy to get confused in this piece. Why? It has to do with how the music is written. But if you learn it strategically, you can master it quickly and have a lovely tune to play.
In this free tutorial, you’ll find practice suggestions on how to learn this piece so you stay focused and bring out all the separate elements in the music.
Here, the melody is hiding in the middle voice. This makes it confusing to learn – unless you know how to practice it!
Click Here for other tutorials from the RCM Bridges Series.
About the RCM Bridges Series:
(From Amazon) Bridges: A Comprehensive Guitar Series serves as the official resource for guitar assessments of the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. Innovative in its structure, Bridges supports students from the beginner to advanced levels with carefully sequenced repertoire, etudes, and technique. Each of the Repertoire and Etudes books in the series spans all major style periods and a variety of genres, presenting an organized compilation of pieces appropriate for that level of technical development. Nine progressive levels of Repertoire and Etudes scaffold student learning at every stage of musical development. Each book contains a balanced and representative selection of works from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and contemporary style periods. From the classics of Aguado to the modern compositions of Zenamon, Bridges connects students to both essential literature and enticing masterpieces never before found together. The Etudes have been carefully selected to support the repertoire and isolate specific technical and musical challenges, making Bridges an ideal collection and a comprehensive teaching resource.
Repertoire in the Preparatory Level Bridges Book:
Valse d’automne (Autumn Waltz) Composed by L. Gingras
Exercise 13 Composed by E. Barriero
Danse des Iles (Dance of the Islands) Composed by F. Lambert
First Exercise on the E String Composed by Johann Kaspar Mertz
Dutch Dance Composed by H. Neusidler
Flocons De Neige Composed by F. Costantino
Bransle de Poitou Composed by A. Le Roy
Moorish Dance Composed by A. Shearer
Carrousel Composed by Claude Gagnon
Ejercicio Composed by J. Ferrer
Sicilienne Composed by M. Carcassi
Andantino In C Major Composed by M. Carcassi
Aeloian Mode Composed by R. Smith Brindle
The Carousel Waltz Composed by Richard Summers
Waltz, op. 241, no. 1 Composed by F. Carulli
Moonlight Composed by S. Rak
Little Herdboy Composed by O. Kiselev
Sciapodus Composed by S. Bell
Eight Composed by Richard Summers
Torito Composed by J. Zenamon
Klangbild 13 (Sound Picture 13) Composed by C. Domeniconi
Oasis-Express Composed by T. Ogawa
Petit Blues Composed by M. Belanger
Dreams Composed by Richard Summers
Studies Lesson 62 Composed by J. Sagreras
Etude in A Minor Composed by A. Shearer
Prelude No. 9 Composed by A. Shearer
Lesson 46 Composed by J. Sagreras
Andante in C Major Composed by F. Carulli
Lyrical Study No. 14 Composed by J.M. Jackman
White Horse Composed by S. Iannarelli
Ukrainian Melody Composed by Ukranian Folk Song
Lesson 48 Composed by J. Sagreras
Lesson 61 Composed by J. Sagreras
Lyrical Study No. 4 Composed by R.M. Jackman
Lyrical Study No. 9 Composed by R.M. Jackman
A la maniere bulgare Composed by C. Camisassa
The Flask Composed by Jeffrey McFadden
A Simple Dialogue Composed by S. Bell, S. Ninou Bell
Repertoire
Valse d’automne (Autumn Waltz) Composed by L. Gingras
Studies
Lesson 62 Composed by J. Sagreras
Ninou Composed by S. Bell
Click here to purchase the RCM Bridges Preparatory Level Book.
Hi, I’m Allen Mathews.
I started as a folk guitarist, then fell in love with classical guitar in my 20’s. Despite a lot of practice and schooling, I still couldn’t get my music to flow well. I struggled with excess tension. My music sounded forced. And my hands and body were often sore. I got frustrated, and couldn’t see the way forward. Then, over the next decade, I studied with two other stellar teachers – one focused on the technical movements, and one on the musical (he was a concert pianist). In time, I came to discover a new set of formulas and movements. These brought new life and vitality to my practice. Now I help guitarists find more comfort and flow in their music, so they play more beautifully.
Click here for a sample formula.
Hi Allen,
Greetings from the UK. I would like to thank you for providing such an excellent resource. The effort and skill which has gone into creating this program is very evident. I started classical guitar a year or so ago with a teacher but was unable to commit to same time regular slots each week.The Woodshed Program was exactly what I was looking for. I have found the site very intuitive and well structured and have taken your advice and started from the very beginning of the program whilst still practising some of the pieces I was already working on. It is clear that I will benefit greatly from these early technical studies. There were clearly weaknesses and gaps in my knowledge even though I am still at an early stage. Once again many thanks for the program and very best wishes.
~ Rodger Paylor
-Rodger Paylor
Thanks to you (you are my only teacher) in only a few months I've gone from very basic beginner pieces to having just completed learning Bach's Gavottes 1&2 in good form and execution. As a non-classical electric guitarist who has always used a pick and never his fingers, this has been no small feat!
~ Gregg Olson
-Gregg Olson
“Success lies in relentless execution of the basics.”
Join the program that takes you from the beginning fundamentals to advanced mastery, so you…
- Move your hands safely and fluidly
- Enjoy fulfilling practices and meaningful work
- Play beautifully with expression and flow
Click the button to take a step towards an
organized, effective guitar practice. >>>
