Chopin Waltz - Aaah! Help! ; ;

[aya_heller]

  I'm learning Chopin's Waltz in B Minor.  Op. 69, No. 2.  I've basically got it now, just need to work on the section I was neglecting a lot. =P

  Anyway, my piano teacher says he really enjoys it, he says he likes it better than any of the recordings he has heard, and when I play it he says he is able to actually listen to it and enjoy it without going into "teacher mode".

  It's a simply piece, especially compared to what most of you are playing (easy enough for me, and I've only been playing two years. XD).  Because it is a simple piece, I feel kind of silly when I really get into it.  I looove this piece, it's beautiful, but when I listen to recordings, they generally sound like they don't really care what they are playing, maybe it's too easy so it's boring or something.  It sounds good, and I think of that as the perfect way to play it.

  But me, well, I exaggerate a bit I'm afraid, I feel like a speed up way too much in the middle section, and some parts I go too fast, just cause I think it sounds better that way, when I'm playing it that is.

  Even though my teacher likes it so much, would it be best if I just toned everything down a lot?  Should I play it perhaps a little more "perfectly" but with absolutely no emotion?  I'm performing this soon, so I'd love some advice.

Thanks in advance. D=

[zheer]

Yes i also love this music am actually singing right now. I find that its played to fast to often.To be able to play this piece after only 2 years of playing is a reall achievement. This music makes me think of world war 2 movies,strange i know.

[mrchops10]

There is no right or wrong way to play anything. If you feel the waltz this way, and your performance was compelling enough to convince your teacher, go ahead and perform it this way. If you still have doubts, have some musician and non-musician friends listen to your performance, or record it and post it on pianoforum, but if you can't trust your teacher's judgement, I think that's your real problem.

[aya_heller]

I do trust my teachers judgement.  But I can't help but think that he is just being nice, or maybe lying.  Of course he did tell me "That isn't nearly as bad as you think it is."

Maybe I just need to learn to take compliments without thinking people are lying u.u;;

I think I probably will record it and post it though.  I hadn't even thought of that. D=

Thanks for your input.

[Tash]

i love that waltz too it's really lovely, i love the bit where it changes into the major key:) in which case i don't knnow how you could play it without any emotion- who cares if it's not a terribly difficult piece, sometimes the most simple are the most beautiful. so don't feel silly geting into it- that's what chopin's music is all about: the emotion!! if you think you might be playing too fast then ask your teacher- i'm sure if you did have some major issues with it then he would tell you, because after all, it is the teacher's job to help you.
just play it like you love it! of course you can't neglect the technical aspects of it, because they will help you play it even more beautifully, but playing a chopin waltz like a machine just doesn't work.
enjoy playing it!