Chopin Waltz Op 34 Nr 2

[berrt]

Hi..
im an adult beginner, started last April, leaving Elise, Burgmuller etc behind.
As a first Chopin piece i thought of Op 34, 2 - looking at the score, it seems not too difficult. Is that right, or are there any "traps" i did not find?

Berrt

[SteinwayTony]

For your first Chopin I would be inclined to suggest perhaps the Waltz in B minor Op. 69 No. 2 or the posthumous Waltz in A minor.  Also, get your hands on a book of Mazurkas and thumb through it.  You'll find many technically simple but musically enthralling pieces.  There are also some easy Preludes (also some terrifically difficult ones) such as the D-flat major, the A major, the B minor, the C minor, and the E minor.

Good luck!

[xvimbi]

I recommmend you look at the introductory booklets by Alfred Publishing Company that are aimed at providing a step-by-step introduction into the piano works of many central composers. Although I generally dislike Alfred, these booklets are very good in that they indeed pick a fair number of easier pieces that are nevertheless very satisfying. There is one for Bach that seems to be the only series that provides a truly gradual course that introduces a new concept with every piece.

There is one for Chopin too, and it does start with the Waltz in A minor (posthumus). IMO, this is the easiest and at the same time the prettiest of all Chopin Waltzes. Some of the Preludes are also easily accessible and beautiful, particularly the one in E minor (Op. 28 No. 4), which is very haunting and provides ample opportunity for very expressive playing for such a technically easy piece, and then of course Barry Manilow's Prelude in C minor (Op. 28 No. 20), to name just two.

There are also short general introductions for how to play ornaments, style notes, pedaling, etc., but this is where I have my major beef with the Alfred books. The editing can be a bit controversial at times, so it's best to use the choice of pieces as a guideline, buy a good edition if you want to play any of them and discuss the details with your teacher.

[berrt]

For your first Chopin I would be inclined to suggest perhaps the Waltz in B minor Op. 69 No. 2 or the posthumous Waltz in A minor.  Also, get your hands on a book of Mazurkas and thumb through it.  You'll find many technically simple but musically enthralling pieces.  There are also some easy Preludes (also some terrifically difficult ones) such as the D-flat major, the A major, the B minor, the C minor, and the E minor.

Good luck!

Thank you, Tony, or your advice! I'll thumb through it... hope i can play that fast..
Seriously, i'll get the a minor - recently Bernhard posted a detailed study plan for it.
Berrt

[berrt]

I recommmend you look at the introductory booklets by Alfred Publishing Company that are aimed at providing a step-by-step introduction into the piano works of many central composers.

Thank you, xvimbi, looks interesting; never heard of these, I think amazon will help..

Berrt

[xvimbi]

Thank you, xvimbi, looks interesting; never heard of these, I think amazon will help..

I don't think amazon sells those. You will have to go to a music store or get it from somewhere else. They are only about six or seven bucks. If you pick the Waltz in A minor, make sure to start with measure 21 (observe the values of the last two notes in the right hand). This waltz doesn't have to be played that fast. It works a lot slower too. And don't get into too heated debates whether the grace note are to be played on the beat or before the beat

[berrt]

I don't think amazon sells those. You will have to go to a music store or get it from somewhere else. They are only about six or seven bucks. If you pick the Waltz in A minor, make sure to start with measure 21 (observe the values of the last two notes in the right hand). This waltz doesn't have to be played that fast. It works a lot slower too. And don't get into too heated debates whether the grace note are to be played on the beat or before the beat

Hmmm... I'll try if they take bucks here in germany.. anyway, somehow i'll get them. Glad to here that it works slow!
Berrt

[xvimbi]

Hmmm... I'll try if they take bucks here in germany.. anyway, somehow i'll get them. Glad to here that it works slow!
Berrt

If you trust what people have suggested, I'd rather get a good edition of the entire waltzes, preludes, mazurkas, etc. and discuss the details with your teacher. Tschuess!

[berrt]

Tschuess!

Wow! You even chose the for my area (hamburg) appropriate northern german form! Which form of gretting is the correct one for you?
Bye?
Salem alejkum?
Halleluja?
Aloha?
.
.
Berrt

[xvimbi]

Wow! You even chose the for my area (hamburg) appropriate northern german form!

Moin, moin!

Which form of gretting is the correct one for you?

I'm cosmopolitan - pick any greeting.