Is this allowed?

[patteeheeadidas]

In a competition, is it alright to play two of five songs in the same key?  My piano teacher doesn't seem to think so. 

[perfect_pitch]

I have never ever heard that rule before... I would believe that key wouldn't matter, only that the 5 pieces were contrasting, especially the 2 that might happen to be in the same key.

I would be pretty shocked if it were 'actually' true... but I seriously doubt it. Has your Piano Teacher played in any competitions when she was younger or does she still play in competitions??? What is her Piano Proficiency level like???

[jeremyjchilds]

I would say that it is a little less stylish.

But usually it is allowed...

[Skeptopotamus]

go for it.

[patteeheeadidas]

I have never ever heard that rule before... I would believe that key wouldn't matter, only that the 5 pieces were contrasting, especially the 2 that might happen to be in the same key.

I would be pretty shocked if it were 'actually' true... but I seriously doubt it. Has your Piano Teacher played in any competitions when she was younger or does she still play in competitions??? What is her Piano Proficiency level like???

Well, the first piece is the E major Courante of French Suite No. 6 by Bach. And my piano teacher requires that I play it in period order, so a Beethoven Sonata in E major follows.
My piano teacher is very old and experienced, and has played in competitions when she was younger.  But she is also very old fashioned.

Thanks!

[thalberg]

Well, your old, experienced piano teacher was probably taught in music school what I was taught--the ear tires of hearing the same key for very long.  She probably doesn't mean it's against the rules.  But the ear needs variety for the music to continue sounding fresh.  She's right, I think.  On the other hand, my last recital was the Goldberg Variations--45 minutes in the key of G.  Yikes.

[prometheus]

I wouldn't recommend it. All the pieces have similar harmonic colour. Not only will you get tired of it. But even worse, the pieces might start to sound connected while they have nothing to do with each other, obviously.

Playing in period order is stupid. You need to consider the music and decide for yourself what you think is a order you would like. I would play Bach WTC fugues, detached from the preludes, and follow it up with something modern like Barber or Medtner.

Playing Bach before Beethoven just because Bach was born first is senseless. It does not say anything about the music, you need to consider the music only. You might even have a neo-baroque fugue inbetween two atonal pieces if you blindly apply this rule.

[thierry13]

In a competition, is it alright to play two of five songs in the same key?  My piano teacher doesn't seem to think so. 

If you're playing songs I don't know what you're doing in a piano competition 

[allchopin]

If you're playing songs I don't know what you're doing in a piano competition 

*chuckle* How long 'til we wear this out, guys?

[maxy]

It is allowed.