Well back to the drawing board

[BoliverAllmon]

I had a piano lesson today with my new teacher (old one moved). Well, he tends to believe that technique is best learned through easier more appropriate repertoire. He thinks you can't learn technique properly if you are bombarded by alot of different things that are above you. He tends to side with Bernhard's idea of learning 20 pieces or so a year. Anyways, so the pastoral and chopin waltz are out. Instead, I am going to play a complete Haydn sonata, Chopin C min. Post. nocturne, maybe cathedrals, and the shostakovich preludes that I am learning. Kinda bummed about the chopin waltz, but not to bad about the beethoven sonata. If it helps my technique better then I am all game. I do have to say this though after working on the nocturne for about 30 min or so. I was more excited about playing the piano, simply because I was playing music and not practicing. The piece is at a level that I can quickly learn sections and start interpretations. Well, enough rambling.

boliver

[steinwayguy]

Erm. what? Haydn ain't going to help your technique like Beethoven will.


Only time will tell...I just hope you're not wasting it.

[galonia]

Erm. what? Haydn ain't going to help your technique like Beethoven will.

Excuse me, but there are many VERY difficult aspects to consider when playing Haydn.  Beethoven is not the be-all and end-all.

[BoliverAllmon]

Excuse me, but there are many VERY difficult aspects to consider when playing Haydn.  Beethoven is not the be-all and end-all.

I have played  a Haydn sonata movement before. There was plenty of technique to learn in it. He was thinking of learning an easier Beethoven at first, but I didn't like the ones he was talking about. (2/1 or 49) Therefore we are going with Haydn. To me (now this is my opnion) Haydn really helps with the light almost mozartian touch. His music is humorous and buoyant. Therefore, we need a good delicate touch. Beethoven requires a more orchestral fuller sound. different composer different techniques.

boliver

[rlefebvr]

I agree with your new teacher.

Playing to many pieces above your level only teaches futility. Period.

The more music you play, the better you will get, the easier the pieces will get and you will be playing your Beethoven Sonata sooner than you think without even realizing.

I too am taking a step back, actually 2 grades back on most of my music, so I can learn to play and not sound like crap. Could you learn the Beethoven Sonata....I have no doubt, but it will sound like crap and will always sound like crap because you are not really ready for it.

This will sound stupid, but there is a reason you learn to walk before you learn to run.

[BoliverAllmon]

I agree with your new teacher.

Playing to many pieces above your level only teaches futility. Period.

The more music you play, the better you will get, the easier the pieces will get and you will be playing your Beethoven Sonata sooner than you think without even realizing.

I too am taking a step back, actually 2 grades back on most of my music, so I can learn to play and not sound like crap. Could you learn the Beethoven Sonata....I have no doubt, but it will sound like crap and will always sound like crap because you are not really ready for it.

This will sound stupid, but there is a reason you learn to walk before you learn to run.

I agree. I could play the pastoral. Would it sound nice? that is probably debatable. for me to play it well would have taken an enormous amount of practicing. haydn on the other hand won't be so strenuous and will be more fun to learn.

boliver

[Bob]

If it's a piece you really want to play, you can always take a look at it and get ideas for guiding your practicing toward that in the future.

[MattL]

I don't know whether or not I agree with the easy pieces first philosophy because my first tecaher tried that approach and, well, let's just say it ended up with me getting a new teacher.

This new teacher that I have is great she allows me to pick any pieces I want and although she knows I need much work she approaches pieces in such a way that the technique that the piece offers is apparent and quickly is mastered.

On the first day she said "dazzle me", and all I played was the Rach 3/2 with some mistakes she understood that I could play any piece if I really wanted to and constantly enforces this philosophy while I am currently practicing the Rach 33/8 etude and Beethoven's Op. 111.

So to end my rant, its not whether or not if you can master technique quickly, but if you have the desire to master any technique at all (which I wouldn't and ahve proven to myself I wouldn't by playing Mozart or Haydn).

 

[BoliverAllmon]

if you choose not to play haydn or mozart you are really missing out. great stuff.

[BoliverAllmon]

well I found that I am doing Haydn's sonata in Ab maj. I don't remember the Hob. # though it is in the forties. It is on page 116 in my book if that helps LOL. It is  a real cool piece. lighthearted and full of great stuff.

boliver

[BoliverAllmon]

Hob. 43. I finally have the sheets with me when I am at a computer.

[BoliverAllmon]

Would anyone happen to have a mp3 of the sonata? I found midi, but that isn't the best.

[Antnee]

Good Job Boliver...

That approach is definitely better. Just remeber. With stuff you tend to pick up quicker, it is easier for mistakes to creep in becuase you are blinded by the speed at which you are gripping the piece. I have in the pst had many times where it tarts off sounbding great and then can grow into a rotten tomato... In which case I have to start all over again. Just keep an eye out just the same, although the results will be much beter in the end with the easier pieces, than if you did the same with the more difficult one's

Haydn is great stuff. I love him. He is really tough too. Not as easy as it looks.

-Tony-

[BoliverAllmon]

Good Job Boliver...

That approach is definitely better. Just remeber. With stuff you tend to pick up quicker, it is easier for mistakes to creep in becuase you are blinded by the speed at which you are gripping the piece. I have in the pst had many times where it tarts off sounbding great and then can grow into a rotten tomato... In which case I have to start all over again. Just keep an eye out just the same, although the results will be much beter in the end with the easier pieces, than if you did the same with the more difficult one's

Haydn is great stuff. I love him. He is really tough too. Not as easy as it looks.

-Tony-

yeah Haydn's difficulty is definately there. I am enjoying it so far. The menuet mvt. is already memorized and well on its way to being finished. I am actually able to sight-read (not perfectly) HS the first mvt somewhat easily. That really excites me and gets me waking up everyday looking forward to my practice times.