RACH 3

[KKordi]

 Hi, I am Kevin. I was wondering if any of you have played Rachmaninoff's 3rd concerto with the larger and harder cadenza. I am having a tough time to learn it. . At first, the beginning to the beginning of the cadenza wasn't too difficult for me, but the big cadenza, is one hard piece of work. Does anybod have any suggestions on how to learn this quickly and efficiently?

                              Thanks a lot, TEXT

[ludwig]

 first off, you are a brave person to tackle this, and a talented one i'm sure. I really love this piece, I don't care if its been overly hyped, but I really like it, in fact i'm listening to it now. Quickly learning it? hmm, i don't know, i don't think its one of those pieces that you could learn quickly through the difficult bits, i suppose it is a patience piece, but what can I say about anything that needs alot of techinical work except to say practice slowly, and that in itself takes alot of time. Perhaps listening to the recording and playing with it when you've got it to a certain level. Sorry dude i'm not much of help. I'm going to start tackling it too soon, although i don't think i'll get very far :p

[robert_henry]

Hi Kevin,

When I learned the concerto, I practiced the whole thing pianissimo and super slowly - the entire concerto, even on the weekend of the performances.  I didn't play full volume until the actual performance, except for the occasional run-through.  I play the bigger cadenza, and I think the danger comes in practicing it too loudly.  When the chords start at the end of the cadenza, I learned the thumb of the left hand hand just as much as the melody of right.  In other words be aware of all the harmonic lines in every voice.  I actually wrote it out in my score (which someone stole, btw :\ ).  I supplemented all this slow and soft practice with an hour of scales and arpeggios every day at normal volumes.  I dedicated three months of my life learning the piece this way and it worked.  If you have naturally fast hands, practicing slow is really the only way to get your brain to "catch up" with your hands.  You must practice thinking fast while playing slowly...that is the key to performing.

Don't be fooled by the fullness of the recordings you've heard...the piano can only get so loud.  It is the job of the recording engineers to make the piano sound richer and fuller than it really is.  

Robert Henry
https://www.roberthenry.org

[KKordi]

Thanks a lot guys. I practiced slowly and I learned it! Thanks again!

Kevin

[MikeLauwrie]

It is the best piece ever written.

[Tom.W]

....after chopins fantasy impromptu......

[dj]

....after chopins fantasy impromptu......

so....never heard the rach 3 eh?