A new 'Challenge' piece

[klick]

Hello,

Ive been playing piano for 4 years, and I am currently in Level 7 RCM. My teacher wants me to pick a non-repitoire challenge piece. I am very excited to start working on the piece, the problem: I do not know which piece I want to choose.

He recommended a Beethoven Sonata, specifically the Pathetique (All Mvts). He recommened I take a look at pieces that would challenge my level, but not a piece that would be too challenging and just cause frustration.

I do not have extensive classical music exposure as alot of the members here do so if you can help that would be awsome! I like the music of Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and Rachmaninov the most, but I like many diffenerent things. I have a hand width that can stretch a 10th max, so dont recomend something that i'll need a new hand for if u can try not to. I'll listen to the piece and make a decision on whether I like it or not.

Thanks alot!
Klick

[sarahlein]

There's many threads out there on choosing pieces.

Have you used the search function?

Perhaps this can get you started: (until others reply )

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,13121.msg141203.html#msg141203

[kghayesh]

What pieces have you played or are you playing now to give us an idea about your level..

[klick]

Ok, I am currently learning (with almost too much ease i might add):


Bach - French Suite No 5 (Gavotte)
Bach - Invention No 1
Handel - Suite No 8 Mvt 4 (Aria)

Clementi - Sonatina Op 36 no 3 Mvt 1
Kuhlau - Sonatina Op 55 No 3
Beethoven - Bagatelle Op 119 No 1
Beethoven - Fur Elise

Chopin - Prelude Op 28 no 4
Mendelssohn - SWW Op 30 no 6
Bhrams - Waltz Op 39 no 3

Bartok - Pentatonic Tune
Chatman - Ginger Snaps
Kabalevsky - Rondo-Toccata op 60 no 4

Heller - Grief (op 47 no 15)
Takács - "In a Great Hurry" (op 95 no 3)
Bertini - Etude op 29 no 7
Gurlitt - Study op 132 no 7

If you know the RCM level 7 repitoire and studies book, you can see that I am playing alot, and my teacher feels I am well past level 7, and need a piece or pieces to challenge me. I just need some recommendations.

Thanks again,
Klick

[mwarner1]

Well, you said "non-repertoire" but then cited Beethoven as an example, so if you're looking for non-canonical works then I apologize for the following recommendations.

Some cool Beethoven sonatas you could think about are Opp. 78 in F# (difficulties are more musical than technical, but it does have it's demanding moments... also good for learning to play in F# well if you don't already), 79 in G, or the Pathetique (as you mentioned) if you're going for a larger-scale work. Op. 78 was one of Beethoven's favorites, so check it out even if you don't end up playing it (if you don't already know it, that is).

A Mozart or Haydn sonata might be a good choice, as well. For Haydn I'd recommend the 60th piano sonata in C (Hob. XVI/50). Mozart: KV330, KV331, KV282, or any of them really, except for KV545, which is probably too easy for you. But excellent nonetheless.

Any of the Chopin nocturnes.

Debussy -- Children's Corner, Arabesque No. 2, or a Prelude if you're feeling adventurous.

How about a Scott Joplin rag? There are the famous ones like The Entertainer and Maple Leaf, but others are more interesting musically, such as Paragon Rag, Magnetic Rag, Gladiolus Rag, Wall Street Rag, Easy Winners, etc.

Hope this helps,
     Mike

[tibi]

your  teacher's suggestion is good thing. me myself just start to learn this sonata (Pathetique). each of three parts, will give you a different challenge...... but maybe it's too long... i'll prefer to play Chopin's etude op10 no4...... this etude just 5 pages length, but gives more advantages than pathetique....

[klick]

Ok I will listen to those Sonatas and all the other suggestions after school tonite, see what I think. What about the Chopin - Funeral March? Would that be too easy or boring for me or is it alot more challenging than it sounds? My friend reccomended me that one too, but from the sound of it, I could play it and another.

Thanks alot for the help,
Klick

[klick]

i'll prefer to play Chopin's etude op10 no4...... this etude just 5 pages length, but gives more advantages than pathetique....

I think The 10/4 is way too high above my head  , Maybe ill stick to the Pathetique level 

[tibi]

I think The 10/4 is way too high above my head  , Maybe ill stick to the Pathetique level 

it is too high if you wish to play it in presto. you can just play it slower, get right in every bars, than everything will get faster times.

[mwarner1]

Ok I will listen to those Sonatas and all the other suggestions after school tonite, see what I think. What about the Chopin - Funeral March? Would that be too easy or boring for me or is it alot more challenging than it sounds? My friend reccomended me that one too, but from the sound of it, I could play it and another.

Thanks alot for the help,
Klick

Go for the Funeral March if you'd like. It is overplayed though -- as an alternative,  you may wish to try the third movement of Beethoven's 12th piano sonata (Op. 26, Mvt. III), which is also a funeral march but is not as frequently played. It's lovely.

[steve jones]

What about Beethoven Op79? Second mvt is pretty easy, and the isnt to bad if you slow it down a smidge.

Or Op2-1 (firs three mvts)?

Maybe some more Chopin Preludes (No 2, 6, 7, 9, 20), or Makurkas?

[klick]

I'll check everything tmrw see what I like and don't, make a list, and then pick one or two faveorites that my teacher thinks that I can handle  Thanks alot for all the suggestions

Klick

[beethoven2]

i know that it is  a bit late, but have u tried Flight of the Bumble Bee?
really fast

~christian

[nanabush]

Jardins sous la Pluie by Debussy!!!  Seriously, Chopin 10/4 would be way too much of a challenge piece to be honest... it's beyond most people who are doing their grade 10.

[klick]

I probably should have made this forum locked lol. This was posted an extreme long time ago. I am now in Level 9 RCM (well technically), working on some fun challenge pieces: Bach Partita #2, Godowsky's Etude No 13 for LH, and Chopin Nocturne Op 48 No 1. My teacher went from no challenges to over my head, so these three should keep me busy for a while.

Thanks for all the recommendations anyways! I will take them into thought when I finish one of these.

Klick

[kau]

Just another suggestion:

Well-knowned Nocturne by Chopin - Op.9, no.2 in E flat major. I love playing it.