Help with the "5-year plan"

[sallenson]

I found the site by accident and have spent a few hours looking around. What a great resource!

This is a question for Bernhard really, but I'd appreciate input from anyone at all.

A little background.

I've come back to the piano after a break of about twenty years from formal lessons. Back in the mists of time I did ABRSM Grade 8 and a performance diploma. But I'm (let's say) a bit rusty. I also have a music degree, so know the literature pretty well. I also have a glorious new grand piano to play.

One of the things that I always found frustrating was that having spent the best part of a year working up the Grade 8 pieces was that "real" music (or rather the music I wanted to play most (say the Chopin 4th Ballade)) was about a million times harder than I was used to. And I hit the "wall".

So while time is relatively limited (max. 60-90 minutes per day) I want to make best use of my time playing real music (rather than endless technical exercises) and building up a decent repertoire.

I've read parts of the Chang book (most of which I follow, but some of which is pretty intractable to me) and obviously come across Bernhard's posts. (Who appears to give out good advice like golden confetti.) I'm also familar with Wolters' German book which puts most of the piano repertoire into "levels" of difficulty, which has enabled me to go and have a crack at some things. I can still get around most Grade 8 material (Wolter's Level 9/10-ish).

Over 15 or so years of formal lessons I'm not sure that any of my teachers actually told me how to practice, apart from the "do it slowly and eventualy it will get better" approach. Nothing structured. And since I like structure, what I'm reading about formal planning of objectives and outcomes I'm loving. In theory....

So what I want to spend some time doing is the "Big List" of 100 or so pieces and get some assistance in putting these into a plan.

I doubt the list will be unusual (Scarlatti, Book 1 of the 48, a brace of Beethoven Sonatas and Variations, Chopin, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Ravel and so on). But I want to make sure I'm attacking things in the right order.

If I come up with a list, can people come back and comment. Add/delete, put in a rough order given my background and current capabilities. Always difficult to do in a vacuum, but there is wisdom out there.

Is that okay?

Looking forward to working with you all. (Apologies for any typos!)

Best

Stephen

[vakulchai]

Nice idea. I am roughtly around your level as well. Maybe we can share some thought when you come up a a list. Keep working. I am looking forward to seeing your list.

[gorbee natcase]

I would start with what you are comfortable with and you should fly back to repertoire you left at. Its all up in your head and just needs re-surfacing by exposure. Have faith you seem capable, and motivated, enough said

[sallenson]

Thanks all for the general encouragement. I put the second half of my post (with the "Big List" complete) on the Performance board. Looks pretty insane in black and white.

I've been surprised that getting my fingers back in shape hasn't seemed like too much trouble. So the mechanics done seem to have gone backward. The problem is moving forward.

Early days....

[tw0k1ngs]

When you say nothing "structured", what exactly do you mean? Do you mean your technique never improved? Or your pieces sounded sloppy? Or could you just not get them down?

[clef]

When you say nothing "structured", what exactly do you mean? Do you mean your technique never improved? Or your pieces sounded sloppy? Or could you just not get them down?

I think he means he did fine with that advice before, but now he wants a structered timetable, as in a weekly practicing scedule ect...