learnt so much and yet so little

[Mozartian]

I've calculated that I've learned no less than 40-50 pages of music in the last 6 months.

And have almost no finished pieces to show for it!!!

 

Gotta.. change.. that!

Anyone else in a similar boat?

[sauergrandson]

Me too, me too. Bach is my life, but:

1) It's very hard to keep in memory. Too much effort if you want rapid results.
2) You can't play Bach everywhere; he's not for every kind of people.

You could try some "light" repertory -classical, of course. Some mazurkas (Chopin, Scriabin, miniatures by Schumann, Mendelssohn.

Yours, Sauergrandson

[lau]

I think I know what you guys mean. I am working on way to many songs and can only play a little of each song. I just need to focus on one piece!!

[Mozartian]

Me too, me too. Bach is my life, but:

1) It's very hard to keep in memory. Too much effort if you want rapid results.
2) You can't play Bach everywhere; he's not for every kind of people.

You could try some "light" repertory -classical, of course. Some mazurkas (Chopin, Scriabin, miniatures by Schumann, Mendelssohn.

Yours, Sauergrandson

Yup yup, Bach is amazing. Learning a toccata of his now, totally incredible.

Think I'll head for the mazurkas and Schumann for a bit though. Must build up performance rep!

[clef]

I've calculated that I've learned no less than 40-50 pages of music in the last 6 months.

And have almost no finished pieces to show for it!!!

 

Gotta.. change.. that!

Anyone else in a similar boat?

yeah its frustrating how that can happen if your not to carefull

[canardroti]

i actually that's an excellent way to develop technique and sight reading.
I've been working on about 15 pieces in 4 months, yet i 've only memorized 3.
By the way, they are short pieces and i actually think it's more efficient than learning 1 long one.

[Motrax]

I find myself in that sort of situation very often. I'll be working on a huge load of difficult (for me) repertoire, and although I tend to memorize notes quickly, I won't really be able to play much at all on demand.

I've been caught in that situation that I run through my dusty old repertoire once or twice a week, just in case I need to play something at the spur of the moment. Generally, people like either nice music which can be played unobtrusively (which I hate doing, but a pianist tends to be at the mercy of an audience most of the time), or loud impressive things. My own "anytime" repertoire, just to give an idea of what sort of pieces one could keep up relatively easily, consists of the following:

Schubert Impromptu in Gb major (Op. 90 No. 3)
Rachmaninoff Prelude in B minor (Op. 32 No. 10)
Ravel Jeux D'eau
Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 9
Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 11
Beethoven Moonlight Sonata (all 3 movements, although knowing the first is usually enough)

Since I don't really work hard on this repertoire, it's not in top shape, but these pieces are always good to fall back on in those instances when I don't have anything else prepared.


On another note, being able to improvise something impressionistic/romantic-sounding works in about 90% of the situations I come across. I practice improvisation almost every day, usually when I'm exhausted and find it difficult to concentrate on practicing repertoire. It's pretty relaxing to just play whatever notes come under your fingers (especially when you can make pretty sounds as well ).

[thalbergmad]

I've calculated that I've learned no less than 40-50 pages of music in the last 6 months.

And have almost no finished pieces to show for it!!!

 

Gotta.. change.. that!

Anyone else in a similar boat?

I am in the same boat, but it does not bother me.

To learn something takes as long as it takes, no more and no less.

I have learned not to rush things with piano.

[musicsdarkangel]

totally in the same boat.

I learned the Beethoven op 31 no 2 Sonata (tempest) in a month, and haven't played it/perfected it recently because i'm learning the Bach Partita no 2 in c minor, along with Chopin's op 25 no 6 etude, which is taking up a good amount of time for memorization and the etude is easily my weakness of the Chopin etudes.

I'm going to be also taking on Gaspard, the Rach Rhapsody on a Theme by Pagannini over summer, so its going to feel just like that with those as well, but I should be keeping up the sonata and Partita by then, as well as the etude.