I need more music

[hwhat06]

I have been playing piano for 9 months now and i am up to the level where i can play lizst's libestraume no. 3, lecuona's malaguena...things on that level...i have tried to play rachmaninov op. 23 no. 5 (i think)...prelude in g minor...i love that song but its a bit over my head...i want bunches of music to work on because i learn and memorize pieces quickly...i learned and memorized the entire libestraume in 8 days and the malaguena in 6 days...i am starting college in the fall and i want more music to play for my piano teacher...i can play other things like debussy's claire de lune (WAY too overplayed) and prelude girl with the flaxen hair...i can play a few of the simple ravel pieces (my dream is to play ravel's jeux d'eau...i absolutely LOVE that piece  i kiss it...) so any help would be greatly appreciated because i'm getting bored playing some of the same things over and over again...i really like the romantic (padarewski, tchaikovsky, chopin (only the stuff that you dont hear over and over)) and percussive (like rachmaninov and some of the modern composers like ravel and d'indy and scriabin) but so many pieces are just too hard...ok now i've beat a dead horse into the ground and about 54 feet under so thanks you guys 

shoot for the moon.  even if you miss, you'll land among the stars

[pianistimo]

what u've already learned is probably good enough.  what i mean is - whatever u work before u have a teacher,they might think u've worked with someone else. so just be minimal until u start lessons.  THAT is the time, imo, to start deciding.  ur teacher will be able to help u begin on pieces that are truly where u should start.  teachers are very perceptive and don't be offended if they continue to be easier than u think they should be for a year or so.  then, once ur technique is equal to the level of pieces and everything is 'caught up' (or maybe u already are!) - then u'll proceed tot he next level without missing something important.

one thing i've learned is to never argue with a teacher.  they always have good reasons (or should) and if something seems too easy - u can always work some harder stuff on the side without telling them.  even if it is just time for sightreading something harder.  but, NEVER complain.  these really good teachers know what they are doing and u just stuff it for awhile and then u see what they are doing for u.

[hwhat06]

what u've already learned is probably good enough. what i mean is - whatever u work before u have a teacher,they might think u've worked with someone else. so just be minimal until u start lessons. THAT is the time, imo, to start deciding. ur teacher will be able to help u begin on pieces that are truly where u should start. teachers are very perceptive and don't be offended if they continue to be easier than u think they should be for a year or so. then, once ur technique is equal to the level of pieces and everything is 'caught up' (or maybe u already are!) - then u'll proceed tot he next level without missing something important.

one thing i've learned is to never argue with a teacher. they always have good reasons (or should) and if something seems too easy - u can always work some harder stuff on the side without telling them. even if it is just time for sightreading something harder. but, NEVER complain. these really good teachers know what they are doing and u just stuff it for awhile and then u see what they are doing for u.

thank you very much. youu have good advice and it kinda made me feel a bit more confident about playind what i've learned for my teacher. 

[pianistimo]

yes.  i wanted to impress my teacher a lot, too, so i went and played the waldstein (thinking i was 'all that').  come to find out, after a couple of years of lessons, it was pure *. but - at least i played it with all my heart and didn't know what i didn't know.  u learn what u don't know - so they are basically looking for just a few things (dexterity, ability to learn, and probably humbleness).  there have been many times that i know i've played not so well - and took the repercussions - but if u just keep at it - they see u are persisitent  and dedicated.  maybe this will take me farther than talent alone.  for me, talent is probably lower than persisitence and dedication.  also, i have good dexterity. 

surprisingly, fugues and things like that are just plain easy to me.  but, then other things are more diffcult (chopin etudes).  so i'd been avoiding what i didn't like (the virtuosity in chopiN) and finally realized after some lessons as to HOw to approach the technique realized it WAS possible for me to play these etudes.  anyway, i've sort of backtracked a little with chopin (and am playing the preludes first) but i want to learn the etudes, too, instead of giving up as i had before lessons.   they can show u so many tricks as to how to accomplish certain feats.  it is so cool to learn these tricks because then u feel more accomplished and know a little bit more how to approach the next piece.  each composer is so different, too, so there is a neverending need in m y mind for piano lessons.  if only i could afford a lifetime of them.

[mike_lang]

On first glance, it strikes me that you are missing Bach - the ability to play polyphonic music is important, so I would try some of his two-part inventions. 

If you like Tchaikovsky and Chopin, you might try some Schumann - I should think the Kinderszenen are suitable to your level (from what you've said).  There is also a nice piece by Tchaikovsky called June.

For more percussive music, you might enjoy some Prokofiev or Bartok. 

Best,
ML

[tac-tics]

so i'd been avoiding what i didn't like (the virtuosity in chopiN) and finally realized after some lessons as to HOw to approach the technique realized it WAS possible for me to play these etudes.

I think this is how I've been living my entire life =-P

Avoid what you're bad at until you get real good at it 

[hwhat06]

i found a couple of other pieces...(All chopin) bacarolle in F# Major op.60...etude no 1 in C Major...etude no 2 in A Major...etude no 4 in A Major...etude  no 5 in E Minor...etude no 6 in Eb Major...etude no 12 in C Minor...Mazurka in Ab Major op 59 no 2...mazurka in b minor op 63 no 1...mazurka in b minor op 33 no 4... mazurka in C# minor op 63 no 3...mazurka in f minor op 63 no 2...nocturne in Eb major op 9 no 2...Waltz in Db major op 64 no 1 "minute waltz"...and polonaise in Ab Major "heroic" <--- (ahhh this one is SCARY) and i am trying (key word TRYING) my best to play jeux d'eau...i can get to the middle of page 2 out of like 13 pages (btw if you read this you NEED to go to windows media player and click on the "Media Guide" tab and search for "jeux d'eau" and find a recording of it...it should be about 5 mins long...its is absolutely my favorite piano song ever  ...if you hear someone play it, you should probably like be in honor to hear their fingers fly because this is THE HARDEST song that i have ever found) you can get the sheet music for it here https://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/single_listing.cfm?composer_id=55 and if you want to attempt it...all the power in the world to you...you'll need it...well thanks for all your help you guys and if you keep thinking of stuff...feel free to add it b/c i play so much (prob at the very least 30 hours a week) so i need some variation of my fingers get tired.  i really like the romance of chopin's nocturnes and etudes, the percussiveness of rachmaninoff and bartok, the erie, somewhat evil sound of the sond "the banshee" (don't know the composer) and the surrealism of ravel...so there you go...my complete heart for music...if you guys think of any good pieces (like chopin's romantic style) that are good to woo someone (yes i did use "woo" in a sentence) i would love it because i would love to have someone look at me and in love with me because my fingers can sing to them... ok thats enough rambling on my part so thanks you all you guys are great

Music, the greatest good that mortals know, And all of heaven we have below. - Joseph Addison

[hwhat06]

mmmkay i listened to the "June Bacarolle" by Tchaikovsky and i love it but do you know if i can get this sheet music free?  if i can please tell me where. thanks

[princessdecadence]

If you can play Rach's Prelude in G minor...give his Chopin Variations a try! Pleasurable music.

[hwhat06]

give his Chopin Variations a try!

do you know what op.'s these are? and what do u think is the best 1?

[princessdecadence]

do you know what op.'s these are? and what do u think is the best 1?

They are opus 22.

I personally like all of them but just trying not to be boring I would say, I love variation 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

I recommend Howard Shelley's lovely playing

They are all pretty hard to play and if you would like the sheets let me know. 

[robertp]

I'd be kinda careful of those Chopin Etudes. They're ferocious, to say the least.  Major pianists have been known to shudder at #s 1 & 2. #3 is more approachable in terms of where you are. The reason I say be careful is that, say, on #2 and #4, if you are playing them slowly, they can be good studies. But try to take them up to tempo too soon, and you can injure yourself (I'm working on #4 right now). If you must do 1 or 2 or 4, be slow and careful and stop if you feel the least sign of strain.