If you're working on 3 pieces and scales...

[barnowl]

..how do you apportion your time?

I'm in my 2nd week of Beethoven's Sonatina 5, and  Chopin's Prelude Opus 28 No, 4 and first week of K.545. (Also doing scales but I can handle them okay, I think.)

For me, in order of difficulty from hardest to easiest - Prelude, Sonata, Sonatina. (Surprise, surprise.) When you're faced with a similar problem, how much time do you devote to each piece?

And while I'm at it...

In the Sonatina there's a 4-note LH chord D-F#-A-C that is played as an Arpeggio. (See the 4th Bass Clef in the attachment.)

It's cute as hell - to the ear that is. ( ) You play it three times and the second is louder than the first, and the third, louder than the second, I think.

Do you have any recommendations on how to play the thing? I kinda, tighten up when I play it. Should I crush it or not? My gut says don't, but play it rather quickly.

[barnowl]

My chord question isn't about loudness - rather technique. How do I do it?

[pianistimo]

as i see it, the first two bars are a three or four year old girl skipping around, and the second two measures are the same age boy playing a bit more busily.  the 'girl' section - as i will call it - is light and pretty.  the 'boy' section - the bass note is held - giving more definition and a more 'bass' character and bit louder dynamic.  so you equalize it by being 'statementish' with the end of the phrase.  it's a1 and a2 making up statement A.  then you have some diddling with the alberti bass in the second 'girl' part.  they both 'play together' on the last statement. when you 'cross over' with the second finger - move your hand slightly to accomodate it and sort of 'cross brush' as you were drumming and hitting the drums in front of you and they crossing over to the left drum.  i just mean the movement not the drumming part!


 

[pianistimo]

in the second part (B section) - i'd hold the fermata 123 12 and go again on the second triplets third beat.  you're already counting in triplets.

sonatinas typically don't have much of a development - but theres are few bars there (until after the fermata) that experiment with the melody and then lead you back to A section again (2 measures after the fermata).  the D major sounding section that follows that is quite typical.  that's what beethoven does in some of the sonatas, giving another character to the melody.

as far as the order that you practice things - it doesn't really matter.  i  like to practice the pieces that are hardest first as well.  but, as long as you get some time in on all the pieces, it's really moot.  sometimes i do the opposite and warm up on the easiest.  whatever you are in the mood to do.

sometimes (rarely) i don't play one of my pieces because i just don't feel like that song on that particular day.  that is where your ragtime comes in, right?  (don't tell your teacher)

barnowl - good for you to take lessons again!

[cfortunato]

Not sure what you're asking about the arpeggio, or how to describe how I play it (which may be all wrong anyway).  I play it *almost* all at the same time.  I play an arpeggio, but THINK of a single beat, with the melody note playing simultaneously with the C in the arpeggio.

[barnowl]

in the second part (B section) - i'd hold the fermata 123 12 and go again on the second triplets third beat.  you're already counting in triplets.

sonatinas typically don't have much of a development - but theres are few bars there (until after the fermata) that experiment with the melody and then lead you back to A section again (2 measures after the fermata).  the D major sounding section that follows that is quite typical.  that's what beethoven does in some of the sonatas, giving another character to the melody.

as far as the order that you practice things - it doesn't really matter.  i  like to practice the pieces that are hardest first as well.  but, as long as you get some time in on all the pieces, it's really moot.  sometimes i do the opposite and warm up on the easiest.  whatever you are in the mood to do.

sometimes (rarely) i don't play one of my pieces because i just don't feel like that song on that particular day.  that is where your ragtime comes in, right?  (don't tell your teacher)

barnowl - good for you to take lessons again!

Thank you Pianistimo.

I usually start with the hardest piece, and now think I should end with it. I tend to  stay with it too long, at the expense of the other two.

And than you for your thoughts on the Sonatina.

[barnowl]

Not sure what you're asking about the arpeggio, or how to describe how I play it (which may be all wrong anyway).  I play it *almost* all at the same time.  I play an arpeggio, but THINK of a single beat, with the melody note playing simultaneously with the C in the arpeggio.

For someone who wasn't sure what I was asking, CFortunato, your answer was right on the money. 

That's how I'll play it too - if I am able, that is.

Thank you!

[tac-tics]

the first two bars are a three or four year old girl skipping around
the second two measures are the same age boy playing a bit more busily

That is an adorable analogy. You just made my day. And I can even apply it since I'm learning this piece as well.