some questions

[italianopalo]

Hello, I'm new here so bear in mind that I may ask some unintelligent questions
Anyways, after looking at the wealth of information in PianoStreet, I was able to gain some new knowledge. However, I still have no idea on what to play instead of technical excercises by Hanon/Czerny. To make answering easier, this is what I play at the moment.

Hanon Complete 60 Exercises (hardly ever played now)
Czerny Etudes de Mecanisme Op. 849
Burgmuller 25 Progressive Pieces

I don't have a teacher at the moment=D

My second question is that, is their any hints/tips on playing Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2? I'm aiming to play the first half, and leave the Friska for later. Is there any recommended repertoire/exercises which make it easier to play the rhapsody?

From Vince

[prometheus]

Why do you want to play exercises?

[quantum]

Go out and listen to some Bach, Beethoven, Scarlatti, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Bartok, Scriabin, Ravel, and Debussy for starters. 

Start listening to piano music and see what appeals to you.  You seem to be very much aware of the technique aspect of music.  Now you can go out and discover different composers and the styles they composed in.  Focus on listening, and in particular the "sonic language" of the composer.

Regarding the HR 2, technical problems are different for each person.  What one person finds difficult another might find easy, and vice versa.  Start playing through it first, then when a problem spot comes up, ask specific question about that spot. 

[italianopalo]

Why do you want to play exercises?

Then what can I play?
And thankful advice from Quantum, I am expecting some new problems to arise as I am only 13 years old and I don't have really big hands :L

Anyways, in the first page, on the 18th bar, there is a big chord there. I can't seem to reach all the keys required for the chord.

[lostinidlewonder]

If you like Liszts Hungarian pieces you should like Bartok's Roumanian Dances which are a lot easier and would probably benefit you more. Bartoks set of 6 small pieces are excellent to develop your fingers and each have very memorable melodies.

[bernhard]

Then what can I play?

Have a look at these threads for some excellent pieces that are not difficult to play and that will help you develop your technique:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1970.msg15762.html#msg15762
(easy sonatas)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2147.msg18098.html#msg18098
(Easiest piano piece ever written)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2314.msg19869.html#msg19869
(Schumann’s Album for the young)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2340.msg20224.html#msg20224
(Building your piano foundations – suggestions for a progressive repertory)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2398.msg20989.html#msg20989
(Serenade by Schubert - suggestions for Scarlatti sonatas and Prokofiev pieces of beginner/intermediate level).

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2562.msg22127.html#msg22127
(Suggestions for repertory for someone who has been playing for a year)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2851.msg24984.html#msg24984
(Introduction to romantic pieces – how technique is specific to pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3721.msg33399.html#msg33399
(grade 4 – 6 repertory)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=cf5798828dafc1a200f2dbf4c611b64e&topic=7008.msg69624#msg69624
(Beautiful music that is not hard to play)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4094.msg38101.html#msg38101

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=7b2f205758230985687ad52453952b67&topic=4094.msg38101#msg38101
 (Liszt easy pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4140.msg38111.html#msg38111
(True repertory for total beginners)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4238.msg39061.html#msg39061
(easy show off pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4371.msg40871.html#msg40871
(Mendelssohn favourites)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4416.msg41105.html#msg41105
(nice slow romantic piece for beginner)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4737.msg44794.html#msg44794
(Jacques Duphly)


https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5063.msg49589.html#msg49589
(Albums for the young)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2357.msg56150.html#msg56150
(Joe Hisaishi sheet music)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,8368.0.html
(Victor Carbajo)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,12061.msg126976.html#msg126976
(Rachmaninoff easier pieces)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,8225.msg113552.html#msg113552
(minimalist pieces – description of Einaudi pieces.)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/board,6/topic,15833.12.html#msg170722
(Nobuo Uematsu – links to MP3 and to free sheet music)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,10799.0.html
(Easy pieces that sound difficult and vice versa)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,19285.msg208829.html#msg208829
(Heller thread – Lots of pdf files with Heller scores and MP3 to listen to)


And be sure not to miss the Scarlatti sonatas!

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2339.msg20064.html#msg20064
(Scarlatti favourite sonatas – almost 200 sonatas graded and commented).

I am expecting some new problems to arise as I am only 13 years old and I don't have really big hands :L

Anyways, in the first page, on the 18th bar, there is a big chord there. I can't seem to reach all the keys required for the chord.

Big hands are not a requirement. Josef Hoffman, arguably one of the greatest pianists in history had such small hands that he could not reach an octave . (Steinway built him a special piano with narrower keys so that he could play more comfortably). Alicia de la Rocha also had small hands and could barely reach an octave, yet she played Rachmaninoff!

As for the chord you cannot reach, you can:

1. Wait until your hands grow (they will - you are still very young)

2. In the meantime try one of the following approaches:

a. Distribute the chord notes between the two hands (if possible)

b. Do not play all the notes of the chord (that is, "simplify" the chord)

c. "roll" the chord, that is play it arpeggiated, one note after the other, instead of all notes together.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[italianopalo]

Thank you thank you! I'll definatly have a look at Bartok and the links Bernhardt mentioned.

Btw this is the chord i was talking about

P.S. Yay I can play 2 pages of HR2 now.

[bernhard]

If you are not doing it already, play the two lower notes of the right hand with the thumb (the thumb presses both of them).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[italianopalo]

Contrary to my attitude of when I first posted, I decided to focus much less on HR2 (due to some technical difficulties) and play some easier works. I'm highly considering to play Chopin Waltzes/Mazurkas and some Scarlatti sonatas. But of course the larger your repertory is, the better it is.

So is there any other recommended pieces that I could/should play? I'm looking for a diverse variety of Classical and Romantic music. Possibly something that could improve technique alot but I'm not fussy about that.

Btw if there is a piece out of the blue that I can sight read and play it directly (maybe with minor mistakes), is it "too" easy for me?

[bernhard]

So is there any other recommended pieces that I could/should play? I'm looking for a diverse variety of Classical and Romantic music. Possibly something that could improve technique alot but I'm not fussy about that.

Yes, any piece that you love.  Therefore only you can make the selection.

Btw if there is a piece out of the blue that I can sight read and play it directly (maybe with minor mistakes), is it "too" easy for me?

Pay no attention to easy/difficult. Concentrate on Love/hate. Once you decide on a list of piees you would love to play (only you can make such a list), then and ony then worry about matters of difficulty. On this level people can help you.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[arbisley]

One thing I would suggest out of the blue is like quantum says, try to get as much musical experience as possible! Particularly helpful are things like singing in choirs, playing chamber music, and listening to as much Bach as you can.

i started my musical education that way, listened to a lot.
Now "all" I have to do is learn the technique to go with it....

[italianopalo]

HR2 is seriously giving me a hard time now. Now because of these bars, it doesn't really sound right. For some reason I can't seem to be able to play this part. Its not technically difficult for me but I think it is some kind of mental block? Any ideas how to play?
Maybe because it's not clear enough to read 

P.S. Posting here to save forum space