Good Advice for Concerto Players

[willmillar27]

Hello,

I thought I would share this - some of you may already do it - but I am very glad of it!

I like to play concerto's but I find it very difficult to learn away from an orchestra - especially in pieces like 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini'. I bought a MUSIC MINUS ONE copy of 'Rhapsody in Blue' which I am fairly pleased with although it was not worth the price!

A simple alternative is to find a MIDI file of your selected concerto and then transfer it into a piece music notation software - such as Sibelius (which I use) and remove the piano track.

If you will be playing from the computer with your piano nearby then read no further. For those that wish to play from a CD player - obviously, most CD players will not let you play MIDI files through them. Therefore, I downloaded a programme called Power MIDI to MP3 and converted them - and then burnt them to CD.

Obviously it will never sound like a real orchestra but I find it an unmatchable help when learning concerto's.

All the Best

Will

[thierry13]

I think everybody does that at a point or another when learning concerti ... no?

[lostinidlewonder]

The best way is to get someone to play second piano (the orchestra) while you play your part with them. Unfortunately you will usually have a hard time again finding someone who can actually play it (or is willing to give you their time). You can always record yourself playing 2nd piano and then play with that.

[invictious]

Yea record the 2nd piano too, makes you familiar with the music too.

Hower the cadenzas can be a problem

[brewtality]

er, wouldn't playing along with a midi be really constricting? When I practise concerti I just play the solo part, when the piano drops out I play the tuttis or skip to the next entry. No worries, right? If you're lucky enough to get to play with an orchestra, then 2 piano could be helpful, in the absence of sufficient orchestral rehearsals.

[willmillar27]

In a way I kind of agree with the previous comments- that my method isn't fool proof. The last comment about skipping passages works in some pieces but in a piece such as "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini", it is increasingly difficult with the constant conversations between the piano and the orchestra.

Apologies to those who already knew this, but I saw it as a revelation.

[viking]

You could always download the MMO's off the internet for free.....


Sam

[avetma]

When I practised piano concerto, my teacher played orchestra part, but I got some Music Minus One for free too.

[willmillar27]

MUSIC MINUS ONE for free

Pray tell where?

Thanks

Will

[brewtality]

MUSIC MINUS ONE for free

Pray tell where?

Thanks

Will

Clarification: Free but ILLEGAL.

Should be available from the usual sources: GFF, maybe emule.

[willmillar27]

Of course I should know better for someone with an A-level in Law - but £39.10 for one is just a rip off.

Many Thanks

Will

[thierry13]

Of course I should know better for someone with an A-level in Law - but £39.10 for one is just a rip off.

Many Thanks

Will

Not for a lawyer  hehe 

[viking]

Clarification: Free but ILLEGAL.

Should be available from the usual sources: GFF, maybe emule.

Exactly!  Or, if you study at a music academy the library might have them.

[willmillar27]

Not for a lawyer 

Yes, I like that. Unfortunately I don't earn as much as a lawyer - I did win a small sum on The Mint on ITV the other day! lol

Does anyone know of any other sites I can get the Music Minus One files from though please - eMule hasn't been succesful on my computer.

Thanks Again

Will

[nicco]

as previously mentioned, gamingforce, or "GFF".

[thierry13]

as previously mentioned, gamingforce, or "GFF".

Everything as been deleted from the site :O When I use the search function for sheet music the good ol' thread with virtually ALL ...has been deleted 

[nicco]

Everything as been deleted from the site :O When I use the search function for sheet music the good ol' thread with virtually ALL ...has been deleted 

lol no, you have to be registered to see it. besides the adresses may have changed since the big crash.