What I learned during practice today :

[hfmadopter]

So this is a bit more polished version. I can do the piece now. Please listen to it and give me feedback!

The first part is quite good, it's steady and sounds reasonably secure and has a touch of expression going on. In the rest, you have some insecurity and that's leading to hesitating playing possible incorrect notes and derails the rhythm. But you will get there on that as well. Personally, if you get the last parts as good as the first in the next week or two, and the whole piece evened out, I'd then move on. That's enough time spent on that particular piece for now, you have more work to get to.. You can always re visit it later and pick up the pace then if you wanted to. With more experience it will be easy to blow it out then. Don't just take my word on it though, remember you have a teacher !


Incidentally a nice follow up to this piece is Anna Magdalena's Minuet in G minor. Only level 2 but pretty, IMO. It makes a nice pair to do in an early recital. You could almost modulate keys and morph them together into a medly if you didn't get herracy comments on so doing !

[ranniks]

You really are learning fast. Apart from the little mistakes and some unwanted accents it was pretty good!  And obviously your problems with rhythm were nothing to worry about, just a little practice.

Thanks Outin, really, really appreciate it! Well that rhyhm problem will hopefully sort itself out...It's just a pain, lol.

Never thought about it that way, guess you could say I don't have a favorite. I like works from  most of the usual names that get bantered around. I will say that of those, working on Debussy never lit any fires for me.

I have yet to decide whether Rachmaninoff is to me what Debussy is to you.

The first part is quite good, it's steady and sounds reasonably secure and has a touch of expression going on. In the rest, you have some insecurity and that's leading to hesitating playing possible incorrect notes and derails the rhythm. But you will get there on that as well. Personally, if you get the last parts as good as the first in the next week or two, and the whole piece evened out, I'd then move on. That's enough time spent on that particular piece for now, you have more work to get to.. You can always re visit it later and pick up the pace then if you wanted to. With more experience it will be easy to blow it out then. Don't just take my word on it though, remember you have a teacher !


Incidentally a nice follow up to this piece is Anna Magdalena's Minuet in G minor. Only level 2 but pretty, IMO. It makes a nice pair to do in an early recital. You could almost modulate keys and morph them together into a medly if you didn't get herracy comments on so doing !

That's a coincidence, my teacher said I played the first part 'very sharp' which is a good thing he said. Like Outin and you said, I made a few mistakes. I forgot to hit the upper D before going to the higher G (if that makes sense), I've got that fixed now. Still playing the piece just because it is really nice!

The G minor is indeed pretty nice, but I was thinking of the G major 116 Anh:

But my teacher has me working on prelude C major bwv 847 which also is a pretty nice piece and handy because we're working on scales now I believe? Not sure because he only showed me the E major scale and the white chords (CEG and different positions of CEG, EGC, GCE. CEG etc).

I was thinking of letting my teacher decide what pieces we were going to work on, but is it normal for a beginner to suggest a piece?

Also.....Like I've stated previously, I really don't want to sound like some emotionless players on youtube.....I hope from the depts of my heart that I've mixed at least a shred of my emotion in the piece.

And excuse my phone for being such a crappy microphone=p.

Well, time to practise!

[outin]

The G minor is indeed pretty nice, but I was thinking of the G major 116 Anh

If you insist, but the G minor would be easier

I was thinking of letting my teacher decide what pieces we were going to work on, but is it normal for a beginner to suggest a piece?

It is quite normal to suggest pieces when you are an adult and have already formed taste on music. Kids would not know what to suggest. But it is the teacher's job to tell you that something is too difficult and counterproductive to work on right know. And sometimes they need to supplement your chosen diet. So by all means suggest pieces to him and ask what he thinks.

[ranniks]

Thanks Outin, that's a great idea!

Well, how about I just learn both pieces? Minor first and then the difficult one.

[outin]

Well, how about I just learn both pieces? Minor first and then the difficult one.

I assume you will learn the whole Anna Magdalena Notebook eventually, it's just a matter of when and in what order

[hfmadopter]

The G minor is indeed pretty nice, but I was thinking of the G major 116 An


But my teacher has me working on prelude C major bwv 847 which also is a pretty nice piece and handy because we're working on scales now I believe? Not sure because he only showed me the E major scale and the white chords (CEG and different positions of CEG, EGC, GCE. CEG etc).

Are you sure about that Prelude ? bwv 847 is this in C minor: 

   Incidentally some youtubers play it obsessively and obnoxiously fast, which is unnecessary. It's about accuracy.

G Major 116 has some surprising turns in it that you might not expect just looking over the sheet. It's very easy hands alone, don't be fooled it will take a bit of time to get them together smoothly..

[ranniks]

I assume you will learn the whole Anna Magdalena Notebook eventually, it's just a matter of when and in what order

Whatever direction my teacher thinks is wise is where I will go. But yes, Anna Magdalena, definitely!

How is Scarlatti coming along Outin?

Are you sure about that Prelude ? bwv 847 is this in C minor: 

   Incidentally some youtubers play it obsessively and obnoxiously fast, which is unnecessary. It's about accuracy.

G Major 116 has some surprising turns in it that you might not expect just looking over the sheet. It's very easy hands alone, don't be fooled it will take a bit of time to get them together smoothly..

Excuse me please! I meant the bwv 846! This one:

Well, I dare not hasten pieces for the sake of being able to play them. I want them to sound beautiful and soothing. The day that I find myself playing a piece too fast and without emotion is the day I quit playing piano......Seriously.

My goals for the end of this year:

- The minuet g major 114 (the one I can do)
- Prelude C Major 846 (The one I'm working on, I got 50% down note wise, just a little bit tweeking around needed)
- A piece by Bach(preferably), Mozart, Beethoven or Clementi OR an anime piece opening theme song

David, Outin, can a piano teacher teach you a piece he hasn't played before/done/exercised often? Because my teacher hasn't played clementi when I asked him, but I do want to learn Clementi some day.

[outin]

How is Scarlatti coming along Outin?

Scarlatti is fine, I just find it difficult to motivate myself to work on anything else at the moment...I'm doing the little Franck pieces to balance it a bit, but I know my teacher is not happy because I keep resisting on working the other stuff...

A reward to the person who can find me a classical piece that is not above level 5 and that I really like!

David, Outin, can a piano teacher teach you a piece he hasn't played before/done/exercised often? Because my teacher hasn't played clementi when I asked him, but I do want to learn Clementi some day.

Of course they can, there's far too much music out there for them to play everything. I take my teacher pieces all the time that she hasn't played...she usually just plays them through once before we start...just straight from the sheet, she's a very good sight reader.

Since your Bach is goint that well I think you'll be soon able to do the Clementi sonatina op 36-1. Maybe next spring?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

can a piano teacher teach you a piece he hasn't played before/done/exercised often? Because my teacher hasn't played clementi when I asked him, but I do want to learn Clementi some day.

Of course!  You'll find teachers teaching students on pieces they've never even heard before.

[ranniks]

Scarlatti is fine, I just find it difficult to motivate myself to work on anything else at the moment...I'm doing the little Franck pieces to balance it a bit, but I know my teacher is not happy because I keep resisting on working the other stuff...

A reward to the person who can find me a classical piece that is not above level 5 and that I really like!

How about..........Bach's first invention?

Of course they can, there's far too much music out there for them to play everything. I take my teacher pieces all the time that she hasn't played...she usually just plays them through once before we start...just straight from the sheet, she's a very good sight reader.

Since your Bach is goint that well I think you'll be soon able to do the Clementi sonatina op 36-1. Maybe next spring?

Of course!  You'll find teachers teaching students on pieces they've never even heard before.

In that case, I'll ask my teacher to teach me the G minor (thank you David!) next lesson since I'm decently far with the prelude. Thank you Outin, Rachmaninoff_forever and David....I'm going to call you Rach-Junior from now on Rachmaninoff_forever, your name is too long, lol. Unless you have a better option for a name of course.

Also outin, that is exactly one of the pieces I was hoping to learn from Clementi. Clementi seems closer to Bach than Mozart/Beethoven. At least from what I've seen from his op's.

Recently been listening to Richard Wagner....I havn't the faintest clue what is going on when listening to his pieces. What an odd composer. Does anyone want to share one of his hidden good pieces?

[outin]

How about..........Bach's first invention?

No reward for you yet, that Baroque, not classical 

[ranniks]

No reward for you yet, that Baroque, not classical 

Moonlight sonata?

[outin]

Moonlight sonata?

That's about grade 8 
And don't really like it anyway...

You'll have to do better

[ranniks]

That's about grade 8 
And don't really like it anyway...

You'll have to do better

Just do Bach, lol! Go for the tocatta/fugue in d minor; epic epic.

Sidenote: Fur Elise doesn't seem as impossible as it did before, I can do the first few meassures, but only 1 left handed movement, the one where you hit the Gies/G sharp with first the left hand and then the right hand feels awkward.

[hfmadopter]

Whatever direction my teacher thinks is wise is where I will go. But yes, Anna Magdalena, definitely!


Excuse me please! I meant the bwv 846! This one:


Well, I dare not hasten pieces for the sake of being able to play them. I want them to sound beautiful and soothing. The day that I find myself playing a piece too fast and without emotion is the day I quit playing piano......Seriously.

My goals for the end of this year:

- The minuet g major 114 (the one I can do)
- Prelude C Major 846 (The one I'm working on, I got 50% down note wise, just a little bit tweeking around needed)
- A piece by Bach(preferably), Mozart, Beethoven or Clementi OR an anime piece opening theme song

David, Outin, can a piano teacher teach you a piece he hasn't played before/done/exercised often? Because my teacher hasn't played clementi when I asked him, but I do want to learn Clementi some day.

846 makes more sense. And yes they can or should be able to teach you most any piece structually, even if they are not up on the dynamics. I didn't hang around Clementi a whole lot myself but it is a natural progression or something/a composer, to include let's say.

There is just so much music out there, I can't see getting hung up on one composer anyway.

Two part inventions I think are level 5ish FWIW. They will give you a work out and a new mind set if you get into them. Can't say they are particularly pretty but excercises with a true purpose to be able to move in Bach. Bach is full of that kind of work. Again a natural progression but I suspect maybe next year for you not that I'm trying to hold you back. If your teacher wants to give them a gho, then go for it.

[ranniks]

846 makes more sense. And yes they can or should be able to teach you most any piece structually, even if they are not up on the dynamics. I didn't hang around Clementi a whole lot myself but it is a natural progression or something/a composer, to include let's say.

There is just so much music out there, I can't see getting hung up on one composer anyway.

Two part inventions I think are level 5ish FWIW. They will give you a work out and a new mind set if you get into them. Can't say they are particularly pretty but excercises with a true purpose to be able to move in Bach. Bach is full of that kind of work. Again a natural progression but I suspect maybe next year for you not that I'm trying to hold you back. If your teacher wants to give them a gho, then go for it.

David, you know I've started the minuet and now the prelude, what would be the next 6 logical steps to go by? By the way, I'm learning pedaling with the prelude (tedius!).

The inventions can come later on, there is no need to speed things up just to ruin the pieces. I want to do something by mozart next year at the very least. Beethoven too, maybe Fur Elise if that's not too ambitieous. As overused that song may be, it is still very, very beautiful.

[outin]

Just do Bach, lol! Go for the tocatta/fugue in d minor; epic epic.

NO I WILL NOT DO BACH! 
I have enough Baroque to work on.

I just need some classical...Can't anyone rise up to my challenge? 

[49410enrique]

A reward to the person who can find me a classical piece that is not above level 5 and that I really like!

these are really nice! I have had a recurring desire to go in and work up all 12 and play them as a set similar to an entire children's album (and similar collections)

[outin]

these are really nice! I have had a recurring desire to go in and work up all 12 and play them as a set similar to an entire children's album (and similar collections)

Truth is I have never been interested enough to look into Haydn at all... So I will give these a chance. I'll get back to you on the reward if necessary (might take some time I have to go on a work trip this week).

BTW I usually can't stand anything meant for children...I also dislike minuets (but I can skip those), marches (except the couple of funeral ones by Chopin) and waltzes (with very few exceptions). Perky music in general really annoys me...Yeah, I'm too difficult 

[ranniks]

Lol Outin, I'm sorry. I wanted to suggest the Mozart K545, but I'm afraid I've already suggested that one.

[49410enrique]

Truth is I have never been interested enough to look into Haydn at all... So I will give these a chance. I'll get back to you on the reward if necessary (might take some time I have to go on a work trip this week).

BTW I usually can't stand anything meant for children...I also dislike minuets (but I can skip those), marches (except the couple of funeral ones by Chopin) and waltzes (with very few exceptions). Perky music in general really annoys me...Yeah, I'm too difficult  

well you may not like these much then, i like the set as a whole more than any of the individual ones as they are transcriptons of themes of his but i particularly like the variety of character the set contains (it's sorta why i like very good themes and variations, so many chances to play with different moods/pictures within a singe work).

what about themes and variations? those can be quite fun to study and perform?

maybe some early Czerny?
Czerny's music was profoundly influenced by his teachers, Muzio Clementi, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Antonio Salieri and Ludwig van Beethoven.

don't know what level is what i just go with what i like when i listen or my impressin when i do score study, these are quite pretty
again the great stephen hough shows us how

another nice set

he wrote a LOT of very PRETTY nocturnes to worth exploring, probably too late to really consider 'classical' they are not nearly as decidedly romantic as those of some who would come after him

[49410enrique]

maybe a rondo? clementi had a nice one in one of the sonatas

[49410enrique]

Lol Outin, I'm sorry. I wanted to suggest the Mozart K545, but I'm afraid I've already suggested that one.

on the topic of mozart, this is pretty awesome

[outin]

If that's not perky, then I don't know what is...I got annoyed and had to stop listening after 10 seconds...

another nice set

A never ending waltz?  

Did not the classical composers write anything DIFFERENT?

Nocturnes are nice, but I think I'd rather go with Field... I think I got a bit Czernophobic after playing his exercises when I started...

[outin]

maybe a rondo? clementi had a nice one in one of the sonatas

I think you have found a perfect example of the kind of piano music that I cannot stand to listen to...and to play something I cannot listen to simply seems impossible...

EDIT: Maybe I just have accept the fact that I simply hate classical and I am forever doomed to Baroque and Romanticism 

[ranniks]

maybe a rondo? clementi had a nice one in one of the sonatas

I will make it one of my life duties to learn that Rondo. It sounds better than Mozart's rondo alla turca. At least, to me it does.

[49410enrique]

I think you have found a perfect example of the kind of piano music that I cannot stand to listen to...and to play something I cannot listen to simply seems impossible...

EDIT: Maybe I just have accept the fact that I simply hate classical and I am forever doomed to Baroque and Romanticism  

apologies i'll try and think of thiings that appeal to your sensibilities. how about something much later with slight 'nod' to the classical, in texture, this piece is super pretty, and not 'perky' (as you seem to put it, though i feel odd calling music that. i tend to associate perky with breasts. go fig. )

so this is not nearly as 'happy'.  also tonally it's pretty conservative given it's birthdate. sticks neatly within the limits of it's key for the most part thought doesn't exactly act classical in terms of implied harmony and progression.
still super pretty piece might at least just be aware of it in case you ever want to visit it someday

score can be a bugger to track down. attached.

[outin]

apologies i'll try and think of thiings that appeal to your sensibilities. how about something much later with slight 'nod' to the classical, in texture, this piece is super pretty, and not 'perky' (as you seem to put it, though i feel odd calling music that. i tend to associate perky with breasts. go fig. )

LOL...couldn't think of a better word...

EDIT: It's not that I don't like happy...just perky and happy

still super pretty piece might at least just be aware of it in case you ever want to visit it someday

Funny, this piece reminds me of Finnish traditional songs...Not bad really...an unknown composer to me.

[nanabush]

It's nice to sit and play hands separate for a while!  I'm too focused on getting everything down hands together; going back and running through the exposition with the right hand alone, listening to the pauses, the voicing, while having an EASY time with the notes... ahhhhhhhh peaceful.

[hfmadopter]

David, you know I've started the minuet and now the prelude, what would be the next 6 logical steps to go by? By the way, I'm learning pedaling with the prelude (tedius!).

The inventions can come later on, there is no need to speed things up just to ruin the pieces. I want to do something by mozart next year at the very least. Beethoven too, maybe Fur Elise if that's not too ambitieous. As overused that song may be, it is still very, very beautiful.

It's great you are pedalling, it will become an automatic response at some point.

Magdalena, all five, more scles and chords. You need to learn chords by Tonic, Sub Dominant and Dominant position changes , with the related scales if I were teaching you and that's the minimum to understand how harmony begins within most pieces of music, with added minor chords and scales as they relate to the piece you are working on at the time. I teach this as it relates to a piece you are working on, so it's not just that the chords and scales stand alone as an excercise. That all needs to get under your belt first and as you work on the first few pieces of real music in other words. You will better understand progression through a piece than hacking out pieces of music on their own, IMO ( and it's just my opinion, others are free to disagree but most early books cover all of this, maybe without the official language or names ( they like the roman numeral numbers game in the books). To me if you can get a student to work over these chords and scales freely, the music will come more freely. It's getting them to see that is the challenge !! But it truely all ties together in the end. That's structure, we need it .

Later you can go on to two part inventions and Fur Elise.

But don't really take all this to heart, you have a teacher, do things his way !

[teran]

Learned that practicing a certain sequence of notes staccato can massively improve legato playing.

Pretty cool.

[ranniks]

David, thanks for the post, the basics are indeed very important. I'll try to keep that in mind while I know that's the reason I'm handicapped with some more difficult pieces; lacking the fundamentals. Hopefully I'll learn the fundamentals along the way.

These are the pieces my teacher went through with me today:

- Minuet G Major 114 (the one I'm sort of done with), he instructed me on the timing and how some notes should sound.

- Prelude in C Major - Just some fine tuning, this piece isn't THAT difficult, maybe the last 20% is.

- Minute G Minor 115 (My request thanks to David) (something to do with the Bes scale), we went through the B Major scale (the one where you hit the Dies/D Sharp and threat it as B's black key).

- Fur Elise 3-6 meassures, for the pedalling, he didn't object when I showed what I already could. He was sort of impressed.

- Beethoven Menuet in G no.2 first 2 bars (My own request) <---- This one is SUPER HARD for me right now, hence why my teacher only showed me the first 2 bars. It's such a difficult piece for me at the moment. What grade could this be?

So now I'm finally working on multiple pieces. The violin can wait a while now. I was getting a bit bored with just only the prelude btw....Now I have more to work with!

[zezhyrule]

I was sight-reading some Schubert Lieder, and what I learned is that I really love this piece

Now to find a singer I can accompany! Or I guess I could just play the Liszt transcription... it's really nice too. But 20 times more difficult 

[ranniks]

A Little update:

I'm finishing memorising the Prelude in c Major. I now truly understand why this song needs to be played with the pedal. The last part of the Prelude is beautiful!

My teacher gave me a simplified version of Fur Elise commenting the piece was a real beginners piece. I'm not sure if he meant the version he gave me or the full Fur Elise song.

Although I do want to work on the anh 115 G minor menuet, I was wondering if I was now ready for the first movement of the moonlight sonata? Fur Elise is easier now that my teacher has taught me how to do the left hand better (octave positions).

Regarding the exercises: We've gone through appegios without the black keys and now are on the appegios with the black keys. It's odd that the settings don't really have any logic: For Example: The C Major chord has the black key D Sharp while the D Major Chord has the black key F Sharp. E has the Black key  G Sharp. The thing is: the black key closest to the normal 3d fingers position is chosen, but mostly the right black key. So with the E Major chord it's not F Sharp but G sharp.

Furthermore he told me the minuet in G is complete and that I can play it. The Prelude is 100% done. I can read the sheet without very much trouble, just need to memorise the remaining 25% of the sheet.

Besides the 115 g Minor from the anh book, what piece could I learn? The Fur Elise I got from my teacher is not really enough. I can get that down by the weekend. Maybe the more difficult version.

Anyways, hope you ladies and gentlemen are playing with fun and hope the practise goes well!

Cheers!

[outin]

Regarding the exercises: We've gone through appegios without the black keys and now are on the appegios with the black keys. It's odd that the settings don't really have any logic: For Example: The C Major chord has the black key D Sharp while the D Major Chord has the black key F Sharp. E has the Black key  G Sharp. The thing is: the black key closest to the normal 3d fingers position is chosen, but mostly the right black key. So with the E Major chord it's not F Sharp but G sharp.

I am not sure I could follow your explanation. But of course there's logic. In major and minor chords respectively the intervals between the 3 notes are always the same. The notes come from the scale. I am not sure how to explain this though without going into theory at which I am not good at all.

To suggest a new piece, how about this

I don't know if you like it, but it's not really that difficult technically. If your teacher agrees you would learn something new on the left hand and there's also lots of room for interpretation. And you'd get some romantic music to balance all that Bach 

If you want the sheet just PM me.

If you don't like it I have other suggestions

[ranniks]

Thanks for the appegio adding Outin!

Uhmm, It's not that I don't like that piece, but it's a little bit too slow for my taste or it's missing a certain element. Like the notes are too few? I wouldn't know since I'm a beginner.

Would love some suggestions though! Even from Scarlatti, but I'd have to listen to them first of course and they'd have to be do-able for a hard-working beginner like myself. If you need reference to what pieces I can play:

- 114 g major
- C major prelude bwv 846
- Fur elise easy version
- First 2 bars 115 g minor

Thanks in regards and I really appreciate it Outin!

[ranniks]

The first movement of the moonlight sonata doesn't seem more difficult than the bwv 846, in terms of playing they look alike. Too early?

[hfmadopter]

The first movement of the moonlight sonata doesn't seem more difficult than the bwv 846, in terms of playing they look alike. Too early?

Clementi Sonatina Op36 No1. Don't get the easy version if they wrote it as such !

[outin]

Uhmm, It's not that I don't like that piece, but it's a little bit too slow for my taste or it's missing a certain element. Like the notes are too few? I wouldn't know since I'm a beginner.

This is probably type of music that you are not used to. We have to find something from the romantic era that is more your style. I will think about it...

Would love some suggestions though! Even from Scarlatti, but I'd have to listen to them first of course and they'd have to be do-able for a hard-working beginner like myself.

The Clementi sonatina hfmadopter suggested of course is a great learning piece.

I don't really know why all of the easier Scarlatti pieces are listed as grade 5 on this site, maybe because of the ornaments. But here is one that I really like...and is not that difficult:

[hfmadopter]

This is probably type of music that you are not used to. We have to find something from the romantic era that is more your style. I will think about it...

The Clementi sonatina hfmadopter suggested of course is a great learning piece.

I don't really know why all of the easier Scarlatti pieces are listed as grade 5 on this site, maybe because of the ornaments. But here is one that I really like...and is not that difficult:

I have to say I have never heard that Scarlatti piece , interesting. I'll keep that one in mind, I have a student who I think would like doing that in a year or so. It looks a bit easier than the more popular Aria ( K32) but not far off in class of music. I think the scoring of level 5 has to do with dynamics and some fingering more so than gymnastics. If not accomplished with the correct mood being given up it wouldn't sound like much ( obviously, it won't stand alone if sloppily expressed).

The Clementi I mentioned I did myself many years ago with my teacher, I believe it was not very long after accomplishing the Minuet in G Rannick's is working on now or just finished with. It's something I feel should be accomplished before he tries K545 he wants to do at some point. I don't mean K545 should be an immediate follow up but the Clementi is good to have under your belt first, sort to speak.. He could try it out, if it's too much then it's a good score to have for later on ( maybe after a little more Bach ). At any rate a good preamble or prep works to K545 I think.

[ranniks]

Outin, that Scarlatti piece is beautiful and I'll suggest that to my teacher next lesson and see when we can work on that one. You're correct about my lack of pieces from the romantic erra, so hopefully that will keep my fur elise company.

David, I am eager to learn that clementi piece and not just as a bridge to the k545, but because I sincerely like that piece.

Also, my teacher introduced me to the chords and broken chords without black keys prior to learning me the prelude. Now with the black keys. I've noticed the moonlight sonata uses chords with black keys frequently, so maybe he'll introduce me to that. But, I definitely want to work on several pieces and see where that takes me.

Hopefully it won't be too much, but then again, learning to practise several pieces is a nice skill to have.

I  thank thy both for helping me! I'm going back to finish the prelude and wimper for lacking the skill to perform Beethoven's minuet (need more hand exercises for that piece).

[hfmadopter]

Outin, that Scarlatti piece is beautiful and I'll suggest that to my teacher next lesson and see when we can work on that one. You're correct about my lack of pieces from the romantic erra, so hopefully that will keep my fur elise company.

David, I am eager to learn that clementi piece and not just as a bridge to the k545, but because I sincerely like that piece.

Also, my teacher introduced me to the chords and broken chords without black keys prior to learning me the prelude. Now with the black keys. I've noticed the moonlight sonata uses chords with black keys frequently, so maybe he'll introduce me to that. But, I definitely want to work on several pieces and see where that takes me.

Hopefully it won't be too much, but then again, learning to practise several pieces is a nice skill to have.

I  thank thy both for helping me! I'm going back to finish the prelude and wimper for lacking the skill to perform Beethoven's minuet (need more hand exercises for that piece).

Just a suggestion, you might want to look at some pieces of music as works in progress vs completed works. Obviously you aren't ready for everything, non of us are but some pieces become long term works. Even listening to Howrowitz, for instance, with some Scarlatti works he did a long long time before he died in recitals, then later recordings before his death. You can hear and see how relaxed his later versions were, he took those pieces with him through his lifetime and they became extremely polished works.

Incidentally, I'm not a fan of easy reading classical music. That can derail you when you go to do the real score. Do as you wish but I'd personally dump the easy reader Fur Elise and work slowly on the real thing if possible. But again, you have a teacher, so go his route, just saying !

on the other hand I mostly work with fairly easy pop music scores and build my own arrangements into them.

Good luck at any event, keep at it you're going to do well !

[hfmadopter]

David, I am eager to learn that clementi piece and not just as a bridge to the k545, but because I sincerely like that piece.
 

That Clementi is a pretty piece of music isn't it ? It's not rediculous to do, though we had to memorize pieces for recitals and I recall going into recital with the third movement not up to speed. It still sounded great but I was not happy with myself over that . I later got it up to speed for a work shop but then moved on. I have not played that piece since. I'd say the average recital took me 4 months to prepare for ( I played several pieces in any given recital, so as you say, I too worked on several pieces at a time just not quite so early on as you) and of course I went on to more advanced work once I played a recital..

Recitals are a good way to make you prepare work and get things going. It's like do or die ( as my teacher used to say, she was a wonderful lady if I've never mentioned that before ha ha) !!!!!

[outin]

That Clementi is a pretty piece of music isn't it ? It's not rediculous to do, though we had to memorize pieces for recitals and I recall going into recital with the third movement not up to speed. It still sounded great but I was not happy with myself over that . I later got it up to speed for a work shop but then moved on. I have not played that piece since.

I did that one last spring and I never really got the first movement memorized, don't know why but I found it much more difficult than the other too...

[outin]

You're correct about my lack of pieces from the romantic era

Have you listened to the Burgmüller op 100 pieces? They would be a nice introduction to the romantic style and most are not too difficult.

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I did that one last spring and I never really got the first movement memorized, don't know why but I found it much more difficult than the other too...

I do recall that the second movement was a relief after the first and that's about it ( it came intuatively). Well that and I did do it in a recital and those were all memorized in entirety. The third movement was zippy and I could have played it faster than I did .

It's a great piece, it's not however something I considered what I might want to play for a lifetime so I put in enough effort to sound nice for family and that recital and a work shop or two.. Fur Elise on the other hand I played to death for everything and everyone for years !

[ranniks]

Outin, the first meassure of the k34 is beautiful to play (I can only play the first meassure though, couldn't look at the rest because of lack of a printer and my mobile is annoying to read off). Can't wait to learn the whole piece. I played it several times and recorded it. I may post it today and if not later this week. Defnitely want to learn this piece and of course surprise you.

David, I've found the clementi piece and can play the first 2 meassures of it . Must say I like it very much. Thanks for this wonderfull suggestion.

I play an hour everyday and maybe 2-3 hours max on saturday and sunday. I don't learn fast, I practise a lot. Blame it on that. Wish I could get my hands on a decent recorder though!

Until next time David-Sensei, Outin-Sensei.

[outin]

I play an hour everyday and maybe 2-3 hours max on saturday and sunday. I don't learn fast, I practise a lot. Blame it on that.

You seem to learn your pieces faster than I do mine...I am REALLY slow

[ranniks]

I was getting bored the past few days. Only played for 15 minutes yesterday and today 45 minutes I think. It's just now that I've finished the prelude I only have my arpeggios to work on and that's it. My arpeggios are very basic btw, just the chord versions of the major scales.

I'm gonna ask my teacher 'what is the next piece I should learn' and all. If he suggests something else than the opus 36 of clementi I'll go his way, but I'll definitely mention that I'll get bored if it's not something challenging enough.

Maybe we can work on a piece of his and the clementi/scarlatti piece.

This is sort of why I was doubting if I should take on a second instrument. I need to be busy or else I'll get bored.....Does anyone else have this or am I just a weirdo? =p

[outin]

This is sort of why I was doubting if I should take on a second instrument. I need to be busy or else I'll get bored.....Does anyone else have this or am I just a weirdo? =p

Boredom has always been my worst enemy 

I think it is understandable, you want to practice a lot and you don't have enough to practice. Since you have only played for such a short time, you won't get anything from playing the same pieces over and over. Just tell your teacher you need more pieces. He might not know how much time you want to invest into practicing. The other option is to have your own side projects, but they would have to be very easy with things that you have already gone through with your teacher, so that you won't develope bad habits.