A problem I have

[johnc27]

I've been playing the piano for around 7 years and most people would say I'm pretty good. I play moderate-difficult pieces pretty well, an example would be the Pathetique Sonata, which I received a superior rating in a recent competition. The problem is, my repertoire doesn't look good at all. I haven't done hardly any Bach, Mozart, Chopin, or really much of anything. The problem isn't that I've progressed slowly, or my technique is bad, most of the problem lies with the teachers I've had and the methods I've been taught with. Anyway, my question is, is it essential that I go back and 'fill in the missing gaps' with easier pieces such as the Bach two-part inventions, just for the sake of expanding my repertoire? Or is the wise thing to do concentrate on progressing with more difficult pieces/chalenges. I learn pieces very fast and I'm pretty confident I should 'fill in the missing gaps,' I just wanted to hear your opinions.

[desordre]

 Dear John:
 If I understood your situation, you need to do some recitals. I think that's the perfect way to balance the progressive study and the "missing gaps", as you said. By the way, it's very important to do both, always: you can't quit learning "your-level-plus-one" pieces, but it's fundamental also learning easier stuff, specially those you never played (composers, styles, etc) and general basical repertory (such as the inventions).
 As I said, plan some recitals, where you can play new things (both hard and easy), with mastered works. For instance, let's assume that you play a couple of Bach's WTC and a suite by him. That's about thirty minutes (or a bit more). With some inventions, and even some Anna Magdalena, or Little Preludes, you would have a nice, varied, interesting, all-Bach recital.
 Another example: you play Beethoven's opus 13. Why not play together some bagatelles and a theme with variations? There are lots of possibilities, and of course you must not restrict to thematic recitals. With this sonata also you shall play another ones by Haydn and Mozart. Given the fact that it's a standard, difficult work, your choice of the other two composer may be of easier sonatas. Why not the 545 by Mozart?
 Don't worry, because it's really not a problem: it happens a lot. If you want some help thinking about those, I'll be glad to provide some ideas.
 Best wishes!
 

[a1]

  Hi johnc27 ,
    i think you should play simpler pieces.
    There are still a lot of time and you should gain you technique
    with easy music. I suggest you to play Turki March a nice music.
    ( i also learning )
   
   

[mad_max2024]

I would do both
I would find easier pieces from different styles and periods to increase and vary repertoire while still working on one challenging piece at the same time to develop skills.
The easier pieces would also provide you with some distraction from the hard one.
It's sort of what i'm doing at the moment actually.

Of course I'm only an amateur, I don't know what would work professionally...

[rc]

That's kind of odd that your teachers have left you so narrow in repertoire, I thought the tendency was to broaden students horizons - by force if necessary .

Personally, I don't stop my curiousity...  All it takes is the realization "oh, seems I don't know any Schubert".  Slowly it itches at the back of my mind, what's it like to play Schubert?  Before long I find myself at the store paying for Moments Musicaux.  But I have plenty to keep busy with what my teacher assigns me, so I may just play a few bars here and there...  Until I start getting into it, and then I completely forget about the prescribed curriculum in favor of some Schubert.

I think it may irritate the hell out of my teacher that I'm sometimes ignoring the lesson plan for my own agenda, but I know I learn a lot quicker & better when I'm following my curiousity.  Though he may sigh when I bring up something extracurricular I've been working on, by the end he often seems to have enjoyed it and is ocassionally impressed.

JohnC, you ended your post saying you're confident that you should fill in the missing gaps, so that is what will be best for you.  It could only make you a more well-rounded musician.  Since most of it will be technically easy for your skill level, that means you can focus more on questions of musicality in the different styles, which is where all the fun is anyways.

I'm curious, what are the methods you've been learning from all this time?