Piano pieces, no teacher

[rlefebvr]

Hi,
I have 2 years of piano under a teacher, but at this time cannot afford one.
My interest is really Movie soundtrack themes
Somewhere in time, Legend of the falls, Pearl Harbor and the like. I am willing to learn classic stuff if it will help me however.

What I am looking for is like a top ten of pieces I should learn and in what order to help me along to play better.

Much appreciated.

[bernhard]

Are you interested in playing movie music?

If so, just get the sheet music for your favorites and work from there.

If on the ohter hand you are interested in composing movie soundtracks, try this book - it is pretty much a self teaching manual:

William Russo - Composing music - A new approach (University of Chicago Press)

[rlefebvr]

I am interested in playing and learning pieces that will help advance my technique and playing skills

[allchopin]

Well, honestly, movie music will not advance you far as a musician.  The music is not made to help people practice- it is made to sound good while the main character steals the bracelet from the tomb (or whatever movie plots do).  If you really plan on getting better than the difficulty of movie music, you should turn to classical- it will certainly humble you!
Here are ten beginner pieces, which are usually very popular (in order of how I think of some):
1) Waltz Op. 39 in Ab - Brahms
2) Prelude #1 in C - Bach
3) Pathetique Sonata mvmt. #2 - Beethoven
4) Waltz #19 in A minor - Chopin
5) Kindersczezen (sp)- About Foreign Lands and People - Schumann
6) Prelude #7 - Chopin
7) Prelude #4 - Chopin
8 ) Sonata K. 331 mvmt. 1 - Mozart (longer and harder)
9) Suite Bergamasque mvmt. 3 'Claire de Lune'- Debussy
10) Waltz in E - Brahms

These all may as well be movie themes (actually, a lot of them are) because they are immensely popular and not too tough.  For music, go to sheetmusicarchive.net- should all be there.

BTW, some good movie themes are: Cheers, Jurassic Park (main theme), The Matrix 'Clubbed to death', the Truman Show 'Truman Sleeps' (excellent one- similar to Moonlight Sonata mvmt. #1).
The theme from Somewhere in Time actually is Rachmaninoff - it is his Rhapsody #23 on a Theme of Paganini.

[minsmusic]

turn to classical- it will certainly humble you!

HA!  Not according to some of the posts I've read on these forums ....

But yes, give the classics a go.  You'll find them very rewading.

What pieces are you playing at the moment?

[rlefebvr]

Thanks for the list.

So far I can play

-Plelude in C by Bach
-Somewhere in time
-Love theme from Flashdance
-Theme from TV Incredible Hulk
-Love theme from Pearl Harbor
-Theme fro mStar Trek Voyager
-Your Song Elton John ( Accompaniment)

[minsmusic]

You might like to add the Forrest Gump Suite.  It's enjoyable to play and great to listen to.

Have you heard of "Jessica's Theme" from the Australian movie "THe Man From Snowy River".    This has a lovely feel to it.

Every movie theme fanatic needs to play Henry Mancini's Pink Panter Theme (even just to satisfy friends' requests)

"Ashokan Farewell" from a TV series is also nice and flowing.

For the classics:

Schumman's "From Foreign Lands and People" has a 'movie theme' feel about it.  Light and very pretty. (as already cited above )

Pahcabell's "Canon in D"  has been featured in hundreds of movies.

Beethoven' "Moonlight Sonata" a little sombre but full of expression.

Grieg's "Anitra's Dance" is a good challenge for the level you're at and very rewarding to play - nice contrast between theme A and B.

Bach's "Air on a G String" - beautiful.  

I've suggested these pieces because of their strong melodic line - you come away singing 'the tune'.  And they're very well known.

Let us know how you go!

[rlefebvr]

I am going to start with Bach's "Air on a G String".

Because I think I can play it, (with lots of practice):-)

and because I love it.

Now I only have to find out if there is a "real version for piano" or if they are all transcriptions. If so maybe I should try something else.

[minsmusic]

I have the 'real' thing if you can't find it on the net.  Send me a private message through this forum and I'll send it to you.