Royally Doomed. I summon the power of PS

[invictious]

What would you say, if someone said to you 'I want you to learn the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto Number 1, just the Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso part (first few pages, before the allgro con spirito, for those who don't know it very well) in a month?'


That's what happened to me.
and the concerto that I just finished learning was Haydn in D Major.  .


Someone kill me?

or rather, HELP ME.

[phil13]

I'm looking at it right now.

It's only 7 pages, and most of that is chords and octaves- pretty straightforward. Looks as if the cadenza and the few arpeggios here and there are the only real problems. I hope you have fairly large hands for this. 

Perhaps someone who has played the concerto could guide you better on how to practice it, or, as you seem to be in doubt about it, if you should take it on at all.

Phil

[m]

What would you say, if someone said to you 'I want you to learn the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto Number 1, just the Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso part (first few pages, before the allgro con spirito, for those who don't know it very well) in a month?'


That's what happened to me.
and the concerto that I just finished learning was Haydn in D Major.  .


Someone kill me?

or rather, HELP ME.

That's called "Eyes afraid, but hands are working". Funny, I had almost similar story with this Concerto, but I had to learn 2nd and 3rd movements in 18 days to play with orchestra (I already knew the 1st mvmnt). 8-10 hours a day did the trick.

I'd suggest to start with cadenza, esp. the passage which goes down. Play the RH with 234 234. Then go to the arpeggio passages part. Don't rush to the top, but on the contrary, learn it holding the tempo back in the end. This way you will never miss top notes.
The dotted chords part can be tricky. Play the first chord lightly, bouncing right into the second. Think about it not as two chords, but as one wave.
Practice a lot and everything will be allright.

[invictious]

Forget it, I am skipping the Cadenza, I am going to die.
I found someone capable of playing the orchestra part, so that's sorted.
Hmm
The arpeggios are going to be the most difficult part ever, damn.
My hands can stretch 1.5 octaves, no worries.
What I am worried is about how unpianistic this piece feels.
I love to freak other people out by showing them the chords, it's just..damn man..

As said before, the arpeggios will be the main problem (reminds me of Reflet's dan l'eau), and since i am such a wuss to attempt the cadenza, anyone provide a few pointers for the arpeggios?

[invictious]

HELP! I need help with the arpeggios, without the cadenza, it is still difficult enough.

Buuurrrgghh..

[pianistimo]

take a look at james francis cooke's ideas for arpeggios.  seems he has all kinds of ideas for approaching different ones.  i don't have tchaikovsky's first PC score.  can you post the section you are wondering about.

[m]

HELP! I need help with the arpeggios, without the cadenza, it is still difficult enough.

Buuurrrgghh..

Could you be more specific what is the problem? Then we might take it from there.

What is your teacher saying?

[invictious]

Nothing in particular, because i don't have one anymore.
The usual problem, I just can't hit the notes.
Maybe I should just skip it..I am getting frustrated.