Dear Pianistimo...

[concerto_love]

Ok, cut it out.... It's all my fault, sorry.....

[pianochick93]

Don't worry, they're always like this.

[db05]

Okay, everyone. Stay on topic. Arguing too far from topic would not help concerto_love. 

[concerto_love]

aaw, thanks db, you're so kind.... 

[db05]

Dear Ma'am Pianistimo,

I hope you've read my reply on here, and that you can answer my questions here and in my threads. I'm going to school tomorrow, and now I'm really nervous. I barely studied and my guitar exams are on the 30th, and there's a recital in September, finals in October, and auditions for the grand recital in November... Why do I feel so...?

[pianistimo]

tell me nothing except about the 'grand recital.'  let the rest go to 'hell in a handbasket.'  make the grand recital, ok.  give yourself some time.  november is good.  you see, nothing good comes when one only has a day or a week to prepare.  may as well just put on a poker face and get it over with.  teachers know anyways.  and, the better you are - the worse it is.  beethoven slapped one of his sixteen year old students on the hand, walked out the door, and never came back.  but, then, i think later composed something for this student.

don't worry.  it'll be alright (cringes).  you can always be sick the first few months and suddenly get better in november.  what are you playing?  or, planning to play.

ps back in the day...i recorded myself playing my piano music and listened to it at night.  the right tempos, the phrasing i wanted, everything.  if there was a part of the music i couldn't visualize or quite remember - i'd go to the piano in the middle of the night.  it's a bit obsessive.

[db05]

tell me nothing except about the 'grand recital.'  let the rest go to 'hell in a handbasket.'  make the grand recital, ok.  give yourself some time.  november is good. 
...
don't worry.  it'll be alright (cringes).  you can always be sick the first few months and suddenly get better in november.  what are you playing?  or, planning to play.

ps back in the day...i recorded myself playing my piano music and listened to it at night.  the right tempos, the phrasing i wanted, everything.  if there was a part of the music i couldn't visualize or quite remember - i'd go to the piano in the middle of the night.  it's a bit obsessive.

This is so crazy. Grand recital is a competition. After auditions, there's eliminations and then the recital itself. Plus, I have to play something fairly advanced because of my age bracket. I may audition for either Classical or Pop catogory. Teacher just assigned me "No Other Love", the one based on a Chopin Etude. So it's pop but based on classical. But my history teacher (who you know, I worship and adore) would cringe if he found out!

I want to play classical too (to make Sir happy), but what piece? How? It has to be advanced and at least moderato. And I don't know if I need other pieces for elims and finals. Whatshouldido whatshouldido whatshouldido? 

[pianistimo]

hmmm.  why is the history teacher expecting more of you than your regular piano teacher?  odd.  well, since this IS a classical or pop concert - maybe he feels you can get in with a pop song and end with a bang by playing the real thing.  a real chopin etude.  get packing girl.  work on an etude.  shut your eyes and pick one - or pick the same one that your pop tune is based on.  that would impress them that you can play both.

don't wait for your teachers to assign you things.  just start on both.  also, find out the rules/regulations and be prepared for each step of the way.  often times, students rely on teachers for all the information.  just go get it.  (typically, one should have something prepared from each era - baroque, classical, romantic, contemporary).  just re-work all the stuff you've ever worked and consider it part of your program.  play it everyday.  non stop.  and, go through 1/2 one day and 1/2 the other day. 

what will impress the judges might not be that you play any of it perfectly - but that you are practiced and have been practicing for three months straight.  something good is bound to come of it.  even if it means you get a new teacher!  susan

[concerto_love]

db, can I get that "no other love"'s score or mp3? Just wanna know, what is it like, actually?

[db05]

Haven't heard the pop song yet, but you can find the score for the classical piece. Chopin - Etude in E Op.10 No.3
Do it a bit faster, and you get the pop song

https://www.pianostreet.com/piano_sheet_music/Chopin-118/Etude-op-10-3-E-Major.html
Omg, it's Level 8 here. 

[concerto_love]

thank u, please tell me if u have one... ! 

[db05]

hmmm.  why is the history teacher expecting more of you than your regular piano teacher?  odd.

The history teacher is the dean of our school. I just call him "history teacher" on here because that's what he teaches in conservatory. In our school, he teaches piano and the entire integrated music course. He HATES pop music. But my grades and my life (and my fragile heart, too) depend on him...

I'm worried about finals in October now, because if I try for grand recital, which is reeeeeeeaaally stretching it, I won't be able to study my exam pieces. Whatshouldido whatshouldido whatshouldido? 

[pianistimo]

ok.  if i were you - i'd tell him you are frustrated by the lack of type of direction at his school.  tell him how much you want piano lessons from HIM and if he can work you into his schedule as soon as possible.  tell him you don't want to be playing a pop song for your entry but cannot seem to ready yourself with the current situation/teacher for something more appropriate.  ask him NOW for direction - so that when it comes your turn to play (even if you play poorly to start) he will know you are serious about entering the 'grand recital.'  why not make your dreams come true?

hope that he listens to you and you are not a casualty.  however, if the worst happens and he doesn't quite understand you - continue on doing exactly as your previous teacher tells you.  prepare the pop music - but at the same time -work on things that you feel are appropriate for the rest of the months ahead.  maybe you will be able to sneak in a few lessons with the dean anyways.  two or three?

if i were you , i'd quit talking about your other homework in the presence of piano teachers.  they don't like to hear any kind of excuses.

[concerto_love]

dear pianistimo, I really lost someone here.... 

[db05]

ok.  if i were you - i'd tell him you are frustrated by the lack of type of direction at his school.  tell him how much you want piano lessons from HIM and if he can work you into his schedule as soon as possible.
...
if i were you , i'd quit talking about your other homework in the presence of piano teachers.  they don't like to hear any kind of excuses.

He knows I want lessons from him. But it's impossible. Integrated music + music history + private piano lessons = no time at all! I haven't told him about the grand recital yet, as I'm afraid of what he'd say.

The other work will be fine, I think I'm doing quite well in spite of everything. It's just the piano exam, which my piano teacher apparently forgot when I said, "Okay, Ma'am, I'll try for grand recital..." I'll check with my teacher first to confirm, both about the piano exam and the recitals. I hope she makes a good compromise to take care of the grade. But I doubt any deal that includes pop music would satisfy my dear Sir.

We'll see how it goes...