Hi there,my teacher and I are considering starting the 1st movement of the moonlight sonata, so I can work it during summer and would like to know how it grades.I have seen in the graded chart list that the whole sonata is graded 8.What would be the level of the 1st movement? (1 to 10).I love it, but I don't want to get frustated because of its difficulty.I am an adult beginner, started with 25years and have been taking lessons for 9 months.Thanks in advance.Recorded 3 weeks ago:[VIDEO UNAVAILABLE](I can do better though)
One to ten the first movement is an 8 or 9.
So we have got level 4 on the one hand, on the other we have level 8 or 9...I know I am miles, ages or even several "lives" away to play the piece with that "something" it takes to make it sound as it's componser wanted to, but:-is it too early for me to start this piece?-is there a possibility to "spoil" a piece if you beginn it too early?
Sorry, I can't agree with that. That would make it about Grade 7 or 8.What would you class as a 10 (1-10)?
Scarlatti K. 380 is given around a 5 or 6 in grade which would make it around between 6 and 8 on a scale of 1-10. The first movement is a lot harder (to me) than this sonata.Let's also consider the fact that the student has only been studying for 9 months. He asked how difficult it would be. You give a rating according to grading. Ah give a rating according to how hard this piece is going to be for the individual to execute at the current level. As for what I would consider 10 for a beginner with less than a year experience.Perhaps, Scarlatti K. 248 the tricky little bastard. Then again, perhaps this, and any other piece of equal or more difficulty is greater than ten for a beginner.Ah know Chopin's op 10 no 12. Everyone's favorite.For reference, ahm working on Gnomenreigen right now, which ah consider a 10 for mah level. Ahm also working on Chopin 3rd Ballade which ah consider a 7. A chopin waltz ah consider a 4 or 5. And a Scarlatti Sonata ah consider a 2.It's all subjective really. But ah will say again, mah rating was for current level, not overall level.
Ah, I understand.But the question was, "what level from 1-10 or what grade is Mvt I of Moonlight Sonata", NOT, how difficult would it be for someone who's been playing only 9 mths.Now, looking at it your way, I wouldn't bother learning anything below 8 (1-10 for my level)I'm still trying to finish Pathetique Mvt III, which I would consider about 15 (1-10 for my level)I have most of it memorised, about 0.5 pages to go.
What! You guys are crazy. Moonlight first movement is cake. Voicing blah blah blah... It's still cake. Voicing is a cinch in something that slow. I'm thinking it couldn't be more than a 5... 8 or 9 rcm? Don't the chopin etudes fall under Rcm level 9? I don't think you can compare moonlight to that kind of literature.. The third movement is fairly difficult. And the 3rd movement of the pathetique is one of the easier movements.... Oh well. Maybe i'm just nuts or something.
And the 3rd movement of the pathetique is one of the easier movements....
Hi,I have only little experience with the grades system. I do see pieces sometimes graded higher than others while I myself would grade it the other way around. The point is, what is in fact 'difficult'? That differs from person to person. I find pieces difficult that have a lot of jumping chords etc. Where you have to take your eyes of the score for an instance. But when I now the piece by heart, I don't have any problems with jumping chords or the piece itself (as long as it is not too 'difficult' of course). In other words, my sightreading is the problem with those pieces, not the technical playing of it. For other people, this may not be the case at all, but something else. Just an example.I started playing when I was 26 - so about your age - and I could technically play the moonlight sonate after about 6 months. I started with it after 3, without any musical background so I think thats quite alright. At least others did. However, I still play the piece about every week and there is always room for improvement. I certainly play it a lot better than I did before and I believe will do it better next year. The point is, when can you actually say you're done with it? I think that people who say they master this piece (or any piece) after 2 or 3 months do not actually master it, but are simply satisfied with their performance too soon. Do you think that Horowitz was ever 'done' with a piece that was relatively easy for him to play? Or Emil Gilels or other great pianists? Do you think they practised for hours and hours only to keep the technical parts going? I think if their attitude was like that, they would not be such great communicators of music because in the end that is what it is all about.In other words, certainly start with it if you want to play it and make it beautiful!GJ
The hardest parts of the entire piece, ah suspect, will be keeping the thumb quiet in the right hand, the crescendos to subito piano, and phrasing with the left hand. This takes a lot of practice. .
Frankly it bores me, and I can't put emotion into a piece that I am bored by. I play many slow pieces and are not bored by them, but this one I just can't play/ I thought I could, now I realise I can't.
Frankly it bores me, and I can't put emotion into a piece that I am bored by.