My First Concert - Need Advice :)

[benedict park]

Hi everybody!

I don't know if the Niagara International Music Festival is that famous or anything, but my teacher Alexander Sokol managed to get me a spot in one of the concerts. I have been playing for about 3 years now, and am performing Beethoven's Sonata #3 Opus 2 #3 at August 12. So I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I am having the most trouble at the third page of the fourth movement. I practiced a lot, but i don't think i can do it "perfectly" at the concert.

Thanks! See ya!

Benedict Park

[ramseytheii]

Hi everybody!

I don't know if the Niagara International Music Festival is that famous or anything, but my teacher Alexander Sokol managed to get me a spot in one of the concerts. I have been playing for about 3 years now, and am performing Beethoven's Sonata #3 Opus 2 #3 at August 12. So I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I am having the most trouble at the third page of the fourth movement. I practiced a lot, but i don't think i can do it "perfectly" at the concert.

Thanks! See ya!

Benedict Park

I had a teacher that used to give me this advice: whatever you do, don't throw up onstage.  And if you do, don't start crying.

Walter Ramsey

[furtwaengler]

I had a teacher whose advice was, "If you start to get in trouble, sneeze."

I had a teacher that used to give me this advice: whatever you do, don't throw up onstage.  And if you do, don't start crying.

Walter Ramsey

Having nothing at all to do with music, this comment immediately reminded me of a dubious moment in the history of the Denver Nuggets basketball team. It involved forward Rodney White throwing up all over the New York Knicks' free throw line...in Madison Square Garden...with the great Marv Albert making the call, "Oh, Rondey White! No one wants to see that..."   

Though a bit funny, it makes me sick thinking about it...I think Stephan Marbury cried.

[invictious]

I am having the most trouble at the third page of the fourth movement. I practiced a lot, but i don't think i can do it "perfectly" at the concert.

Easy, use the pedal, excessively.

[tengstrand]

Some really clever answers, guys.

The op.2 nr.3 is one of the most technically difficult ones, I think. I will put up a masterclass on youtube on Aug 9th, when this student will play it:

The masterclass will be in the morning, and should be up in the evening, hope it's not too late since it's just a few days before you concert. Good luck!

Per

[teresa_b]

It's OK if you don't play it "perfectly"!  Truly, a few slips will not matter--Just remember why you are doing it!  You love music, you love to make glorious Beethoven a reality, and you are accomplishing far more at that moment than the people who are just sitting there listening!   

Best of luck--
Teresa

[benedict park]

Easy, use the pedal, excessively.

Unfortunately, it's a part where there are a lot of fast staccato's . But the place im performing in is pretty echo-y so...maybe that will help?

[ramseytheii]

Easy, use the pedal, excessively.

Haha - I wish I had thought of that.

Walter Ramsey

[m]

Hi everybody!

I don't know if the Niagara International Music Festival is that famous or anything, but my teacher Alexander Sokol managed to get me a spot in one of the concerts.

Is it the same A. Sokol, who used to study with L. Naumov? Where is he now?

Best, M

[benedict park]

I dunno who L. Naumov is, but he won 4 international competitions.

[invictious]

Unfortunately, it's a part where there are a lot of fast staccato's . But the place im performing in is pretty echo-y so...maybe that will help?

Sneeze  and cough a lot.

[cloches_de_geneve]

Think of how interesting and expressive Cortot's wrong notes sounded. Until late in his life, when he played almost exclusively wrong notes, they somehow fitted into the picture, did not seem to matter much. Also think of what Arrau said in his book, that in the 1930 playing lots of wrong notes was considered a sign of genius. He obviosuly could not qualify as a genius, since he was genuinely unable to hit a wrong key.

[benedict park]

ok...But not many people would know that quote...would they?

[ramseytheii]

Think of how interesting and expressive Cortot's wrong notes sounded. Until late in his life, when he played almost exclusively wrong notes, they somehow fitted into the picture, did not seem to matter much. Also think of what Arrau said in his book, that in the 1930 playing lots of wrong notes was considered a sign of genius. He obviosuly could not qualify as a genius, since he was genuinely unable to hit a wrong key.

I prefer this by Josef Lhevinne:

"Because in his later years Rubinstein was now and then inclined to miss a note or so in the course of a recital, indulgent students have assumed that since the message of the master composer is so much more important than the little matters of technical details, they can improve upon Rubinstein and leave out a great many more notes."

Walter Ramsey

[pianistimo]

benedict,  i assume you are talking about the sixths on that page because there are octaves there, too - but also on the last page.  if the octaves giving you difficulty on the third page - they'd give you difficulty at the end.  you should ask for specific technical advice and work it out.  don't fudge.  fudging is for fudgers.  (said from someone who once skipped an entire page of a beethoven sonata.  hmmm.  that's also an idea).

as i see it (and you could ask a multitude of people here) you lock your thumb/pinky into a sixth mode (VERY LOOSE WRIST) and just stay very very close to the keys - almost a glissando - but with these little staccatos as if you have alzheimers.  i'd have to try it to prove it.  don't do the 'high jumps.'

[pianistimo]

hmm.  i just tried another thing - which was somewhat the opposite - having a high semi-locked wrist (which i rarely do) and for this particular case - can play it fast this way.  just practice a little 'wave.'  it is bad technique but for the small amount of time that you are doing it - it could work!  if you had to play the entire piece this way - your wrist would get sore.  what does your teacher suggest in this passage?

somehow, for me, having the 'wave' from a high wrist instead of a low wrist makes movement up the keyboard faster.  think of 'the claw'  and you've got the concept i'm talking about.  interested to hear what others say.

[benedict park]

Ironically, I have no difficulty at the end. Except the trills. Im horrible at trills lol!

[invictious]

Ironically, I have no difficulty at the end. Except the trills. Im horrible at trills lol!

Replace them with straight notes, or slow trills, or mordents.

or glissandos...

[benedict park]

I don't think its a good place to do those things. It's about 5 seconds+ straight trills.