I need help

[valor]

Hello, I need some help in learning.

I've been playing for 3 years now and considered to be one of the most advanced students at my school (althogh it really isn't true because there are few dedicated students at my school), however, i learn on my own and it really isn't helping me improve my playing. I have a teacher but he really doesn't teach me, he isn't *very* good at the piano himself, and when he gives me a peice to work on its extremely easy to learn/ play ( except for the bach fugue and prelude he gave me the beginning of last school year which i can learn easy enough now). I'm not sure what my "grade" is but these are the names of peices i've learned during these 3 years (not perfectly though, especially for the dynamic part):

Final Fantasy VII theme (easy)
Hikari from Kingdom Hearts (easy)
Kujas theme from Final FantasyIX(easy)
Final battle- piano collection version from Final Fantasy IX(difficult)
Aurons theme from Final Fantasy X(easy)
Thunder plains from Final Fantasy X(easy)
To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X(easy)
Hes a pirate from Pirates of the caribean(medium)
James bond theme (medium)
Moonlight Sonata 1st movement(easy)
Fur Elise(medium)
Shendoah(easy)
Prelude- BWV 900(easy/medium)
Fugue(easy/medium)
Solfegietto(medium)
Pierette by Dimitri Kabalevesky(easy)
Hungarian dance(easy)
Minuet by Boccherini(easy)
Funeral march- Chopin, Frederic (easy)

and others i can't remember right noe

Most of these songs are from games and are simpler versions of the original, the last three are from a site called 8notes. Can some give me a list of peices i should work on that'll improve my playing significantlly? heres some extra info about my strengths and weaknesses: Right hand is quicker than the left, it trakes a while for me to learn chords, i hit a lot of speed walls, not good at dynamics, sight reading

[beethovenlover]

Well, I think you just answered your own question by telling us your weaknesses. You probably aren't ready to move on to really advanced pieces because you haven't tackled any of your problems with technical issues. I don't know much about the Final Fantasy stuff, but I know a lot about the Moonlight. It isn't easy. Sure, it's easy enough to get the notes out. You can probably sightread it. But, to actually play it in all of its grandeur and beauty, is not easy. I advise you to slow down and take time to play your pieces musically. Dont' just pound them out and call them done. Of course, I don't really know how you play so I may be way off base here.

Have you talked to your teacher about this? He may not know that you want to move a little faster. Let him know and see what he suggests first.

If you don't want to listen to any of this advice, then here's a suggestion for a piece. Beethoven Sonata op. 49 no. 2. It shouldn't pose any major problems and is really a joy to play.

All the best!

[valor]

Well i havn't told him any of this but since he hasn't given me any real good peice i assumed he doesn't really think i'm ready or something, i'll tell him when school begins.

this is how i play, i start out my peices by learning them slolwy then i get bored/ fustrated and begin to speed up. depending on the difficulty of the peice it could take a weak to a 1 month to learn completely. if its a really difficult peice i practice at least 2 hours a day.

[amelialw]

you are only pronbably an intermediate student now...
all the songs from games/movies don't help you solve any problems or learn any skills, and you haven't learnt any pieces that I would give to my beginner students to help them in anyway.
You should'nt try moving on to any advanced pieces, honestly, do you know how much harder they are?

Let me reccomend you a few classical pieces to work on
- Schumann: Album for the young
- A few of Bach's pieces from the Anna Magdalene Album
- A few of the easier Kulah/Clementi/Beethoven Sonatinas

[ryan2189]

I would say that the problem lies more in your teacher. You have the same feeling I did with a teacher I had a while ago. When I was really starting to notice the lack of playing ability, experience, and general musical knowledge, I decided that I would take the situation into my own hands and find a new teacher. It will work as long as you are committed to learning and listening, but from your posts, it sounds as though you really care about your piano playing.

Besides, the summer is almost over, now would be the best time to switch, especially with school starting soon.

[ryan2189]

Also, a note to add....

I wouldn't recommend trying all of this on your own. It seems to me like your sitting in the cockpit of an airplane, and not knowing how all of the instruments work. If you try to experiment, then it may lead to disaster (literally  ) You need someone who can teach you everything you must know so that you can fly that plane and tackle all of the loops and turns that come with it. And don't put all of the pressure on yourself. No one is able to accurately analyze their playing without a teacher's assistance. (Or a good one to be more specific) You will learn so much, things that you may have been completely oblivious to before. Get a good teacher, this is what will help to improve your playing.

[amelialw]

yes, do get a new teacher

[valor]

Also, a note to add....

I wouldn't recommend trying all of this on your own. It seems to me like your sitting in the cockpit of an airplane, and not knowing how all of the instruments work. If you try to experiment, then it may lead to disaster (literally  ) You need someone who can teach you everything you must know so that you can fly that plane and tackle all of the loops and turns that come with it. And don't put all of the pressure on yourself. No one is able to accurately analyze their playing without a teacher's assistance. (Or a good one to be more specific) You will learn so much, things that you may have been completely oblivious to before. Get a good teacher, this is what will help to improve your playing.

Yea, i already injured my left hand playing something i thought would make me play a bit faster, but i can't get a new teacher until the end of the year .

you are only pronbably an intermediate student now...
all the songs from games/movies don't help you solve any problems or learn any skills, and you haven't learnt any pieces that I would give to my beginner students to help them in anyway.
You should'nt try moving on to any advanced pieces, honestly, do you know how much harder they are?

Let me reccomend you a few classical pieces to work on
- Schumann: Album for the young
- A few of Bach's pieces from the Anna Magdalene Album
- A few of the easier Kulah/Clementi/Beethoven Sonatinas

I practiced a peice from the album of tghe young, first melody i think. At first i thought my teacher hadn't realized i could play better things but when i tried playing it really confused me, if i played it now it would probably still confuse me a bit lol.

could i ask a question thats a bit off topic? its about a measure in a short study that i think caused my injury, i think i found the right movement but im not 100% sure, its from this site, its called Short Stdies, Opus 821 Cah I- Czarl Crenzy No. 28 (the studies are difficult for me but i only aimed for runs in the left hand)

measure 8, the left hand plays a decending run (E flat major), E,F,E,B,G,E,B,G,E. Theres two way to play this, 2,1,2,4,1,2---- or 1,2,1,2,4,1,*2,3,5*(these three weren't shown on the paper but i felt comfortable to play this way), i chose the secound one. When i reached G with the 4th finger i could'nt cross over with my thumb using my wrist but i did it anyways. Later after my injury i saw that my elbo was locked outward and thought i should cross over from my elbo. So, are any of these movements correct?

[G.W.K]

I like Final Fantasy X tunes...I was trying to learn "Zanarkand".

I need help

Don't worry...Thalbergmad needs help too. 

G.W.K

[G.W.K]

I personally suggest you ask around on the Chat.

G.W.K

[valor]

I'm planning on learning The Ending theme (piano collection) from FFX later this year. Last time i went on chat no one would help at all, except for two people.

[G.W.K]

Yes Valor...it can be odd...the discussions in there right now are about the USA...I'll help if I can though.

G.W.K