A new teaching repertoire?

[hoffmanntales]

Hi

I have got not more than two hours every day for playing, and I really don't want to spend all this time going over and over on scales or arpeggios instead of playing the repertoire I like most, although I'm not so skilful. So I'm looking for something new to improve my technique, something different from the usual books we are used to study on (Hanon, Czerny etc.) but that sound quite pleasant and enjoyable to play as well.

I've read about some Russian teaching books with pieces agreeable to play, but as useful as the traditional techniques books are. Anybody knows them to give me some advice?

However any advice on this subject should be very appreciated!

[Colette]

if you want to use exercise books, i woud recommend Pishna...difficult to master but i think much better eqipped than hanon. it often works on left and right hand technique seperatly within a single exercise. because of its difficulty level, you can  concentrate on two or three pages at a time, and really get something done without spending hours on scales and arpeggios. the brahms exercises are also great and some of them are actually musical. if you work through these books gradually and  thoroughly you'll see results. unless u have a complete aversion to czerny, his "tocatta" is a great exercise. it's evil and long, but definately worth your time....but here's another option---one that i think is much more helpful overall. chose a chopin etude (or two) that focuses on a technical difficuly of your chosing. treat the etude as you would an exercise at first, working methodically untill the particular area of difficulty is totally mastered, then move on and learn entirely. the etudes have every technical difficulty (and more) you will enounter in traditional technique books. after all, they are called "etudes" but you have incredible music and superior "exercises" so to speak in one. if you build technique with the aid of beautiful music, you will improve more quickly, and gain new repertoire as well.

[Diabolos]

HI there.

I think that you should - as Colette already stated - go for some 'real' pieces; try to find some that include one difficulty you are troubled with. The Chopin etudes are good pieces, but really difficult; I wouldn't just start with those, and if, you should begin with 'black key' or 'revolutionary'. These two are makeable without the technical background.

By the way: You don't need to spend all of your time working on technical excercises; of course, technique is important, but it does - to an extent - come with the repertoire. If you start working on a longer piece, let's say a Rhapsody by Brahms, for example, you may devide it into a few 'etudes'; that's how you're going to work when playing are piano concerto e.g. So, don't forget playing these scales, but don't do that for too long. 30 min. is more than enough.

Regards