Am I mad????

[steve24677]

Hi All,

I just wondered what you think my chances are..

I have just got a new piano, have not played for 5 years but was around grade 5 ish.

Do you think I would be able to learn the Pathetique Sonata? or am I just mad??

ps Im 42 now.......!!

Just wondering...

Steve.

[rc]

I think you could do it, if you've got enough daily free time and are willing to work at it for a while.  I'm just that way, it's a belief I hold in faith that anyone can do anything if they put in enough effort.  I'm still proving it to myself

...and there's no way we could know, the only option is to prove it to yourself.

I would recommend not diving straight into it, but working up to it with easier pieces over the longterm.  The danger is getting frustrated on something that's not yet withing grasp, spending months on one piece kills motivation. There's a lot of excellent music that's easier to play, that sounds great and is fun to perform, and can act as stepping stones. 

If you're like me, you'll wind up discovering and loving a lot of different music along the way.  For years I forgot about my original goal, until one day I realized I've achieved it somewhere along the way.  I was enjoying the supposed "stepping stones" too much to notice.

[kyliec]

Hi
glad to hear you're back into piano.
I think the first movt of the Pathetique is about grade 8, the other 2 around grade 7. It is also a l-o-n-g piece to learn and perfect.

Perhaps starting with something easier and working up to the Pathetique? t is probably more motivating to achieve some early wins, then struggle through a piece which may be (at this stage) too difficult.

 Have a look at some of the grade books for grade 5 or 6, they will likely contain some Beethoven to start you off.

Good luck with the return to piano
Kylie

[hyrst]

Hi Steve,
I think that if you can read the music well enough and understand the principles of interpretation and practice, you are well able to play this Sonata.  It will help if your hand is a good size, which it probably is as a man. 

Start out carefully and slowly.  Practice moving your fingers well, aiming for the notes and working with each phrase for all its qualities.  It will take some time and committment of regular practice to get your fingers 'fit' again, but there are many advantages to being a mature learner.

With daily practice, I believe you can go a long way.  The slower movement is 5th grade by AMEB, Australia - the difficulty with this movement is the voicing and balance between parts.  The rest is at 8th grade - but just be very relaxed and precise with the left tremelos.

Good luck and above all, enjoy!

[pianochick93]

With daily practice, I believe you can go a long way.  The slower movement is 5th grade by AMEB, Australia - the difficulty with this movement is the voicing and balance between parts.  The rest is at 8th grade - but just be very relaxed and precise with the left tremelos.

Ahh, that explains why I can play the 2nd mvt, but I am finding the other two a little harder.
Steve, I am at grade 5 level, and though I certainly can't play the first or second movement perfectly (Havn't really tried the 3rd much), I am having great fun playing them. For the tremolos in the first movement. Start slow and work your way up to fast when you know the notes, and could find them backwards in your sleep. That way you will only have to concentrate on getting the tremolos correct, and will already know the right hand very well.

[steve24677]

Thanks Guys n Gals,,

Ill keep you posted how I go on,,

Its just learning the music then getting up to speed,,,, I am about 7 bars in, but thats not bad for a few hours i think....

Thanks

Steve.

[guendola]

If you are mad enough to try it, try it! It won't hurt. Enthusiasm is a bad teacher but it can speed up learning enormously. Just don't expect too much in short time and be prepared to put the piece aside if it turns out to be too hard yet. Nine months ago I picked up piano playing again, after almost 28 years. Today I am better than I ever was. The learning curve doesn't depend on age, at least not yet (I am a bit older than you).

[shaunarundell]

Steve,

It is exactly my motivation - even the same piece. I'm  48. I stopped playing 30 years ago at 5th grade about age 15. I have been playing again for about 12 months - pretty hard - 2 hours a days - in a very structured way (see Bernhard's posts on practice) and I am having lessons every week, both theory and performance. I have learned the easy Beethoven Sonatas (Op 49 1 & 2 and Op 79) - a great deal of hard work - and i have also learned a lot of other pieces, Bach, Scarlatti, Chopin along the way - Mostly around 6th/7th grade. I think another year and I will be ready for the Pathetique. But that's just the first step - I am hoping , that with a lot of hard work to be within striking distance of the Waldstein within 3-4 years.

If you a going to put in 1000's of hours of practice over a lot of years - don't waste all that time - take the structure approach - advance in a progressive measured way in terms of difficulty and learn your technique, theory, harmony as you go

shaun

[ryanyee]

If you are mad enough to try it, try it! It won't hurt. Enthusiasm is a bad teacher but it can speed up learning enormously. Just don't expect too much in short time and be prepared to put the piece aside if it turns out to be too hard yet. Nine months ago I picked up piano playing again, after almost 28 years. Today I am better than I ever was. The learning curve doesn't depend on age, at least not yet (I am a bit older than you).

and if the piece i try isn't hard at all but i still can't play it without any mistakes? then what should i do? because i've been playing the italian concerto and the concerto in d minor(alessandro marcello) for over 3 months and i'm still not playing it well enough to get like at least 85% in the exams and i was told that i shouldn't be trying those pieces at 14. is that true? i personally don't think so though. what makes a piece unsuitable for a 14 yr old actually? complicated hand movements like the ones in the last movement of beethoven's 26th sonata?

[slobone]

and if the piece i try isn't hard at all but i still can't play it without any mistakes? then what should i do? because i've been playing the italian concerto and the concerto in d minor(alessandro marcello) for over 3 months and i'm still not playing it well enough to get like at least 85% in the exams and i was told that i shouldn't be trying those pieces at 14. is that true? i personally don't think so though. what makes a piece unsuitable for a 14 yr old actually? complicated hand movements like the ones in the last movement of beethoven's 26th sonata?

Age isn't the issue -- I'm sure Josef Hoffmann or Rubinstein could play those pieces at 14 

Nevertheless, you have to be practical about what level you're at. If your teacher tells you a piece is too hard for you, pay attention. Naturally you want to keep progressing, but if you try to force it, it's counterproductive.

There could be any number of reasons why a piece is too difficult. One level certainly is being able to play it without making mistakes. But music making goes way beyond that, and there are pieces that require a lot of emotional and intellectual maturity. Which again can come at any age, or not at all...

[dnephi]

To be honest, if it took several hours to learn 7 bars of the Op. 13 sonata, you're wasting your time.

Daniel

[jazz-piano]

I think that if you can read the music well enough and understand the principles of interpretation and practice, you are well able to play this Sonata.  It will help if your hand is a good size, which it probably is as a man. 
Start out carefully and slowly.  Practice moving your fingers well, aiming for the notes and working with each phrase for all its qualities.  It will take some time and committment of regular practice to get your fingers 'fit' again, but there are many advantages to being a mature learner.
With daily practice, I believe you can go a long way.

I agree.

[thierry13]

To be honest, if it took several hours to learn 7 bars of the Op. 13 sonata, you're wasting your time.

Daniel

I agree. Do easier stuff because several hours should be AT LEAST the introduction page.

[steve24677]

Well I am progressing with the first movement, but thought it would be better to try some easier work to get back into it, so have managed to memorize the moonlight 1st movement , took about 10 days off and on,  now working on 2nd movement of pathetique, as you guys say its easier,,
I know it will take time but I dont think it is a waste, its a goal,

Steve...
 

[steve24677]

PS..
It took several hours because I have not read music for about 10 years... had to work out what the lines and spaces were,,,....especially the notes with extra lines added...

Have good technical ability though played in a band for ages, mostly blues, didnt need to read music,.

[ryanyee]

To be honest, if it took several hours to learn 7 bars of the Op. 13 sonata, you're wasting your time.

Daniel

well that's kinda discouraging. but i think that it depends on the piano that u're playing on cos when i tried out the italian concerto on a ritmuller upright, i couldnt even recognize my own playing! it was so beautiful that i began jumping at the piano and doing all sorts of expression i normally won't do at my own piano.

[hyrst]

Good work, Steve.  WHat an achievement, to memorise the Moonlight 1st mvt in 10 days! 

If you don't have a goal, you won't get anywhere, so keep it up.  Most goals worth while take time and work - we don't have to get there straight away.  I hoep you really enjoy your achievements.