What next?

[Tirips]

   I am currently 17 and going to high school with little to no free time to practice....   I have been taking for about 12 years now and I am going to my first competiton this year.  I want to play a piece I recently learned, Rhapsody in Blue, but it's thirty pages and about 15 minutes of work and the maxium time limit is only 8 minutes... I need something impressive but easy enough to learn in only a few months.  I am thinking of a piece by Debussy called Clair de Lune.  I learned it last year and think it will work.... any ideas?

[MzrtMusic]

Whenever I have something  like this, where the pieces I've learned don't fit the time limit, but I'm looking for something impressive, I always go for the Khachaturian Toccata. It's much easier than it sounds, so that's cool!!! I played Clair de Lune a couple of years ago, and it's a great piece, it's just played a lot. You might want to consider something that's a little bit less played.

Hope that helps!

Love,

Sarah

[davy10tunes]

Here are a few  suggestions.
No.1 GRANADOS "Concert Allegro"
It's only just over 8 mins,sounds very impressive as it was written as a piece for graduating pianists to play back in 1903.It's not nearly as difficult as it sounds or looks on paper and it has alot of repeated sections which makes it easier to learn with your limited time.
No.2 CHAMINADE Concert Study "AUTOMNE"
It's about 7 mins, also sounds impressive but again it's really technically not very difficult.
No.3 SAINT SAENS "Allegro Appassionato" Op.70
Same as the Granados.Repeated material,impressive in performance.6 mins approx.

[davy10tunes]

It's me again.The reply box didn't give me enough space to finish.Anyway, I was going to say if you need any more suggestions just e-mail me as i'm sure I can think of plenty more pieces for you.Also Sarah's suggestion of the Khachaturian is a good one.I've also played this piece and it's possible to learn really quickly.
Good luck with the comp. Let us know what piece you decide on.
                  David

[MzrtMusic]

I totally agree with David, except for the Chaminade. I've worked on this piece, and to play it well, you have t do a lot of voicing, and there are some fingering issues. It's a great piece, and one that I reccomend you learn, but not with limited time...

Love,

Sarah

[RhiAnne]

 Why not the pour le piano suite by Debussy?

 I agree with Katchkurian Tocatta would be good, even though it is frequently played.  There are many short sontas that are flashy. I do not know if you are familiar with Giniestera 1st sonata.  It is four movements long, yet it goes really really fast, except for one movement.

 I want to learn this piece well someday. Hope this helps.

 Have a nice day and see you later.

[Diabolos]

Hi!

Why don't you try another Debussy Prelude, like the 2nd one? Or play one of Granados' Goyescas, very impressive pieces, rarely played and still difficult.

I don't know about that Katchaturian though; there's no real difficultyin that piece (besides the rhythms in the middle part). It's not that this piece isn't pretty; but it's not only played very often, it's just pretty easy.

Just a thought..

Regards

[RhiAnne]

 I would agree with Diablos, the K. Toccatta is not that difficult.  It sounds a whole lot harder than what it is.  Most people are not impressed when hearing that piece, if they have studied it.

 Grandados, would be good.  How about Malagueña, by Lecuana.  I mispelled his name.  I mean the advanced version.  Very impressive, a little more technique though, yet it is great once you learn it.  This is one of the few pieces I can remember I enjoyed the whole process of learning it.

 Well, see you later, and have an nice day.