Furthering myself

[awayfrompiranhas]

Hello
I've been playing piano for 3 years
and i had a fantastic teacher the first year but  for the last two I've had a useless one
She doesn't remark on my technique so i don't know if i'm doing anything wrong
she doesn't really push me to learn scales until its my examination time
i've learned to research techniques and scales and hanon excersises and now pick my own songs
i don't know why my mom keeps her
anyway, this rant aside, i've hit  a rut

i was wondering if there were any specific techniques anybody would recommend i practice
and i'd also like recommendations for new songs to learn

some of the lastest one's i've done are
hungarian dance 5
chopin nocturne op.9 no.2
the entertainer
mozart fantasie in D
and a few two-part bach songs (the most irritating)

i'd like to further my skills
but don't know of any songs
please help?

[gerryjay]

dear piranhas:
welcome!

first, and foremost, you're not talking about songs (that presume the existence of lyrics), but pieces, or works, or many other names. not songs.

given your previous repertory, i think the most important thing by now is to tackle a classical sonata, one of the lighter ones. basic suggestions:
 - mozart: sonata k. 545 or k.282
 - beethoven: a sonata from opus 49;

apart from that, i think you could dig deeper into the two-part inventions: they are wonderful masterpieces, and you'll learn a lot playing that.

however, the most important issue by now is your teacher. if you don't like her, why don't you talk to your parents? there are many teachers out there, and you don't have to stick to one you dislike or don't trust.

best!

[gerryjay]

ps: give a little time to the search feature of the forum, and read a couple of threads. you'll be amazed by the amount of valuable info that is already here.

[hyrst]

I  agree Classical Sonatas would be a good developing ground.  Try some of the Scarlatti or Kuhlau - they tend to be more organised techincally.  Also Burgmuller opus 100 has some excellent and probably appropriate pieces.

[go12_3]

studying and playing sonatinas are great.  I love Diabelli's sonatinas also.  The book "The Joy of Sonatinas,"  which introduces several sonatinas by various composers which is great for students and continuing techers.