Hungarian Rhapsody no2 Friska critique (if you want) also other questions/help..

[mjin1]

Hello. I started playing the piano when i was very young, but my practice was inconsistent and I didn't start taking it seriously until about 3 years ago. I started taking lessons about 2 and a half years ago. I spent about a year and a half working tirelessly on the friska of Hungarian Rhapsody no2 because I really enjoyed the song. This is the culmination of my efforts:

PS: Most other videos on my youtube were done quite a while ago, so don't judge my playing from the rest of them, haha. I haven't gotten around to redoing the castlevania pieces.


Please be nice with your criticism, this is nowhere near a perfect run through of this piece. I spent the most time on the beginning of the piece, with all the fast repeating c#s, then i spent a great deal of time on the repeating c#'s using your pinky in your right hand. I believe these passages to be the most difficult of the entire piece to get up to a very fast tempo. The ending octaves did not come out as fast as I'd hoped, but I admittedly neglected them for the beginning of the piece. I simply spent all of my time doing those beginning passages.

While I plan on getting the piece cleaner and faster in some areas, I'm satisfied with how this run through turned out.


That being said, I haven't played the piece in around 4 months or so, because it was just stressing me out way too much. By the time I took that video in january, it would make me sick to think about sitting down and practicing it. Around early March, I decided to take my teachers advice, and give it a long rest so that it will hopefully get better when I bring it back in the future.

I've been working on the 6th Etude of the Grandes Etudes de Paganini since March, and it's been quite different, but still very difficult. I thought it would be a step down from the rhapsody, and while it may not be as fast, it's still grueling (I'm looking at you, variation 6.)

Anyways, one of my main problems is that I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. and I know everybody says that, but mine is very real. I have had it my entire life, and it has caused me great distress. Well ever since I've started concentrating on very technical piano work, it seems to have leaked into my practice and it's really messing with me..... Sometimes now I cannot tell what I'm even playing because i'm  so worried about if my technique is right. Even if i may get the notes right, I worry about how my hands feel, and often end up not even sure what I played just 2 seconds ago. i'm probably going to find a doctor for this, because it is insanely difficult to deal with, but I wanted to ask if it really matters if I leave a slow repitition not perfect as my last repitition for a certain passage? I read about how important the 'last repitition' is in slow practice, and ever since then, I always get stuck doing the last one because i always think I am messing the technique up.. And not even something technical either.. I've sat there playing a G minor chord for an extra 30 minutes because I wasn't sure if i was pressing down the notes at the time.. ..... surely it's OCD, i know, but I still want to know what you guys think about 'the last repitition' being so important, and if it would be ok just to leave it alone even if it wasn't perfect.

Thank you.

[jgallag]

First off, nice job!

Okay, honestly, I've never tried learning this piece. I want to, but I don't think I'm ready yet (meaning, I'd rather get the repertoire I was assigned done first, and not work on this simultaneously). The only thing I'd have to say is I'd like more melody. I know you worked very hard on those repeated notes, and I commend you, but they're simply too loud.

And as an answer to your question, yes, I do believe in the importance of the last repetition. I follow that rule always. Sometimes, I break down the passage I was working so I can give the first half that perfect repetition and I'll rework the whole second half the next day. In my practice journal, I'll only write down that I did the first half, as that was the only goal actually achieved. BTW, if you think the last repetition rule sucks, try this: It's called the 5(10) Repeats Game. You challenge yourself to repeat the passage 5(10) times perfectly, in a row. If you have one imperfect repetition, you start over. My teacher loves this game, as it's intended to force her students to think consciously about each repetition and mentally prepare for it. We (her students) hate it.

[mjin1]

 
 Thank you so much for your response. I agree with you on the repeated notes. Partly I think the camera kind of eats up the ring of my piano making it seem very loud, but there's no question that the repeated notes need to be quieter. When I started this piece I was totally new to that technique so I suppose it's long term learning. I plan on working on making these c#s quieter and more under control when I pick this piece back up in the future.

I see your point about the last repitition. I'll keep that game in mind... Sounds devilish :p

I also like the idea of breaking down a repitition or a passage to make the perfect repitition easier. Thanks for the advice.
 

[jjs238]

Mjin1,

Congratulations on your OCD, I mean that in a good way. I couldn't find your video as it has been removed. I have OCD along with many other spectrum issues you could say but I only find it makes me play much better.

Sure, I'll have some odd days like today when I practiced this song for 10 hours, yes. New Years Eve and this is what I did during the day, lol. I find that I stay more focused at the keyboard after I've cleaned the house and any mess near my piano. It always helps me to practice knowing that everything else is done. I'm sure you know how that works.

You will only be the best with this condition. Just remember one thing though, use your OCD to get the notes right along with proper fingering. Do not learn it wrong. This song is too complex to learn parts wrong and have to redo things. Also, keep in mind that Liszt will want you to flow freely. I think he said at some point that he never wanted a carbon copy of himself so take that to heart. He's basically saying that he wants it played with artistic impression which will be a little different for each of us. This also means, let your OCD go for his music. You don't want to sound like a player piano roll now do you?

You'll outshine others I'm sure as when you think like that, you know when something isn't quite right and go back to make things perfect or the best you can. How many times have you just replayed the introduction to this piece about 30 times (in 10 minutes time) until you think it sounds just right or could be a little softer. Keep your OCD in check for the stickler songs and not Liszt, he would want it to be perfect but with your own flowing interpretation I think.