Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Gershwin

[jean-luc]

Hello everybody,

I'm new on this forum, but I have signed up a month ago. So, this is my very first post here, and I would like to share my latest videos on youtube.
I would be happy if you can listen and leave a comment, any comments (even bad ones!) are accepted...

I am 43 years old, and I'm an amateur. I began to learn when I was 6, and never interrupted the piano practise. I work without a teacher since 20 years.
By the way, I live in France (Paris) and I'm sorry for my poor english.

These recordings have been made with the silent system (piano Kawai), so the sound seems to be low compared to other videos. Sorry for this too!

Thanks to you.

1-Brahms, Rhapsody no1 op.79 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4O93pxRL4&feature=channel_page

2-Brahms, Rhapsody no2 op.79 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM5Yt18WgBg&feature=channel

3-Tchaïkovsky, October From The Seasons :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMvCwJ04qNA&feature=channel

4-Gershwin, Rialto Ripples
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-e-JEVL1tg&feature=channel

[birba]

Your playing is very very polished for an "amateur".  Bravo!

[jean-luc]

Thank you Birba for your nice comment. I try to do my best!

Actually, I would like to know if the movements, the fingers attack, the arms work, the musical intentions... are correct or not.
I feel to be "flexible" (I don't know if it's the appropriate word) while I'm playing, and despite of the pianowork quantity I have, I never had muscles or tendons problems.

[birba]

I don't think anyone has to tell you that.  You, yourself, said you feel no tension in your arms and hands.  In fact, watching you, I can see you're technique is solid and "natural".  Your pinky gives it away!  It's almost always "curled" naturally in a normal hand position.  This is the position children assume when they're "guided" in their first acquaintance with the piano.  Did you study professionaly at one time?  Have you ever played the Weber moto perpetuo?  That would be a good piece for you to undertake at this time, I think.

[birba]

Sorry, it's the rondò from the first sonata, op. 24.

[jean-luc]

Thank you for this advice. This Weber's piece sounds difficult because it's very very fast (tempo 168?maybe faster!). But it can be a good work, I will try it.
I use to play some Czerny Etudes (op.740) as fingers training, maybe I should work Chopin Etudes, but I never touched them because they are so difficult to play correctly. My dream is to play the 4th op.10...

Do you know if a recording of this Rondo is available? I found a video on youtube very well played by a 13 years old boy, but it would be useful if you know a good CD recording.

[birba]

Have no idea.  My teacher recorded it for the italian radio in the prehistoric ages, and I always felt it summed up his "facile" technique that he taught me.  Don't try for the 168.  Just go through it slow with that relaxed hand position you demonstrated, and slowly speed it up to a speed where you can still maintain that relaxed hand position.  Maybe 120.  You really don't appear to have any technical problems.  JUst try all aspects of piano technique.  This Weber rondò is one of them.

[birba]

I think you should definitely start the chopin etudes. Op. 10, no. 5 and 9.  Op 25 no. 2 for starters.

[jean-luc]

Thanks again for theses advices about Chopin Etudes. Actually, I've worked only one of them (1st op.25).
Good work for the next month !