Your First Concerto

[dlu]

What was the first concerto you leared? How old were you? Did you perform it by yourself, with 2nd piano orchestral reduction, or with an orchestra (which one)? ect...

I am 14 years old and sadly haven't tackled a piano concerto, but I have plenty of time.

[thracozaag]

What was the first concerto you leared? How old were you? Did you perform it by yourself, with 2nd piano orchestral reduction, or with an orchestra (which one)? ect...

I am 14 years old and sadly haven't tackled a piano concerto, but I have plenty of time.

 Mozart K. 414, must have been about ten or so.  I got to play it with a local orchestra and a fabulous conductor, had a blast.

koji

[ahmedito]

A Vivaldi trumpet concerto, I was 13. I started the piano very late, so my first PIANO concerto was the Beethoven 1st at 17 years old. I played it with a local orchestra.

[shasta]

Mendelssohn G minor

[Motrax]

Rachy's second piano concerto.  

Started it June 3rd, I'm 18. I hope to play it with the orchestra at the University of Maryland, in maybe 2 or 3 years, when I really feel ready with the piece.

[in_love_with_liszt]

My first concerto was well, one that I wrote. I was 13, but I haven't performed it for anyone besides my family as I now wish to go back and revise alot of it, now that my technique has grown, and I have grown as a musician in general. I'm hopefully going to soon start Brahms second (god it's beautiful) and that will be my "first" concerto. And I suppose it's every pianists dream to surmount Rach. 3.  

[JK]

Rach2 in February this year when I was 18 with the Guildhall school of music and drama junior symphony orchestra.

[larse]

No, I agree with Shasta. I played Beethovens 3rd at 13. But I had a much better experience with Mendelsohn (Gm) which I played this summer.

Whats with Brahms 2nd? It's said to be one of the most difiicult piano concertos there is (because of his tendency of expanding your fingers).

I've never looked into Rach 2, but I always thought it was as hard as rach 3...

[in_love_with_liszt]

Rach 3 is harder. Although Rach 1 is one of my favorite, the end of the first movement is beautiful.

[steinway88]

Haydn's 11th conceto in D, ater 2 years of playing.

[leyton]

Well I flirted a bit with a Haydn concerto in D Major, and the Kabalevsky in D Major (I think), and I learned some of Rhapsody in Blue, but the first concerto that I actually perfected, so to speak, was the Gershwin in F Major (1st movement only, the others are boring IMO).  I fell in love with that piece.  Haven't performed it with an orchestra but I came close in a competition I entered.  I will probably tackle the Grieg, mvt 3, next.

[larse]

You should definately play 1st movement before you play 3rd movement of Griegs Am concerto. Believe me! I'm norwegian. I know that concerto better than most others.

Another thing...where do you people get your orchestras? I've never had access to a local orchestra, I don't really think they exist..

[dlu]

Don't exist? Well, there may not be any in your area but they do exist. I'm sure there is a couple orchestras in your state...most of the ones in Virginia (where I live) are named after counties. Plus the National Symphony Orchestra is close to me (in Washington DC...in Nov. I am going to a concert with Leon Fleisher playing Beethoven's 5th pno concerto and also they are going to play my favorite: The Rite of Spring) You may want to search online or ask aroung for your local orchestra (if they "exist").
DLu

[leyton]

You should definately play 1st movement before you play 3rd movement of Griegs Am concerto. Believe me! I'm norwegian. I know that concerto better than most others.

Hmm.  Well, I'm not quite sure what you mean.  I've played through the entire concerto several times, so while I haven't actually memorized or perfected the first movement, I'm fairly familiar with it.  I'm planning on doing the 3d movement for a competition, because I just prefer that movement personally.  Is it bad form or something to do the third?  I'm not very knowledgeable about what's considered acceptable in the music world and I've only recently begun doing concerto competitions.

Another thing...where do you people get your orchestras? I've never had access to a local orchestra, I don't really think they exist..

You can get them at Eckerds, can't you?

I've never had access to a local orchestra either.  That is, they haven't yet invited me to play with them...  

[abe]

My first concerto is also Mendelssohn Gm, And I'm surprised other people have done it, too. I'm only working on the first mvnt. right now, I might learn the whole thing. After that I will learn Chopin's 1st concerto, yay! And I'm gonna play these with my school orchestra (that is if I succeed in the auditions).

[larse]

The reason, I guess, why Mendelsohn is a popular choice for a 'first concerto' is that, similarly too everything he ever wrote for piano, it lays very good for the hand. The whole concerto, even the 3rd mvt, is so easy compared to what it sounds like. And it's cool! Action and cadenzas. I love that concerto. 3rd Mvt is slightly harder, so if you're not, you should probably first be familiar with Chopin and Liszt cadenzas. It takes alot on the hand.

About Grieg

Just play the 3rd movement. But I hate to hear it played straightforward, because it should'nt. The third mvt builds upon a 'Springar' which is an old Norwegian Folk Dance. The whole concerto is built upon Norwegian folk music, and since the first movement is obviously easier, it would probably prepare you for the 3rd movement. It's a safety solution, I guess, but I would never play the 3rd mvt before I know the first really well if not played it. And, of course, to me who is fed with the concerto since I was 2 or so, It feels wrong to play the 3rd mvt before the 1st. It bothers me quite much

[rph108]

Bach D minor concerto. Not very difficult technically, but very hard to stay with the orchestra and keep everything under control. Also, very fun to play.

[f0bul0us]

Ravel in G, 15 - Hamilton Philharmonic

[DarkWind]

Ravel in G, 15 - Hamilton Philharmonic

I love that piece! Have any tips for the solo in the first movement with the rather quick part in the left hand? And the third movement, which is really rapid?

[Tash]

*cries* i haven't played one yet i'm so sad my teacher loves to stick to grades and exams and thus concertos don't fit into that, not that i'd be able to play with an orchestra cos i don't think i'm good enough for that.
i think she may let me play one at the end of the year, dunno what though. i really wanna play bartok no.3- how hard is it?

[larse]

HArd! Really hard! No,have'nt played it. But I don't think it's the easiest concerto.

You know what concerto is cool?
Shostakovic's 1st. All you need is one good trumpetist, cause the concerto is not too difficult.

and

Prokofievs concertos. Though, I believe those are slightly more difficult...

[ahmedito]

I justed playd the Shostakovich 1st with various orchestras and it is HARD. It is very easy to play wrong, like so much other music. But I suggest you take another look at the metronome markings and try doing them. Then youll see what I mean about it being extremely technicaly hard. A lot of peple play it as a beggining concerto, but almost no one plays the metronome markings as they are supposed to go. And musically the second movement is incredible.

[steinway88]

What about the Liszt piano concerto no1, who played that concerto first?