Is it just me?

[dss62467]

I'm learning Schubert's Sonata in A, D 959-4 Rondo Allegretto without the wisdom of my teacher since lessons are over until autumn.  Only really been working on it a couple of days but finally just realized that the melody switches to the left hand after the first repeat.  I'm finding that it's a bit like rubbing my head and patting my belly.  I know I need to bring out the left and soften the right, but my brain can't even seem to process the scramble.  I can't even seem to get the notes to sound right because my ears are hearing the treble as the melody.  It's messing me up!!!

Advice?

[pianowolfi]

I'm learning Schubert's Sonata in A, D 959-4 Rondo Allegretto without the wisdom of my teacher since lessons are over until autumn.  Only really been working on it a couple of days but finally just realized that the melody switches to the left hand after the first repeat.  I'm finding that it's a bit like rubbing my head and patting my belly.  I know I need to bring out the left and soften the right, but my brain can't even seem to process the scramble.  I can't even seem to get the notes to sound right because my ears are hearing the treble as the melody.  It's messing me up!!!

Advice?

Really there are many many examples in the piano literature where the left hand has "the melody". To name just two: Mozart Sonata KV 309 M. 129-132 or Moonlight sonata last Mvt. M.75-87
I think if you're not familiar with some of these it's actually not yet time to play D959, one of the most delicate and subtle Sonatas ever, which reqires a lot of experience...

[dss62467]

At this point, I'm only learning the Rondo.  I've certainly heard pieces where the base has the melody and I've heard this piece many times. I just didn't realize until I stopped sight reading it where I was.  I have no doubt I can learn the movement, I tend to underestimate my skill but am good at not overestimating. 

I am starting to hear it coming together in the time I've practiced today, it's just that it's like trying to write with your left hand when you're right handed.  Have to focus much harder.

[annabubbles]

Have you tried learning both hands separately? Learn -very- slowly with your left hand, taking in 4-5 notes at a time. Then add the other hand. Good luck.

(I'm not very experienced, so my advice may not very good, sorry. )

[brogers70]

You can try playing scales in two hands in 6ths or 10ths and trying to bring out one hand over the other, and alternating between the hands which gets the greater weight. But it may be easier to just listen very hard for the melody in the left hand and pay lots of attention to it. If you keep listening for it you'll end up bringing it out without deliberately hitting the notes harder in the left hand.

[dss62467]

Have you tried learning both hands separately? Learn -very- slowly with your left hand, taking in 4-5 notes at a time. Then add the other hand. Good luck.

(I'm not very experienced, so my advice may not very good, sorry. )

  Yeah, I've done that - it's how I came to the realization of where I was in the piece and that the melody was in the bass.  Hands separately is very easy and I had no trouble at all.  I can put them together and play it too.   

I think the trick to this is for me to get my mental focus in the bass, so I can get the exact timing and volume of the treble right.   I think it's getting there.... I'll be patient.  I did actually only start working hard on it yesterday.

No advice is not "good".  One of the best ways to learn is to teach.  Your advice was sound, it got me most of the way there.

[scottmcc]

I think that voicing problems such as this are one of the harder things to do musically, at least for me.  in addition to the good advice above, I would add that I find it helpful to do separate-voice practice, as opposed to just separate-hand.  additionally, playing a bach fugue or two will help you to manage multiple voices and keep them all singing clearly.  finally, I will add an example of the left hand carrying the melody...in the aforementioned Moonlight sonata, the very end of the 1st mvt. 

oh and one more thing...the pianist who I think best exemplifies good voicing is Wilhelm Kempff.