Greetings everyone. (From a new member in Pianostreet)

[vincentl]

Hello everyone, this site has been very helpful for the past few months, but I signed-up just now. I am very grateful to all the pianists from around the world for contributing their knowledge here in the forums and I was wondering if anyone can help me with a problem of mine, I have been playing the piano for 8 months or 9 months I think, I could only play a few pieces; Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata 1st Movement, Pathetique Sonata 2nd Movement, Beethoven's German Dance in C, Beethoven's Bagatelle in c, WoO 54, Bach's Minuet in G, Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Satie's Gymnopedies, A variety of easy arrangements such as an easy version of Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2, Waltz of the Flowers, Brahms' Waltz, The Blue Danube, etc. And lastly the first 26 measures of Rondo Alla Turca (I couldn't finish this piece).

Sorry for listing my small repertoire, but I listed them here because I wanted to ask If anyone can tell me what piece should I learn next? Because I am having a little trouble with my technique, I tried some of Czerny's and Hanon's exercises, but some suggest that I learn a piece instead of focusing on these exercises. I have no piano teacher, nor did I have an experience with one, therefore I have no guide in what pieces I should follow. Can anyone help me with what pieces I should learn and which composer should I learn from now? I tried Mozart's K545 1st Movement, but I am having a hard time with the piece. Thank you to everyone who will give time to help with my dilemma, I am terribly sorry for the long writing.

[chris_goslow]

Since you haven't finished the Mozart, why not finish? 

Also, by the way, a good piano can guide you to the next step in what to play.  Why not get one?

[stevebob]

Since you haven't finished the Mozart, why not finish? 

Also, by the way, a good piano can guide you to the next step in what to play.  Why not get one?

I wonder if you meant to say "a good piano teacher."  In my experience a good piano is indeed an inspiration for practicing longer and playing better, but I doubt that even the finest instrument can assist with selecting repertoire. 

[deanalangraham]

a good piano is indeed an inspiration for practicing longer and playing better, but I doubt that even the finest instrument can assist with selecting repertoire. 

Unless your first piano is an old beat up harp-in-a-box like mine was in which case Ragtime is the way to go!!!

I agree with stevebob. If it wasn't for Mrs Jenkins I would never have learned the joys of Brahms or the twisted wrists of Dvorak (vorjack!).

Serious now. Okay, actually the ragtime thing could be ace for you. (We're talking Scott Joplin.) It teaches you left hand movement that could come in handy for any Rachmaninoff stuff you'll come to, it teaches big stretching chords in the right hand (like, uh, Rachmaninoff) and how to flick your wrists without hitting any bum notes, and it, most of all, with make you and others around you smile. Oh, not forgetting that it is relatively 'easy' to play ragtime, once you've got the chops.

I'm new to this site and it seems this is the limit of a reply (good idea site people).

ONLY IN MY OPINION ARE THE ABOVE VIEWS VALID

[deanalangraham]

As above, here are the pieces I'd recommend to vincentl. (avoid 'easy' versions like the plague, v, they're good when you're learning but can cause probs if you get to the 'real' versions.)

"Maple Leaf Rag" by [S.Joplin]
"Fig Leaf Rag" by [S.Joplin]
"The Easy Winners" by [S.Joplin]
"Four Pieces From The Little Notebook" by [J.S.Bach] - don't laugh they are invaluable.
"Ecossaises" by [L.vBeethoven]
"Knight Rupert" by [R.Schumann]
"The Danube Waves" by [I.Ivanovici] - like "Walzer" by [Schubert] learn the 'easy' bits first.
"Passacaille" by [G.F.Handel]
"Nocturne" by [J.Field]
"Hungarian Rhapsody" by [F.Liszt] - I jest. But v, man, listen to it, all the way through. That's you in a couple of years.
"Song of India" by [N.Rimsky-Korsakov]
"Serenade" by [F.Schubert]
"The Happy Farmer" / "Frohlicher Landmann" by [R.Schumann] - who'd have thought 'land man' means 'farmer' in German?!! Apart from Germans, of course.
"Sarabande" by [G.F.Handel]
"Dance of the Hours" by [A.Ponchielli]
"To a Wild Rose" by [E.MacDowell]
"Narcissus" by [E.Nevin]
"Waltz in A Flat" / "Opus 39 no.15" by [J.Brahms] - simply beautiful.

THE CHOICES OF MUSIC ABOVE ARE ONLY MY OPINION OF WHAT VINCENTL SHOULD LEARN AND ARE VALID ONLY AS SUCH

[vincentl]

Thank you for the reply everyone.

Since you haven't finished the Mozart, why not finish? 

Also, by the way, a good piano can guide you to the next step in what to play.  Why not get one?

Hmm.. As stevebob said, did you mean piano teacher? If you did, I unfortunately can't get a piano teacher or any music lessons. That is why I sought for help here in the forums.

-

deanalangraham,

Thank you for your list of suggestions and tips, I guess ragtime would be appropriate to play this time, I stopped before because I couldn't get the left hand to play correctly when I'm playing HT. Oh and the pieces you suggested, some of them I have never even heard of before, I have yet to hear more music and learn more. Thank you again for your help. I hope my technique improves and also my musicality after learning these pieces.

[keyboardclass]

I wonder if you meant to say "a good piano teacher."  In my experience a good piano is indeed an inspiration for practicing longer and playing better, but I doubt that even the finest instrument can assist with selecting repertoire. 

Actually I had an interesting experience in the summer in Nova Scotia.  I bought a high quality piano for a very low price.  Five weeks on that baby made a huge difference!  I'm starting to practice again.

[chris_goslow]

avoid 'easy' versions like the plague, v, they're good when you're learning but can cause probs if you get to the 'real' versions.

Good point.

[fenz]

how do you learn all difficult pieces in short time?  please tell me... thanks