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Topic: Suggestions on what to learn next?!  (Read 1329 times)

Offline jugular

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Suggestions on what to learn next?!
on: November 26, 2010, 07:25:13 AM
Hi, I'm a Tuba major in first year university with some piano experience. I started young but frequently quit and returned over the years. Long story short, I received my grade 6 certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM - the Canadian music examination conservatory) before the summer, and I have slowly been gaining interest (once again...) in piano.

In my spare time I have tackled pieces such as Chopin's Prelude No.6 and No.4, Maple Leaf Rag, Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op.49 No.2 (Movement 1), M. Clementi's Sonatina Op.36 No.3 in C Major, and Debussy's Claire de Lune ("calmato" section still troubles me from time to time).

Basically I need suggestions as to what I should consider learning next that would build my skill. I enjoy the works of Chopin, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff the most, unfortunately most of their greater works which I love are too complex for me to learn right now. All suggestions are appreciated!

Offline aintgotnorhythm

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Re: Suggestions on what to learn next?!
Reply #1 on: November 30, 2010, 08:12:01 PM
Not all of Rachmaninov is out of reach - you might try his piano duets Op 11 (get the version that comes with CD accompaniment and play along!) or Prelude in C# minor Op 3 No. 2. Or try his 1st piano concerto 2nd movement, which sounds good to me as a piano solo.

Offline asianpianoer

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Re: Suggestions on what to learn next?!
Reply #2 on: December 01, 2010, 03:10:42 AM
chopinnocturne in  fminor - op 55 no1
is a lovely piece around 7 grade level.

Offline thinkgreenlovepiano

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Re: Suggestions on what to learn next?!
Reply #3 on: December 01, 2010, 03:58:04 AM
What about Chopin's Nocturne in G minor, Op 15, No 3... its graded at RCM grade 8 (so according to RCM, its the 'easiest' nocturne), and its BEAUTIFUL. (I haven't learned it though, but if I remember correctly it doesn't have crazy polyrhythms like most of his other nocturnes do... )
For Beethoven, Rondo in C Major, Op. 51, No. 1 is nice.
 If you can play Claire de Lune, maybe you could try Prelude in C# minor by Rachmaninoff, I think they are around the same difficulty. I really like Chopin's Waltz in A flat  69 no 1 as well. You didn't mention Bach, but personally I found his little preludes a lot of fun, and they definitely help build skills. :) I like the one in D major, bwv 925. They are probably considered less complex than the other pieces I listed, but I don't know. To me, any piece I cannot play is difficult!
"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence."
~Leopold Stokowski

Offline asianpianoer

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Re: Suggestions on what to learn next?!
Reply #4 on: December 01, 2010, 10:34:00 PM
you can play harder pieces, just not as well

chopin's famous nocturne op 9 no 2 is also around 7-8 level

Offline pbryld

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Re: Suggestions on what to learn next?!
Reply #5 on: December 02, 2010, 09:18:56 PM
Just wondering: How can there be anything 'Royal' in Canada?
General info:
Started playing music in the summer of 2010
Plays on a Bechstein B
Lives in Denmark
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