What level am I and what should I play?

[Nana_Ama]

Hello,
I'm new here.  I've been playing for about two years and I recently finished my first Beethoven Sonata (Op. 49 no. 2).  What level am I on?  Also what should I play next?

Thanks a bunch

-Nana Ama

[Nana_Ama]

someone please respond =(

[Antnee]

Well, what else do you play? ? ? Surely that's not all...
Do you have a teacher? What do you want to play??

Give us a bit more info and we'll be glad to respond as long as you don't ask us if you'll be able to pull of La Campanella or something..  

-Tony-

[Nana_Ama]

um well, I don't play that many pieces but I just finished the Fur Elise as well... I like any kind of classical music.  And yes, I do have a teacher.

[Antnee]

Oh my my my...

You really should just go collect a bunch of cd's and start delving into the composers and get a real thirst for what YOU want to learn.

But I have some suggestions for you...

You could try some chopin next...

Try some of his easier preludes...

No. 2 , No. 4, No.7, No. 13, No. 15,

Or find a nocturne that you like.

Maybe try a Haydn sonata. They are far superior to mozart's and a lot more fun to play.

As for your level... I'm not quite sure... If you've only played Fur elise and that Beethoven sonata, then you aren't too advanced, but we all need to start somewhere! You need to get familiar with the other Composers and textures of music out there. I think the preludes would be an excellent start.

[Nana_Ama]

That was very helpful thanks Tony  

[donjuan]

Chopin is always nice, but can be very difficult--> often worse, being deceptively difficult.  

If I were you, I would do what Tony originally suggested and go collect a lot of cds from the local library (hehe I love how accessible classical music is) and assess your interests.  You should find a piece you like, that is too difficult for you right now, bring the name to us, we will give you a website for you to download it, (or, we will recommend a great book to buy) you can then get a hold of the music to see how difficult it is, and then you will select works easier than the goal piece, but a step up from that Beethoven sonata.

This is how I move forward and improve anyway.  What do you think?
donjuan

[bernhard]

someone please respond =(

Oh dear! An impatient one!

Anyway, Tony is right: listen to a lot of CDs and find out what you like.

If you can play Fur Elise and Op. 49/2 well, then you probably can tackle any piece around grades 4 – 6.

Have a look at these threads where lots of repertory for this level has been suggested:

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=repo;action=display;num=1089664585;start=2
(intermediate repertory)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1077907916
(Scarlatti & Prokofiev)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1083221471
(sonatas)

(There are lots more suggestions in the forum, just look for them).

Best wishes,
Bernhard

[Nana_Ama]

Right now I want to play:
Traumeri by Schumann
A Chopin Nocturne (I still have to find one)


For the future (maybe 3 1/2 years from now) I REALLY want to play the Rapsody by Brahms Op. 79 no.2

I am going to the library today and getting a bunch of CD's!! I am so excited.  Thanks so much guys
-Nana  

[donjuan]

For the future (maybe 3 1/2 years from now) I REALLY want to play the Rapsody by Brahms Op. 79 no.2

that's such a great piece!  I learned it- It is so much fun to play!

[Nana_Ama]

Really? That's great~!!! I cried when I heard my friend play it.  I hope i'll be able to play by then hopefully sooner.

I have a recording of it saved on my computer

[donjuan]

What recording do you have?  I have Radu Lupu.

[liezly]

Well, in our conservatory, if you're playing Beethoven Sonatas, you are classified as Level 10.

I'm on Level 10 and I'm playing Beethoven Sonata (No.13) in Eb Major.  My repertoire includes: Gradus Ad Parnassum by Clementi, Bach's Prelude & Fugue, Bartok Mikrokosmos Bk. 6 & Chopin Nocturne.  Maybe you could try to play some from those books.  

[ivoryplayer4him]

I agree with most of what everyone has said to you so far...
If you can play fur elise then you ought to be able to tackle Claire De Lune.  Its a very beautiful piece, i would say just a little harder then fur elise, but it wont take you anytime to learn it.  Find a mozart book and start learning from it, you will find several songs that you will recognize and therefore make it a little easier to play.  Try Moonlight Sonata as well.  I know some people might say you arnt ready for it, but the first movement is quite easy with the right amount of determination.  I actually learned moonlight before i learned fur elise.  I found the latter to be a bit harder.  But thats just me.  Also...Fur Elise has a second movement, if you havent already played it, try it out.  

[DarkWind]

Well, in our conservatory, if you're playing Beethoven Sonatas, you are classified as Level 10.

 My repertoire includes: Gradus Ad Parnassum by Clementi, Bach's Prelude & Fugue, Bartok Mikrokosmos Bk. 6 & Chopin Nocturne.  Maybe you could try to play some from those books.  

This is the Beethoven Sonata "Facile." It the only Beethoven Sonata you can't play for auditioning at Julliard.

My repertoire includes: Gradus Ad Parnassum by Clementi

I don't think you can classify that in repertoire, as it's more of a techinical exercise. Else I could add Hanon to my repertoire!

You could try playing some Chopin Waltzes or Preludes, or the Bartok Mikrokosmos.

[Nana_Ama]

What recording do you have?  I have Radu Lupu.

Well, my friend Monica played it for me but now I have the Arthur Rubinstien recording  

[Nana_Ama]

...
If you can play fur elise then you ought to be able to tackle Claire De Lune.  Its a very beautiful piece, i would say just a little harder then fur elise, but it wont take you anytime to learn it...  Also...Fur Elise has a second movement, if you havent already played it, try it out.  

I played the entire Fur Elise, I think ... is it part of the Fur Elise or does it have a different name becuase if it is part of the Fur Elise I think I have played it.  

I really would like to play the Claire de Lune but can you recommend any pieces I could play to prepare myself for it?   :-/

I also would like the play the entire Moonlight Sonata so I guess I'll have to wait    

In response to DarkWind:
"This is the Beethoven Sonata "Facile." It the only Beethoven Sonata you can't play for auditioning at Julliard."

That's really funny! ( I am easily amused).

[ivoryplayer4him]

I played the entire Fur Elise, I think ... is it part of the Fur Elise or does it have a different name becuase if it is part of the Fur Elise I think I have played it.  

I really would like to play the Claire de Lune but can you recommend any pieces I could play to prepare myself for it?   :-/

I also would like the play the entire Moonlight Sonata so I guess I'll have to wait  /quote]


I really do not believe you need to "prepare" yourself for Claire De Lune.  Fur Elise was enough preperation for it.  Just attach it.  Its a beautifully simplistic piece.  You dont have to wait on Moonlight sonata.  Start with the first movement, get some more reportoire behind you, then get after the next two movements

[thierry13]

...Fur Elise has a second movement, if you havent already played it, try it out.

I did'nt knew that. Where could i find sheet music/recording of it. And is it called fur elise. mvt 2?? I really never heard of that.

[belvoce]

Is there actually a second movement to Fur Elise? Is there sheet music that I can find as proof? What's the second movement called? Is this an internet joke?

[lani]

Hi Nana, my daughter played Chopin Nocturne E flat mjor (op 9 no. 2) as a contrasting piece to the Beethoven 49 no. 2 you just played.  It is quite beautiful and is very popular.  It is a slightly more advanced piece, but it's nice to try a different composer.  Regards, Lani

[ivoryplayer4him]

Is there actually a second movement to Fur Elise? Is there sheet music that I can find as proof? What's the second movement called? Is this an internet joke?

OK!!!  To let everyone know, yes there is actually sheet music.  My ex-piano teacher had one of her students play it for recital.  Thats all i know about it...I need bernard or someone who has probably played or seen it to back me up!!!

[bernhard]

OK!!!  To let everyone know, yes there is actually sheet music.  My ex-piano teacher had one of her students play it for recital.  Thats all i know about it...I need bernard or someone who has probably played or seen it to back me up!!!

Fur Elise (WoO59) was sketched in 1808, and completed either in 1809 or 1810. It was presented to “Elise” (Actually Therese Malfatti) on the 27 April 1810.

In this thread:

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=repo;action=display;num=1091424096

Nana_Ama suggests that the Bagatelles WoO 60, WoO 61a and WoO 61 are “movements” of Fur Elise.

How? Why? Where do these ideas come from?   They have no relationship (musical or otherwise) whatsoever to Fur Elise. They are small piano pieces, never published in Beethoven’s lifetime. Check out the composition dates (they were composed 8 – 15 years after Fur Elise).

WoO 60 – Bagatelle in Bb – composed in 1818, its sketches are juxtaposed with the ones for the Hammerklavier, which is also in Bb.

WoO 61 – Allegretto in B minor – composed in 1821.

WoO 61a – Allegretto quasi andante in G minor was written as a souvenir for Sarah Burney Payne on 27 September 1825. It is a tiny piece just 13 bars long and like the other two has nothing whatsoever to do with Fur Elise.

Now here is my interpretation.

Whoever mentioned that Fur Elise had more “movements” was probably referring to the two “difficult” sections(bars 45 – 61 and bars 81 – 105). As you may or may not know, Richard Clayderman loves to play Fur Elise. But he only plays the first part (bars 1 – 44). So if that is what you are used to hear, when you actually hear the whole unadulterated piece, you may well be forgiven to think that it has more than one “movement”.

Either that or someone is having fun.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[thierry13]

Whoever mentioned that Fur Elise had more “movements” was probably referring to the two “difficult” sections(bars 45 – 61 and bars 81 – 105). As you may or may not know, Richard Clayderman loves to play Fur Elise. But he only plays the first part (bars 1 – 44). So if that is what you are used to hear, when you actually hear the whole unadulterated piece, you may well be forgiven to think that it has more than one “movement”.  

That's too what i tought, since many people same not know the existence of these part. But here we are pianists, not normal people(well, people who don't play piano), so i tought that everybody here knew that...

[Nana_Ama]

Sorry guys there is no second movement to the Fur Elise...
eh... April Fools?

[ivoryplayer4him]

Fur Elise (WoO59) was sketched in 1808, and completed either in 1809 or 1810. It was presented to “Elise” (Actually Therese Malfatti) on the 27 April 1810.

In this thread:

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=repo;action=display;num=1091424096

Nana_Ama suggests that the Bagatelles WoO 60, WoO 61a and WoO 61 are “movements” of Fur Elise.

How? Why? Where do these ideas come from?   They have no relationship (musical or otherwise) whatsoever to Fur Elise. They are small piano pieces, never published in Beethoven’s lifetime. Check out the composition dates (they were composed 8 – 15 years after Fur Elise).

WoO 60 – Bagatelle in Bb – composed in 1818, its sketches are juxtaposed with the ones for the Hammerklavier, which is also in Bb.

WoO 61 – Allegretto in B minor – composed in 1821.

WoO 61a – Allegretto quasi andante in G minor was written as a souvenir for Sarah Burney Payne on 27 September 1825. It is a tiny piece just 13 bars long and like the other two has nothing whatsoever to do with Fur Elise.

Now here is my interpretation.

Whoever mentioned that Fur Elise had more “movements” was probably referring to the two “difficult” sections(bars 45 – 61 and bars 81 – 105). As you may or may not know, Richard Clayderman loves to play Fur Elise. But he only plays the first part (bars 1 – 44). So if that is what you are used to hear, when you actually hear the whole unadulterated piece, you may well be forgiven to think that it has more than one “movement”.

Either that or someone is having fun.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

ARE YOU SURE?  The only reason i'm questioning you is because i had the full Fur Elise and my ex piano teacher told me that she needed to get me the second movement.  She said it was very beautiful and that she had one of her other piano students play it for recital?  I'm sooo confused now its not even funny.

[liezly]

This is the Beethoven Sonata "Facile." It the only Beethoven Sonata you can't play for auditioning at Julliard.


I don't think you can classify that in repertoire, as it's more of a techinical exercise. Else I could add Hanon to my repertoire!

You could try playing some Chopin Waltzes or Preludes, or the Bartok Mikrokosmos.

Thanks for that info.  I was not aware that Beethoven Sonata in Eb Major (No.13) is also called "Facile".  What does it mean?  And why is it not allowed for auditioning at Julliard?

Gradus ad Parnassum by Clementi is really a collection of technical exercises or etudes.  Hanon is also a great finger exercise book but the exercises are quite easy. It requires a lot of finger dexterity to play Beethoven sonatas and other pieces like Chopin Preludes and Waltzes that's why Gradus ad Parnassum will also be of great help to improve technical skills.  

[bernhard]

ARE YOU SURE?  The only reason i'm questioning you is because i had the full Fur Elise and my ex piano teacher told me that she needed to get me the second movement.  She said it was very beautiful and that she had one of her other piano students play it for recital?  I'm sooo confused now its not even funny.

I can only suggest you ask your ex-piano teacher. I would cetainly be interested in learning the answer. Who knows? This may be music history in the making!

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

Thanks for that info.  I was not aware that Beethoven Sonata in Eb Major (No.13) is also called "Facile".  What does it mean?  And why is it not allowed for auditioning at Julliard?

 

"Facile" measn easy, and I believe Darkwind is referring to Op. 49 no.2, not to no. 13

It is not allowed for auditioning because it is too easy. It was probably composed as an exercise for Beethoven's pupils, and published behind his back by his brother (Betthoven was furious, but he mellowed down once he say the cheque).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[liezly]

"Facile" measn easy, and I believe Darkwind is referring to Op. 49 no.2, not to no. 13

It is not allowed for auditioning because it is too easy. It was probably composed as an exercise for Beethoven's pupils, and published behind his back by his brother (Betthoven was furious, but he mellowed down once he say the cheque).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

:)Oh okay.  That's what I thought.  I was referring to Beethoven Sonata in Eb Major, Op. 27, No. 1.  And I don't think that's easy.  

Thanks for the added info.  Best regards.