Beethoven Moonlight Sonata 1st movement

[tatmis]

Hi,
This is my first piano practice and first recording. And I appreciate your feedback.
I know that I need to practice more to make it better. I just finished memorizing the whole movement last week and didnt have much time to practice to make it more even and a has clean melody, not to mention the mistakes. 

I am a self-learner beginner. I bought my piano (YDP-161)  3 months ago and
I try to practice 4-5 hours a week. (my son doesn't let me practice more!)
Although piano is new to me, I have been playing oud for a long time and I can read sheet music, but very slowly.

Thanks.

[perfect_pitch]

Overall... I think you have the right feel for this piece.

Just becareful about two things - try not to slow down just before the end of each bar-line, there are multiple instances where you do slow down before the beginning of the next bar - which is great when used lightly (say at the really climactic points).

One last thing - I think it needs to be a little faster, and a little quieter in the accompanimental triplets.

However, stating that - you're making quite a good start, so be very proud of yourself.

(Having listening to it while typing this - just also make sure your pedalling is really clear and clean.)   

[tatmis]

Thanks for the feedback.
I am going to continue to practice this sonata.
While recording, I tried to play it without mistake but this is creating stress over me.
As I approach to the end of it, the stress is increasing and finally causing poor performance.
So I start again and again. But the whole recording process itself was apractice.
 
About your comments,
I know that I shouldn't be pedalling all the time. But for the time being thats all I can manage.
I also agree with your comment about the tempo and volume of the triplets. I will first deal with those problems. I now understand why this particular piece is very difficult.
Anyway thanks again.
 

[nystul]

It sounds pretty good to me.  There is a real challenge in trying to play something like this as delicately as possible.

I think there is a rhythm problem here that everyone struggles with, which is playing the sixteenth note too late.  You do it, and then sometimes you are late to the start of the next measure after this pattern.  So then you end up with a pause after the last set of triplets.  I don't know though if that is really because of the rhythm, or if it searching for the changing notes for the next measure.

[gyzzzmo]

Play the melody like you would sing it. Dont let the rest of the notes control the way the melody goes

[pianisten1989]

Basically what everyone else said, plus you tend to make a small accent on every second note in the triplets. Don't do that

[perfect_pitch]

I know that I shouldn't be pedalling all the time. But for the time being thats all I can manage.

Wait... that's not what I meant...

If I'm not mistaken, there is pretty much pedalling all the way throughout, what I mean is sometimes when the harmony changes twice in a bar, I don't think you re-pedal halfway through and clean the sound up. You may have to re-take the pedal in the middle of some bars.

That's what I mean.

[tatmis]

what I mean is sometimes when the harmony changes twice in a bar, I don't think you re-pedal halfway through and clean the sound up. You may have to re-take the pedal in the middle of some bars.

Is there a way to identify when to use half-pedaling bars? Maybe I should find a sheet music, the one with pedaling structures below the notes. right ?

Basically what everyone else said, plus you tend to make a small accent on every second note in the triplets. Don't do that

Can you be more specific about what you ment by accent ? Do I hit the second note early or late or weak or is it the duration ?

Play the melody like you would sing it. Dont let the rest of the notes control the way the melody goes

Unfortunately, this is what I do right now. While I am playing, I am thinking the rest of the notes. Not all the time, but especially before some certain parts. I hope, practicing will solve this problem.

I don't know though if that is really because of the rhythm, or if it searching for the changing notes for the next measure.

Mostly the latter. at least I hope so.

In light of these useful feedbacks, I will prcatice more and try to record another one later.
Thanks for everyone sharing comments.

[pianisten1989]

Well, you play an accent. It's too loud, and sounds like that's the first beat of the bar.

[tatmis]

ok. I understand now.
the problem is that I didn't know accent means stress or emphasis in musical terms.
my english and also music knowladge is not so good.
thanks again.

[gligeti]

Is there a way to identify when to use half-pedaling bars? Maybe I should find a sheet music, the one with pedaling structures below the notes. right ?

check when the harmony changes -- that is the triplets play a different chord. However, sometimes the triplets change to just an inversion of the same chord ( -- like g# c# e / c# e g#) or just add/change to a seventh (d# g# b#/d# f# b#) -- that would still be essentially the same harmony; so if you don't know how to recognize these harmonies, best to get a sheet with the pedalling.

 Also, once you know this piece (notes, rythm) very well, you may want to try to play the triplets as piano (pp) as you can, but play the melody just a touch louder. It is pretty hard to do that with the 5th finger, but with practice you can get there (even on a digital piano).