Which Piece(s) should I learn?

[ongaku_oniko]

Hello everyone, I am hoping to get some advice on which piece I should attempt. First a couple of things about me:

I started learning piano about 5-6 years ago. However, I stopped learning about 3 years ago. I basically haven't been playing these three years. Even while I was studying and taking exams, I practised less than 15 minutes a day. I rarely practised techniques (only the week before an exam), and I never practised piano properly, like playing it slowly at first, and separating the hands, fixing my pedalling, etc.

However, now that I'm a bit more grown up and a bit more mature, I've started to pick up the piano again. This time I promised myself I would practise at least an hour a day. So far I've kept it up for about 2-3 weeks.

Before I stopped, I was at around RCM grade 10 (the Exam system in Canada, if you don't know it, the level of difficulty of grade 10 include pieces such as the pathetique Sonata (mvt 1,2 or 2,3), Chopin's Nocturne in F#- op.15 no.2, Clair de lune etc).

This time around, for the first 2-3 weeks, I have been tackling Chopin's Etude Op. 10 No. 5. I'm practising systematically now, little by little, left hand, right hand, then together etc. I'm finding it extremely challenging. But not impossible to play. Until I saw this part:
https://img200.imageshack.us/f/etudeno5.png/
Not only does it require the right hand to jump fast two times, it requires my fourth and fifth fingers to play a trillish thing. I CAN'T play a trill with my 4th and 5th fingers on my right hand. It goes slower than a 4 year old kid learning to play the C major scale.

So anyway, going back to the original topic, I'm thinking of tackling one or two of the following pieces:
Fantasie - impromptu
Scherzo No. 2 (Chopin)
Prelude in g minor op.23 (Rachmaninoff)
Etude Op. 10 No. 5 (I'm about 1/4th done, but as I said, I don't know how I'll manage that part)
Etude Op. 25 No. 12 (Chopin)
Andante Spianato (without the grande brilliante)

In addition to Etude Tableaux op. 33 no. 8 in g minor.

My time limit is around 8 months (I'm hoping to be able to have 1 or 2 pieces ready before I go back home for winter break). If you guys think it's possible to do two of the above if I sacrifice the etude tableaux that's good too.

What I'm looking for:
Of the pieces listed, I'm looking for a piece that's not too technically Challenging. In other words, they are known to be difficult because i's hard to bring out the emotions, not because of technical stuff. Well They're probably all demanding technically, but I'm looking for the less demanding ones.

My strengths:
Not much. I think I have a good feel for the music? lol...

Weaknesses:
Slow fingers: my absolute max speed is around the speed for etude op. 10 no.5. Can't go any faster than that.

Can't play trills with finger 4 and 5 on the right hand (left hand is okay though)

Short, chubby fingers (But I have a big span, so I can reach 9 keys, or 10 but can't really press 10 down with power)

Weak techniques overall.


I realize that my best bet right now is to either first improve my techniques or to just not look so high and go for easier pieces, but I'm just stubborn and I want to at least be able to play one of those pieces. It doesn't have to be concert level, just good enough so that people can recognize what I'm playing, and it's not so bad that it insults the composer/music.


Sorry for such a long post, and any input is greatly apreciated. Thanks!

[ongaku_oniko]

Still no reply?

Let me ask a different question then:

Order the following in terms of difficulty in regards to speed, 4th and 5th finger dexterity and octave jumps:

Fantasie - impromptu
Scherzo No. 2 (Chopin)
Prelude in g minor op.23 (Rachmaninoff)
Etude Op. 10 No. 5 (I'm about 1/4th done, but as I said, I don't know how I'll manage that part)
Etude Op. 25 No. 12 (Chopin)
Andante Spianato (without the grande brilliante)

After looking at fleetingfingers' video, I feel fired up for op.10 no.5 again. So I think I'll keep it.

From the rest of those, my top two are Scherzo and Fantasie. Do you guys think it's even vaguely realistic for me to try either of those? I know fantasie is hard for having different tempo in the left and right hands, but scherzo doesn't look too scary by just looking at the score. Is it harder than it looks?

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I don't really think I'm the best person to answer you. I'm not a teacher (or even close haha) and I haven't seen you play...

So all I have to say is, I loveeee that etude tableau. It is so worth learning.... the only piece I have practised every single day since the day I learnt it.

 Do you have a teacher? If yes, he/ she will give way better advice than me. Or maybe someone else one this forum will find your post, and be able to help you more.  

Oh and I haven't played the Fantasie Impromptu before, or the scherzo, but my friend says the scherzo is much harder, although every piece has its challenges. She says for the Fantasie Impromptu,  "once you get the rhythm down, you get it " And that "learning Debussy's Arabesque no 1, (which is easier, gr 10 rcm, FI is ARCT) helps a lot." Her words, not mine. (:
 

[ongaku_oniko]

Thank you for that answer! Very interesting, arabesque first? I do like arabesque... Perhaps arabesque and fantasie and etude tableaux is a good combo...

But scherzo is much harder? hmm I mean just by looking at the basic sheet music, it doesn't seem like there's anything too fancy. A bit fast, but nothing that looks really hard... What makes the scherzo hard?


And anyone else have an opinion on this? Thanks in advance!

[ongaku_oniko]

Can someone explain to me why this is so difficult to get an answer to? :S The other thread about what piece to learn next has a few responses...

[fleetfingers]

I wanted to answer this question, especially since you took the time to answer mine, but wasn't sure what to write. I am not qualified to suggest one of the pieces on your list because I've only tried Fantasie-Impromptu and Etude 10/5. I have no idea about the other ones and can't say which is harder or easier than the rest. For what it's worth, I think the Etude is more fun to play than FI, so maybe stick with that one.

When you say you have poor technique overall and weak fourth and fifth fingers, my first reaction is that you aren't ready for the pieces you're looking at. Having said that, I am a believer in playing what you love even if it's a struggle (don't push too hard and hurt yourself though - and get a teacher to make sure you don't). If you choose to go that route, it might take a long time so learn other easier stuff, too. That's what I do.

Good luck...I hope you find one that you like!

[ongaku_oniko]

Thanks for your honest response.

I understand that I am technically lacking, and won't do any of those pieces justice. But Having started piano late, and not having been born in a musical family, I can't hope to catch up to real pianists.

Becky says she wants to impress the knowledgable and overwhelm the uninformed, well I just want  sympthy from the knowledgeable and impress the uninformed.

I just want to get it so that it at least sounds like the real thing to the untrained ear. My top two right now are Scherzo and Fantasie-impromptu, and perhaps sonata in b minor (liszt) and islamey (lol) but obviously I won't be able to do the latter two even if I play mediocrely.

I'm looking for a piece from the ones I listed that I can realisically hope to be able to play at or near full speed without too many errors.