Choosing a "Beginner" Concerto

[nickd457]

Hello to all, this is my first post. I currently have a dilemma. I am a high school student that has been studying the piano for many years now, and I feel that it is about time for me to learn a piano concerto or at least a movement of one. I have heard several suggestions, the 2nd Mov. of Mozart's 21st, Grieg's in A minor, Hayden's in D Major, and one insane person even suggested Scriabin's in F# minor! I Have no idea which one to go with, so your insight would be greatly appreciated, and any new suggestions would be welcome!   

[invictious]

If you would learn to use the search function, you will discover many threads that ask the same question. Even on the first page of the Repertoire thread, you can already find a thread which provides guidance.

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=40791.0

[nickd457]

I know very well how to use the search feature. I have read many of these other posts but I feel that the right starter concerto for someone else may not be so for me. I was just looking for some advice based on my own experience.

[floydcramerfan]

Maybe your piano teacher would be able to help you pick a concerto because he/she has been working with you and is familiar with your skills.

[redbaron]

Greetings nickd457

Not being very helpful are they? You could take a look at some of the slow movements from the Mozart concertos. Try the slow movement from No 27, it's a piece of piss (just in case you're not from England that means it's really easy!). 

Happy hunting.

[john90]

You don't seem to have an end goal here in terms of concert date. Plus this sounds like it is you wanting to learn it, your own project. Wonderful. In that happy situation I would pick something I passionately want to play above all else. If that turns out to be too hard, I would backtrack and look for something that would take me towards that piece. Hopefully it will feel like a real luxury, affording yourself the time to learn this.

[pianisten1989]

I know very well how to use the search feature. I have read many of these other posts but I feel that the right starter concerto for someone else may not be so for me. I was just looking for some advice based on my own experience.

Well, you didn't tell us anything about your own experience. So right now, you're just like anybody else who ask for a easy concerto. Sorry to sound harsh, but it's the truth.
Anyway, here are some suggestions from other similar topics:

Mozart: Any of the A major, No 17 G major, 20 d minor... Many of mozart are usually a quite good first pick.
Grieg: A-minor
...

[nickd457]

I've never really transgressed into the world of über advanced piano like Scriabin, Liszt, or Rachmaninoff. Right now I've done Beethoven's Bagatelle in A minor, Pachebel's Canon (I learned it in C), Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Chopin's nocturne in C# minor, and his prelude in A minor, also Mozart's Sonata K. 545 in C. Im also working on some original composition. My school's orchestral director has offered many times to allow me to play with them if I ever learn a concerto or movement, so the concert wouldn't be until early next year, so I'll have a lot of time to work on it.

[scott13]

Have a look at Mozart's 21st Concerto in C . The 1st movement is a little long (14 minutes) but it doesn't possess any substantial difficulty, and if you have played through a couple of his sonatas then the harder parts of this concerto will be similar to some aspects of the sonatas. The 3rd movement is nice too, mainly scale type runs and not to hard.

[kitty on the keys]

Looking at your pieces, I would go with the Haydn D......great piece to learn!
Have fun!
Kitty on the keys

[korlock]

Grieg's Concerto 2nd movement isn't too hard. Its very beautiful and has a great melody.
I didn't read the other messages but if no one has said it yet there is musicminusone.com
Kind of pricey but they have recordings of concertos without the piano.

[freddychopin]

First of all don't do only 1 movement. That's lame

List of beginner piano concertos:
Johann Christian Bach: Op.13 No.4 & No.2
W.A. Mozart - Piano Concertos K. 107 based on sonatas by J.C. Bach
Anton Stamitz - Piano Concerto in A
Tommaso Giordani - Pianoconcerto in C
Carl Ditters Vond Dittersdorf - Piano Concerto in A
Joseph Haydn - Piano Concerto in D, Piano Concerto in G
Dmitri Kabalevsky - Piano Concerto No.3
Nicola Lentz - Piano Concerto No.1
Feliks Rybicki - Piano Concerto for small hands Op.53


Next step would be
W.A. Mozart - Piano Concerto No.12, No.23, No.26, No.19, No.22
Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.1, No.2
Isaac Albéniz - Rapsodia Española Op.70
Dmitri Sjostakowitsj - Piano Concerto No.2

If you want to do a great romantic piano concerto and you like a bit of a challenge. Choose Rimsky-Korsakov's Piano Concerto in C# minor Op. 30 It's very impressive, not too difficult (easier than the Grieg) and it's about 15 minutes (3 shorts movements, no pause)

[cheesypencil]

dittersdorf concerto in a major- its a pretty little concerto and awesome for beginning