Rachmaninov, etude tableau op 33 n 8 (7)

[costicina]

Here is my amateurish attempt to perform this beautiful piece. I did a mess in the last run, I know (and non only there…) . But  please, tell me: overall is it really  that bad?
As always, any comment, criticism, advice will be most welcomed (and useful to improve)…
Thanks a lot in advance for your patience
Margherita

[fleetfingers]

I enjoyed it! I've never heard that piece before - thanks for posting it. It looks like you have a good technique and know your way around the keyboard.

[pianisten1989]

You need to play the melody in the right hand much clearer. It disappears quite often, and then it's a very weird piece, if you don't hear the melody. I don't know the piece very well, so I can't really comment anything but general.
So: More melody, and maybe a bit faster and more alive.

Also, please, stop with the "is it really that bad"-talk, it's extremely off-putting, and it's like you don't want us to listen.

If it is the pianist who's talking. Just keep practising, and listen carefully to yourself.

If it is the mother: It's your daughter, and you're her teacher. No serious teacher would say "thank you for your patience (in listening to this extremely untalented pianist) she makes mistakes everywhere. And, please, forgive her."
You're her teacher and it's basically your fault if she doesn't do it right, since you teaches her how to do things.

[costicina]

Thank you, pianisten1989: your advices  are very clever and useful. I accept your rebukes, too, but perhaps  they are a bit too hard?

My lack of self-confidence as a pianist is genuine: when  I quitted many, many years ago,  my level was barely beyond grade 6 and my technique awful. As a self-taught  re-starter (and improvised teacher), no wonder if I’m full of doubts.

Also,  I’m scared to death when I have to play in public. Even recording myself  is a nightmare (shaking hands, cold sweat, etc.). I hesitated long before posting my video,  in a board intended for accomplished/good pianists. All that, I hope, can explain  the way, I presented  it, that you found so irritating…

I’ve learned a lot trying to teach to my daughter, but I'm full aware that now she needs a real teacher to improve, and as soon as possible she will have one!

Thank you again
Margherita

[pianisten1989]

Every pianist I know has lacking confidence whenever they play. But you should show it, cause excuses aren't really that good. Someone will, sooner or later, make a serious comment about it (which would be waay meaner than what I wrote)..

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't your mum writing it...

[costicina]

Ok, you are right: excuses are silly and out of place...
Believe me, I understand perfectly well why you found annoying my post (but won't do the same mistake  excusing myself!)

And your reply was not mean: you have given  me useful suggestions to improve this piece,   and this was exactly what I was looking for when I posted the video.
Therefore, thank you!
Margherita

[costicina]

To fleetfingers: thank you soo much for your kind encouragement!
It helps a lot, as do the (constructive) criticism of pianisten1989.
That's the beauty of this forum...
Best wishes
Margherita

[iratior]

In the performance section of the piano board, we were discussing whether it's important for pianists to practice scales.  This example here certainly bolsters the argument of the pro-scale crowd.  However, just because you agree that knowledge of the scales is important doesn't mean you will necessarily think they need to be fingered the same, wherever they occur.  A good fingering depends on the rhythmic and dynamic effect you want to achieve, as well as on the set of keys involved.  Here, to practice this big bad double scale, Margherita, I would recommend you start at the ending.  Put left hand finger 5 on middle C and right hand finger 1 on high C.  Now, do the last 5 notes of the scale, forwards and backwards, faster and faster until your fingers are comfortable with those last 5 notes of the scale.  Now, put left hand finger 4 on the F# below middle C, right hand finger 1 on F# below high C.  Do the four notes of the scale, starting with the F#'s.  Back and forth, faster and faster.  Now combine them with the 5 notes in each hand done before.  Do the 9 scale notes with each hand, back and forth, faster and faster.  Any guesses as to where I'm taking this?  The next step will be to put left hand finger 4 on the B-flat a ninth below middle C and the right hand finger 1 on the B-flat a ninth below high C.  Add to the nine notes in each hand previously discussed.  Then left hand finger 4 on E-flat above low C, right hand finger 1 on E-flat above middle C.  Finally, left-hand finger 5 on G below low C, and right hand finger 1 on G below middle C.  I know that at this point, disciples of Czerny are fit to be tied because I'm advising you to use the thumb on a black key and cross your right thumb under your right 5th finger.  But all I can do is say what would work for me.

[costicina]

To Iratior:
THANK YOU  with all my heart for your detailed and thoughtful  advice!!! 
I can’t wait to experiment the  approach you suggested to practice this beastly run that is killing me…

As for Czerny and Hanon,  they utterly ruined my past experience with piano playing, so I’ll be glad to disregard their (for me disastrous) rules. 

I bet the fingering you suggest (as the idea to start at the end of this scala) will be THE solution of my problems.

Again, and again and again, THANK YOU!!!!!
Margherita

[iratior]

You're most welcome.  I hope my suggestion works.