Learning entire sets

[qpalqpal]

As a student still having much to learn, is it a fair idea to learn whole sets of something in a row, or a lot of a set? For example, learning Chopin's Valses. As a student, would I want to learn a lot of this in a row, since most is of similar level?

Many pianists record whole sets of music from a composer. Is this done later as a career and when you have learned most of what you ought to learn?

[scott13]

When you are a student (i myself am a piano major at university) I like to spend my time playing the biggest and widest range of music i possible can, because you become a much better musician by doing this.

However, i have an absolute love of the Chopin Polonaises and only have 5 left to learn, so if you do have a true love of a set whether it be a set of sonatas, waltz's, preludes, etudes etc then by all means learn many from that set, but don't solely work on that set.

You will find with sets by same composer, after learning 2-3 the rest become  much easier as you have a fairly good familiarity with said composers writing style for the set you are learning.

[yodaofpiano]

I'm repeating some of what scott13 has said. I think that if you are going to be a professional, recording artist, it will be important to know a ton of repertoire, including sets of certain music, such as the Chopin Ballades and Scherzi, in addition to the aforementioned Polonaises and Valses. However, I think as a student it's important to diversify what you play and get a taste of what you like and what you don't like. If you're already doing that great, go ahead and learn all of the Valses for fun but just make sure that you're also playing new and different things as well. However it's important to note that even famous professionals didn't start learning some very famous and important pieces until late in their career. Ex: Sviatoslav Richter didn't learn the Brahms Paganini and Haydn variations until 60s, as well as some concertos by Saint-Saens and Gershwin.  In addition out of the 5 beethoven concertos he only played the first three. (Check out wikipedia)

[qpalqpal]

Well, I am most interested in the Preludes of Chopin. These are actually played as a set in concert.

I love this set because it is so vast with emotions. It travels between dimensions for me. As a set, it sends roller coasters of emotion. As a level 5-6 ABRSM (Im not part of ABRSM), would learning this gradually as a "focus" be a good goal. It is my favorite set. What do you think?

-Esteban

[scott13]

Well, I am most interested in the Preludes of Chopin. These are actually played as a set in concert.

I love this set because it is so vast with emotions. It travels between dimensions for me. As a set, it sends roller coasters of emotion. As a level 5-6 ABRSM (Im not part of ABRSM), would learning this gradually as a "focus" be a good goal. It is my favorite set. What do you think?

-Esteban

At grade 5-6 i would say no. Although a handful of the preludes are not technically challenging, musically they are very difficult. The preludes cover Chopin's entire writing style too, so they cover all emotions and as such mastering them all at your current level would not be possible. Add to that the fact that some of them are damn tricky technically as well, there are several that could have been etudes.

However having a long term goal like this is never a bad idea, as you will always have something to be working towards.