Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

[jet499]

 Hi,
Can someone please give me some guidance on a dilema that I have with regard to my 10 old son. He has just pass his Grade 4 piano exam with distinction (as he did for Grade 1,2&3) and has just finished a 3 week study of Fur Elise and now wants to move on to the Moonlight Sonata. I do not play the piano myself, but I can read music and it seems to be a rather advanced piece. My question is...if he studies this piece now (which is obviously above his current grade) could it be detromental to his ongoing training habits?

Thank you for any guidance you can give me!

[drkilroy]

The first movement of Moonlight Sonata is not that hard though it is in key with plenty of sharps. It is played slowly and patterns in it are somehow repetitive, so in my opinion you could allow your son to learn the first movement.

The other movements, especially third of course, are way harder in contrast to the first one and for Fur Elise player they are rather impossible to play.

Best regards, Dr

[chopinspride]

Hi,

Firstly, I am going to ask whether your son as a teacher. Secondly, I am going to advise your son to do whatever this teacher advises him to do.

I would not recommend the "Moonlight" Sonata at such a young age. This piece requires an emotional maturity to pull off. Even though the first movement is technically "easy," very difficult to interpret musically.

It is very impressive that your son has achieved such marks in his exams, congradulate him . Continue going up the grades with your son, but do not rush him. I would recommend the whole thing after he has finished all the grades, maybe around the age of 16.

Good luck and tell your son to continue the good work!

[bachbrahmsschubert]

This piece is always given to young kids and it is always butchered. I hate it.

It is not "easy" as it requires extreme discipline to keep the triplets even while maintaining a top note melody in one hand. In my opinion, a sonata by Haydn would be better if you can find one that he likes. No point in giving him something that he doesn't want to learn, but I don't find Moonlight Sonata beneficial by any standard.

Best wishes,

P.S. Maybe you could convince him about how great Haydn is because he was Beethoven's teacher. It has worked on a couple of young pupils that I've had.

[sucom]

In my view, attempting challenging pieces is not detrimental to later progress.  Instead, it may inspire and challenge him to greater heights.  Having said this, his musical maturity may not yet rise to the level the piece requires so he will be unlikely to play it as it should sound so it wouldn't be a piece that he will be able to perform just yet.  But it WILL inspire him to greater things.

As long as your son is continuing to practise other music that IS within his grasp, then attempting more challenging pieces will serve to push him along the road that little bit quicker. 

[jet499]

 Thank you to everyone that replied to my request for guidance. It was hugely helpful.

Thanks again.