Struggling with Mozart

[danhuyle]

I never knew that learning Mozart could be so... hard and frustrating. The first hurdle is the technique and the second is the interpretation. I can't even play through the Mozart Sonatas slowly from start to finish.

The only complete Mozart Sonata I have played from memory is K332 and this was preparing for an end of year exam.

I have an easier memorizing, or even just to play with the music, Chopin and Liszt for reasons I could never understand.

Chopin
4 Scherzi
Ballade no3
Fantasie Op49
Etudes Op10 2,4,7,8,9,12 Op25 11

Liszt
Transcendental Etudes 1,5,9,10,12 (easy to memorize)
Trancendental Etudes 2,3,4,11 (play slowly with music)
Transcendental Etudes 6,7,8 (Can't seem to get through the technical hurdles)
Sonata in B minor
La Campanella
Liebestraum

Then there's the random stuff I can play slowly with music like Burgmuller Op100, Czerny studies etc.

Why do I want to learn Mozart? Interpretation skills and all teachers will teach Mozart without hesitation. I'm wondering how people can learn all 18 while struggling for one.

[pianoman53]

Because you said it was easy. That's why you're having a hard time. You saw Mozart as something easy, and you still think you can learn a sonata in just a few days.

On one hand, you say that memorizing isn't the same as playing well. On the other hand, you always mentioning it, whenever you talk about a piece - how easy it is.

You probably have to realize, for real, that memorizing isn't the same as playing. Anyone can memorize a mozart sonata in short time. But what's the point? No one in interested in hearing someone playing Mozart, by heart, but with loads of mistakes in articulation and rhythm.

Just stop nagging about memorizing, and start practising for real. You say you are a teacher, how do you tell your student to play a piece? I imagine you tell them "It's not what you play, but how!" but you don't seem to get it yourself.

Start with hands seperate, and don't put together until you know them both. Then play sloooowly, so that everything is perfect.


And just for fun: You're playing the C-minor, aren't you?

[pianoman53]

Darn, pressed Quote instead of Modify! Delete please.

[bleicher]

I'm totally with you. Mozart is difficult. Every single nuance of phrasing has to be right for the music to work. Choose a short piece that looks easy on the page, then go through it with a microscope, analysing exactly where each line and phrase is going. Work on a phrase until you know exactly what dynamic and articulation every single note has to be to work in the phrase. Don't worry about having to play 'difficult' music: a good pianist has to be able to play 'easy' music well.

[pianoman53]

and oh...

The way you're playing the chopin pieces you listed, is not really playing.

You have no sense of rhythm, melody, time, rubato, viocing, style or technique.
So I wouldn't really list any of them in your repertoire.

I'm sorry, but if you want to become a professional, you have to start thinking about what the H you are doing. Cause that's just not right.