What should I play to advance my technique?

[davidxavi]

Hi, I'm new to this forum.  I just learned the Beethoven Hammerklavier and a Rachmaninoff prelude and I was thinking about some new pieces.  One of the pieces I've always dreamed of playing is Ravel's La Valse, but I do realize the sheer magnitude of this piece.  Would anybody have any suggestions as to some pieces I should play to get my technique and musical ability to the level of this (pleasant) nightmare?  Thank you in advance.

[49410enrique]

edit. deleted error. apologies i replied before listening to the work, thinking it was a waltz not a monstrously difficult concert transcription as a tribute to a waltz.

i'm sure others will have better suggestions than i as this work is way way way above anything i can intelligently comment on.

[starstruck5]

   I was going to suggest the same thing!  The Debussy Etudes especially.  Maybe the 2nd Ballade of Chopin is also worth exploring.  The Katchaturian Tocatta is a good warm up.

What about this also?

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[pianoplayjl]

Maybe some Rachmaninoff etudes-tabeaux, Chopin etudes and Liszt TEs. Also have a look at scriabin etudes, which are underplayed compared to Chopin and Liszt etudes. Try the Beethoven Appasionata sonata which shouldn't be any harder than the Hammerklavier sonata. If you think you are up for it, try this monsterous piece by Lyapunov:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVBsjcppKmE

[philb]

Wait, you can play the Hammerklavier, but not La Valse? Really?

[ajspiano]

I find this question a little amusing..  you can advance your technique by playing anything if you actually study correct technique and apply it even to easier music. The difference with harder works is in that you will not be able to play them without studying and improving your technique.

And if you havent, you should read fink/sandor or watch taubman/freeing the caged bird/the craft of piano (or just all of the above) - if you are serious about improving technically.

[rogers7113]

Try the Chopin Etudes. They are pretty hard... but once you've mastered several of them, your technique improves substantially. By the way, if you are struggling to play virtuosic areas (like me), you may want to look at learning the Taubman Techniques (the technique invented by Dorothy Taubman).

[jtguru]

Would anybody have any suggestions as to some pieces I should play to get my technique and musical ability to the level of this (pleasant) nightmare?

I would suggest the following:

Ravel, La Valse 

In all seriousness I do not think this is an unreasonable course of action if you have successfully played Hammerklavier. But if you really insist on playing other things, you may enjoy these:

Liszt Transcendental Etude no. 10
Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableaux Op. 39 No. 3
Lyapunov Transcendental Etude no. 6 linked to above, a particular favorite etude of mine, though I have not actually learned it yet myself

[danhuyle]

Scales, arpeggios, chromatic, octaves with different dynamics and articulation. Turn these basics into works of pure artistry.

Chromatics is so critical to get that effect in Liszt TE12 or Ballade 2.

[mcdiddy1]

You should play Bach for technique

Bach's piano music requires a very clean, crisp finger techniques and limited scarce use of pedal. Having exposure to Bach is a great way to work finger technique without relying on the pedal to cover up errors.