expanding my repertoire for college??? HELP!

[pnogirl]

Hello everyone,

I am going to college in the fall for music.  In the meantime, I am trying to build up my repertoire in order to prepare for all of the talented people there.  The songs that I have ready at my finger tips are Maple Leaf Rag, Clair de Lune, Chopin's Waltz in A minor (left hand melody), Chopin's Nocturne in E-flat, Bach's prelude in fugue in c minor, Girl with the flaxen hair.  Currently, I'm working on Mozart's fantasy in D minor and Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3.  I am thinking about doing Debussy's Children's Corner and Tchaikovsky's Album for the Young, and all of Bach's Inventions for some easier but still nice pieces.  Also, schubert's impromptu's and Beethoven's pathetique sonata.

Could you give me any recommendations for some popular pieces? I'd like to learn an etude, but not to challenging of a piece (I am still developing my technique).  Perhaps, a Chopin op. 25? Or by a different composer? I'd love all the help you could give me! Thanks! 

[thorn]

The term "expanding your repertoire" is often misinterpreted as "learning pieces that I should be able to play as a pianist". Looking at the things you have done, it all seems very bog-standard if you don't mind me saying.

I personally count "expanding repertoire" as three main things. Firstly, playing pieces that you'd like to play- this is always important. Secondly, learning about as many different styles of music as possible. Finally, developing and pushing forward technique.

I would question, for example, if Children's Corner really broadening your knowledge of French music having played Clair de Lune and La fille aux cheveux de lin? Is it really necessary to learn all of Bach's Inventions or Schubert's Impromptus?

Studying music at college, they will really expect you to go beyond well known repertoire. Also, they'd rather you go there with a balance of things under your fingers played really well rather than a lot of stuff "just about there".

I would approach it like this:

Baroque: you have a Bach Prelude and Fugue, so just work on polishing that. Maybe look at Scarlatti Sonatas if you want something new from this period to work at.

Classical: look outside the Mozart Fantasy and Beethoven Pathetique. Maybe have a go at the Beethoven op.26 or op.90 sonatas which are on par with Pathetique but less cliche. Or look at Haydn or Mozart sonatas. Or even outside the Sonata- the Haydn Andante with Variations in F minor should be manageable for you, or the Mozart Adagio in B minor.

Romantic: again look outside the Liszt Liebestraum. If you would like to learn a Chopin etude, maybe look at the Nouvelles Etudes which are not as difficult as op.10/25? With a lot of hard work, some of the op.10/25 would be approachable, but you need a solid technique for all of them; my favourite example: the op.25/6 etude will not enable you to play thirds, you should already be able to play them before attempting it (scales in thirds, Czerny etc.) All of the Chopin op.10/25 are like that; you need a grasp of the technique before you attempt the etude. Something equally interesting would be the Liszt Etudes en 12 exercises, which are the bare bones of the Transcendentals. They are fun to play at intermediate level, and you will recognise in many of them easier versions of passages from the Transcendentals.

Early 20th Century: you have a couple of Debussy pieces and the Joplin, so perhaps some Rachmaninoff or Scriabin? I would suggest the more approachable Preludes of either composer. Or some Schoenberg or Bartok or something?

Late 20th Century/Living composer: the ABRSM Spectrum series are fantastic for broadening this area of the repertoire. Spectrum 4 is leagues below your current level, but books 1-3 would suit you. They are basically compendiums of pieces by a range of living/recently deceased composers.

I'm sorry if this hasn't been the reply you're expecting. Others may respond with a list of pieces you would expect to find in any "favourite piano piece" books, but I would strongly advise you that playing nothing but such pieces when you are expecting to go to college for music is an incredible waste of your efforts as they will be expecting you to expand your repertoire outside this from the outset.

[thorn]

accidentally double posted and don't think it's possible to delete. Sorry!

[pnogirl]

Thank you, these are all good suggestions.  I like several of the pieces you listed.  And after thinking about it, I really don't need to learn all of those inventions and album for the young or children's corner.  It'd be like taking a step backwards.  Could you recommend a Scarlatti and Mozart sonata? Also, what do you think about Ravel's Left Hand Concerto? It's definitely very interesting and unique(in my opinion).  Thanks for the tips, it's been great help!

[symphonicdance]

I generally share Thorn's view.

Perhaps you can consider the following
Mozart: PS in B flat major K333
Haydn: PS in C major Hob XVI 48
Scarlatti: PS in D minor K1 or PS in B minor K27
Schubert: PS in A major D664

Good to try out PC for leisure (?!) as I am not sure if you are absolutely ready for it.

Good luck.

[megadodd]

I agree with Thorn on the most part.
Congratulations on being accepted to college.

I'm going to music college now, starting my 2nd year in fall 2012.
I cannot stress enough, play Czerny.. It's boring for the most part, but I don't think you won't get away at college without playing Czerny, try doing 1 hour / day of his etudes. If you don't practice many hours each day, atleast give it a few runs before going onto repertoire.

Exactly as Thorn said, Chopin etudes will want you to already know the techniques at hand very well. Some people see them as "polishing etudes". When you do something really well, you practice the Chopin etudes for a year and then you will do it even better.

Anyway!
Beethoven Pathetique is a cool piece indeed, I would like to learn it sometime. A crowd pleaser nontheless!
If you played C minor P&F, go onto the Bb minor P&F. The fugue however is tricky, but I'm sure you'll do well. It's beautifull.
Or Scarlatti K213 L108 sonata in D minor, I'm guessing it's not really a piece to develop technique, but it's a great piece to play on a rainy day.

It's almost considered a sin to play that Liszt nocturne in my school, haha.
I wouldn't mind the elitists though, if you encounter a piece you like, play it god damnit. If it's in reach.

[thorn]

Funnily enough, I was also going to suggest the Mozart K333 in Bb!

Scarlatti, I haven't really played enough to recommend any. I was just putting him out there as an alternative to Bach, others would be in a better position to suggest.

Ravel LH concerto, I don't think would be in your reach just yet. You could give the second movement of the G major concerto a go, it's not easy by any means, but more approachable than the LH concerto.

[amelialw]

If you're entering college soon I would advice you not to learn too many new pieces but rather focus and polish what you currently have...reason being that your new teacher will start off by asking you to play something for him or her from your repertoire/ what you're working on.

For Bach a prelude and fugue is advisable if time allows and for a sonata learn either a Mozart or Haydn sonata. For technique like you said you are still developing your technique so work on Czerny; if you don't now, theres a high chance that your teacher there will ask you to.

For a concerto don't learn Ravel's l.h concerto yet if this is your first. Start with Bach or Mozart... Which is what your teacher will ask you to do.

[j_menz]

A crowd pleaser nontheless!

You say that like it's a bad thing. Everyone should have a few crowd pleasers in their repertoire.

Someday you may want to really impress that rich maiden aunt who doesn't know much about music.  Or that cute boy/girl you're admiring.

[megadodd]

Oh no, you misstake me. I didn't mean it in a negative way!

[omar_roy]

I think learning all those pieces would be quite a waste of time, to be honest.  Learn a few new pieces, but here are some things you should really work on before going to college:

1) Scales and arpeggios with all forms of minor.  It will be expected that you can play all of the scales and arpeggios at a relatively high tempo.  More important than speed, however, is the evenness of your scales.  What do I mean?  Each note in a scale/arpeggio must be perfectly even in duration and volume.  No notes should stick out.  If you think your scales are even, chances are you're not listening closely enough.  I didn't realize how bad my scales and arpeggios were until I really started listening.  You wouldn't want any unevenness in a passage of music, so it's more efficient to just treat your scales and arpeggios the same way.  Starting the work on this now will save you some trouble in the future.

2) If there's anything that can be considered the most important thing to work on, I would peg it as sight-reading.  Work on your sight reading as much as possible!  It will save you SO MUCH anxiety and heart ache if you're a well developed sight-reader.  Sight read a hymn or two every day, and children's books, gradually increasing in difficulty.  This is an incredibly important skill.  There may be times when you're assigned to another musician to accompany them, and you have a very short time to prepare the music for their lesson.  Some teachers are understanding, others are rigid and unforgiving if you come to their lesson unprepared.  This skill is also an incredible asset in chamber music.  Other times you'll have more music in general than you think you can handle, and being a good sight-reader will help ease some of that stress.  Work it to the best that you can before college, because your sight reading definitely can't get any worse from there.

[pianogirl13669]

I didn't notice anything contemporary on your list and they will definitely want you to do some 20th century work.  What about something by Paul Creston, Robert Starer, or Villa-Lobos?