Moment Musical, opus 16 no 3

[qpalqpal]

Dear Forum,

I have always wanted to start on Rachmaninoff, since I am a beginner student. My most advanced piece is Chopin's Waltz Op. 34 No. 2, and I have performed it once. Out of all Rachmaninoff's pieces, I've researched and seen that this piece is probably the simplest. So i have a lot of questions.

1. Does this piece, as well as all musical moments, represent Rachmaninoff's color and his music? in other words, will this piece be somewhat of an introduction into his more broad expanse of music?

2. What skills are required to play this piece, which i might lack.

3. How do I go about learning this piece? 

I hope that someone will provide me answers and some background

Qpal

[qpalqpal]

...If anyone out there knows a lot about Rachmaninoff, it would make him happy to respond to my post  I really want to get started.

[mhoffman89]

I play the the moment musicals from 3 to 6, and 3 is actually really difficult. I would rather suggest the 5th one. the 3rd one may look easy, and analyses wise it actually is, but you need flexible fingers and the piece has a lot of legato thirds while you're holding onto chords which makes it terribly difficult. If you do start it go to a piano teacher to sort out some fingerings for the piece and mark the phrasing. It is an absolutely lovely piece to play though, all of them are. look at no. 5 though, it is a good introduction to Rachmaninoff and isn't as taxing as no. 3. I wouldn't mind sending you my notes, but i haven't got a scanner to upload it with.

But, with regards to no. 5, it may have long stretches for the left hand every now and then, but not as much as no. 3. This piece will give you an idea of how wonderfully Rachmaninoff couples interesting harmonic progressions with breathtaking melodies. I hope you enjoy it, and let me know what you thing of no. 5.