Learning this piece...too difficult?

[cuberdrift]

Hello,

I'm getting on with the Chopin Etude op 10 no 3 pretty well now, I guess I was just in the wrong state which hindered my progress a bit. I now can play the polyphony decently well.

But there's something else I am for. This one; https://vkgfx.com/scores/tatum/tatum__t42.pdf , which I learn by leisure. It's longer and more technically difficult than the Tristesse. Should I get on with it? 

Maybe I'm too crazy to attempt these two pieces...after all I'm only Grade 6. Should I give it a go or stop first?

Thank you for reading.

Regards,
cuberdrift

[piano_vs_science]

yes!!! you should definitely attempt it!!!
i'm in grade 1 and i'm composing my own pieces
btw do you have a recording? i'm a bad sight reader

[cuberdrift]

btw do you have a recording? i'm a bad sight reader

This. 

[thalbergmad]

If you are grade 6, you are nowhere near these pieces.

Why not leave them for a couple of years until you are more prepared.

Thal

[akpl16]

Have to agree with ^thalbergmad on this one; sometimes, it's not that you can't learn the notes, it's more of just the musical maturity of the performance. I remember learning the Tristesse around grade 6, too, but upon revisiting it in high school, I found my old interpretation to have much lacking in it. A couple years of development will do your future musical talent wonders! Definitely do both pieces then!

[cuberdrift]

Hmm...I'd have a go on them anyway. I can relate to you however.

I remember having learned the Fur Elise after just like a month of piano, and I did manage to play the notes after a week of grueling practice, but I noticed that I could play it in a far wider range of colors now with more substance.

Thanks for the advice!

[cadenza14224]

Let me begin by saying that I freaking love this piece. I never heard the original recording by Art Tatum, but got exposed to it after hearing it on Yuja Wang's new album.

When it comes to difficulty, I think it's monstrous. Firstly if you've been purely classically trained (which is my case), and haven't had much exposure to Jazz/Improv/Ragtime piano, this piece can get extremely awkward for you. You mention working on Chopin Op 10. No. 3; these two pieces entail completely different difficulties from completely different eras of music...so if you're thinking your mastery of the Chopin will assist in "Tea For Two"....i don't think it will exactly translate to that so much.

First look to easier Joplin pieces to get you accustomed to the musical style....then I guess you can progress your way up, after some familiarity with the styles idioms.

Also remember that Art Tatum was a RIDICULOUS pianist, and he may have simply transcribed something he was improvising...so there is no way this will be a simple task!

[cuberdrift]

Let me begin by saying that I freaking love this piece. I never heard the original recording by Art Tatum, but got exposed to it after hearing it on Yuja Wang's new album.

When it comes to difficulty, I think it's monstrous. Firstly if you've been purely classically trained (which is my case), and haven't had much exposure to Jazz/Improv/Ragtime piano, this piece can get extremely awkward for you. You mention working on Chopin Op 10. No. 3; these two pieces entail completely different difficulties from completely different eras of music...so if you're thinking your mastery of the Chopin will assist in "Tea For Two"....i don't think it will exactly translate to that so much.

First look to easier Joplin pieces to get you accustomed to the musical style....then I guess you can progress your way up, after some familiarity with the styles idioms.

Also remember that Art Tatum was a RIDICULOUS pianist, and he may have simply transcribed something he was improvising...so there is no way this will be a simple task!

I am mostly classically-trained but I also practice improvisation quite a lot. And the only other "stride" piece I have learned is a simplified version of "The Entertainer". I found that after learning REAL stride (the T42), my leaps became somewhat highly improved.

But man even with improvs I am having a lot of difficulty with the Tea. I observe that it is twice as hard even as the Tristesse, peculiar melodic lines and hellish runs and all. Perhaps I should pause first, I have completed the first 30 seconds...

[cuberdrift]

Hello.

Sorry for the double post, but how about the Revolutionary Etude? Do you think it will work for me?

Regards.

[p2u_]

Sorry for the double post, but how about the Revolutionary Etude? Do you think it will work for me?

Hope you are not talking about Dreyschock's version in octaves?
If you like it, it's one of the best places to start with Chopin's etudes. It's not just an "exercise" for the left hand, keep that in mind!

Paul

[cuberdrift]

Hope you are not talking about Dreyschock's version in octaves?
If you like it, it's one of the best places to start with Chopin's etudes. It's not just an "exercise" for the left hand, keep that in mind!

Paul

So it's okay for a 6th grader to try this out? 

[p2u_]

So it's okay for a 6th grader to try this out?  

Grade 6 is just FORMAL education; it's "the system", but not all people at that formal level are the same. Of course, if you have done everything else required by your teacher and you still have time and energy left for something else, then you should experiment with heavier repertoire. Even if you can play it only at half or 3/4 the tempo now, you will have it ready for the future. Just don't force anything.

Paul