A good starting Beethoven sonata?

[wonzo]

I would like to learn a Beethoven sonata. I have never played one before, so I don't think I should jump into one of his harder, more complex works. That would be unwise. I've been looking at op. 14 no. 1 and it seems to be a reasonable place to start. I'd like to get your opinions. Thanks.

-W

[49410enrique]

49410enrique-san say 'best way to climb stairs, from bottom step first"
2 Sonatinas for Piano, Anh.5

[mikeowski]

I myself am working on his sonata op 2/1 (my first one too). Not really the easiest, but at about the easier middle level.
What pieces have you played so far? The op 2/1 was suggested to me as a good step up from Mozarts K332 mov. 1 (which I can play obviously.) I think that was a good choice.

[zezhyrule]

One of the Op. 49 sonatas is where people usually start. They're both pretty easy, so it would depend what other pieces you've played/what level you're at.

[j_menz]

49410enrique-san say 'best way to climb stairs, from bottom step first"

Only if you're going up; otherwise very messy. 

To OP: it depends really on what you've played before. Perhaps you could give us a starting point?

[wonzo]

Well, I'm not going to give you my whole history, but I'm starting to learn Chopin scherzi at the moment. Scherzo 2 is the most technically challenging piece I've played yet, but I play it well. I've never played any Beethoven, and I know that the technique for Beethoven and Chopin are very different, so I'd like to work my way up. I don't want to learn op. 49, it seams too easy. I'm wondering if Beethoven op. 14 no. 1 is a good starting place. And also, is it worthy of college auditions? The colleges I've looked at only prohibit the op. 49 and op. 79 sonatas from being auditioned. Does this mean the op. 14 no. 1 is acceptable? Just for the sake of context this was what I was planning on auditioning with as a whole:

Bach: Prelude and fugue no. 20 in A minor (book II)
Beethoven: (still deciding, with your help, but I'm thinking op. 14 no. 1)
Chopin: Scherzo 2
Debussy: 'Minstrels'

[j_menz]

You can play pretty much any of them then, with the probable exception of the late ones (which are not the way to get introduced to Beethoven in any case).

My suggestion is to listen to them and settle on one you like.

[wonzo]

If you don't mind me asking, what's your source of knowledge? Are you a teacher, or have you been through it all? I've heard from many people that many of Beethoven's sonatas are harder than anything Chopin wrote, which makes me a little nervous.  Also, could you respond to my question about using op. 14/1 in an audition? Sorry to nag if it seems that way. Much thanks. 

[jayeckz]

I've heard from many people that many of Beethoven's sonatas are harder than anything Chopin wrote...

I would disagree.  In terms of time spent learning notes, I would spend way more time on Chopin.  I would also have to spend more time polishing a Chopin piece of similar length.

Difficulty is extremely subjective!

Take op. 2 no. 1 for example.  Personally, I struggled on this piece a lot more than I thought I would (I had learned op. 57, op. 109, and op. 14 to a performance level before learning this sonata).  I learned the notes to the entire sonata in one sitting, but I had a lot of difficulty determining the exact touch/sound and bringing everything to a performance level.  To give you a better idea of how much time I spent: I spent a day learning the notes and more than 30 days working out the interpretation and polishing the piece before I considered it a part of my repertoire.

could you respond to my question about using op. 14/1 in an audition?

This really depends on where you intend to audition.  For example, Juilliard explicitly states that op. 14 is NOT allowed.  Another consideration is the rest of your audition repertoire.

Personally I would do an earlier Beethoven Sonata; however, choose one you really love.

[j_menz]

If you don't mind me asking, what's your source of knowledge? Are you a teacher, or have you been through it all? I've heard from many people that many of Beethoven's sonatas are harder than anything Chopin wrote, which makes me a little nervous.  Also, could you respond to my question about using op. 14/1 in an audition? Sorry to nag if it seems that way. Much thanks. 

I'm not a teacher, and haven't been through auditions. I have, however, played all the Beethoven sonatas. Aside form the late ones, they are not really more difficult than a Chopin Scherzo in terms of technical difficulties. They are longer and more complex, generally speaking, but that is rather the point they are asked for. I can't comment on whether 14/1 is acceptable for auditions, though others appear to suggest it may not be.

It takes quite a while and a bit of effort to learn your first Beethoven sonata, so my advice to pick one you like isn't intended frivolously; you'll be spending a lot of time with it, and if it doesn't appeal at the start, that's a lot of time doing something you don't like. It also makes it harder.

[wonzo]

Another consideration is the rest of your audition repertoire.

What do you mean?

[jayeckz]

What other pieces are you playing for the audition?

[danhuyle]

Op10 No2 in F major. It's an AMusA piece and somewhere above grade 8.

[wonzo]

What other pieces are you playing for the audition?

I listed them a few posts up.

[chewbacha]

How about the Hammerklavier or the Op.111? They're real great starters! 

[patrickd]

How about the Hammerklavier or the Op.111? They're real great starters! 

Agreed