A little question about Moszkowski op. 72 nº 4, for Bernhard and Chuang Chang

[Maui]

Hello guys

First of all I wish to thank all the help you guys provide here. I've learnead a lot by reading CC Fundamentals... and the Bernhard answers in many topics.

The question I have is caused much because sometimes CC words tell me to do something while Bernhard ones tells me to do the opposite.

I have 8 months of serious piano practice (6 months before I've played keyboard, but it DEFINITELY was not serious, sometimes i didnt touch the keyboard for weeks).

Now I'm working on Bach Fughetta BWV999, Kuhlau Sonatina op. 55 nº 1 (only musicality), Bach Invention nº 1 (just for fun), and Moszkowski op. 72 nº 4.

My teacher said its a very hard study and she was not sure of giving me it, but I insisted (because in the middle of the year we got a very good music festival and having a virtuosity study is pre-requisite to join piano classes).

So, after reading Bernhard 20 minute and 7-repetitions rules i thought if it is applicable to what is going on with me. That is because I have to work so much in technique issues, and then, according to CC methods, I have to spend at least 3 or 4 minutes in each parallel set exercise. Since there are so many parallel set exercises that I need to do in order to play that piece, I thought that i really need more than 20 minutes for each session (i usually do 1 or 2 bars sessions, in the hardest parts like the octave left hand scale I do only 1 bar per time).

I need an advice from both of you:
May I do only 20 minutes with each session? It will work on massive technique building? Or I need spend more time? Or cut the chunk sizes?
I notice that I had a lot of technique evolution since I got that study (almost 3 months ago), but I'm not sure if I'm wasting time with some misunderstoods in my practice schedule.

Please help me!!!

:]

PS: Is there a rule that in english, everytime you say "I", you need to use a Shift letter? Or you can use like this:
I am going to school because i need to learn math.


Maui.

[Maui]

Please Help!!!

I know its a long question and needs a long answer, I'm just keeping it up

Maui.

[allchopin]

If the question is for Bernhard and CC, then send them an instant message.  Don't bog down the rest of the forum.

[Maui]

If the question is for Bernhard and CC, then send them an instant message.  Don't bog down the rest of the forum.

The question is not ONLY for them. If you have an advice, please do share with me.

And even if it was, I would like to post here because it can help other people with the same problems. I learn a lot reading topics that have nothing to do with me, and I wish people can do that too.

[Ndiin]

Yes, there is a rule in English that you have to capitalize every "I" in your sentence when you are referring to yourself.

I am going to school because I need to learn math.

[super_ardua]

There is no "method",  do what works.  Try CC's method,  and then Bernhard,  and see which one works, then modify then try again. Feel free to experiment with your practice.

[Maui]

That's what I'm doing until now.

I just asked that question because of "specific questions get more useful answers"

[mosis]

allchopin is right. Don't make topics specifically directed at Bernhard and Chang. You may make mention to them and their practice methods, don't throw a topic solely out at them.

I say this, because over the weeks, many other people have picked up on what they recommend. You may be surprised at how much good advice you can receive from others on the same practice methods.

I could give you a longer answer, but I need to sleep, so I'll give you this answer:

Per each practice session, only take a chunk of material that you may have mastered at the end of 20 minutes. This may be four phrases, or this may two parallel sets. However, do not spend more than 20 minutes on one thing. If there is no progress, you are doing something wrong. Try to change your technique, or better yet, cut the passage in half. Any idiot can master 2 notes in 20 minutes, and sometimes, this is what you will have to do.

Experiment. You won't get the method right away.

[bernhard]

Maui:

I am aware of your post – I will try to give you a more complete answer on the next weekend.

Some quick comments:

Super Ardua wrote:

There is no "method",  do what works.  Try CC's method,  and then Bernhard,  and see which one works, then modify then try again. Feel free to experiment with your practice.

Super ardua is right. I would not call it a method, but rather a body of knowledge, a set of principles that must be adapted both to the player and to the piece you are working on. As he says, experimentation and modification to best suit you and your piece are important elements. The only thing that matters is the results you achieve.

Mosis wrote:

over the weeks, many other people have picked up on what they recommend. You may be surprised at how much good advice you can receive from others on the same practice methods.
 
Experiment. You won't get the method right away.

This is also important. As more people start experimenting with these ideas they will come up with variations and even completely new approaches. Sometimes they can give you an angle I never thought about, or they can explain something better, or in a way that will make more sense to you.

There is a very big difference between reading about these things in a forum and having a teacher knowledgeable about these principles by your side tailoring and adjusting the procedures to you and to your pieces.

On the other hand, it may be much more profitable to actually try to figure out things from a written account, since this sort of effort is what makes one learn. It is actually a good thing that one will not get it right away as Mosis say, because we learn infinitely more when we make mistakes.

And yes, specific questions get more useful answers. So brace yourself!

Best wishes (e um abraço )
Bernhard.

[Maui]

Thank you Bernhard.

Mosis: I do read other people threads, that's why I almost never post.

I'm afraid to practice only two notes per practice session because there are fast octaves scales that the thing you have to learn is most related to endurance, and how do you use your force to speed up the hand, the points you have to relax more etc.

PS: Bernhard, where are you from?