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Topic: New student looking for opportunities to improve  (Read 1189 times)

Offline foreignwords

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New student looking for opportunities to improve
on: January 01, 2013, 12:21:16 PM
Hello everyone! Been a reader for about a month, but just signed up.
I started taking piano lessons about a month ago, but have been wanting to study for about 15 years. Finally decided it was time. I'm loving it. I'm still only a beginner, just getting through the most basic exercises in the most basic workbooks, but I feel I'm making progress.
I played woodwinds in school for about ten years, so reading music and basic music theory aren't much problem.
I have a 90 minute lesson once a week with the most enthusiastic college student at a local university. Mon-Fri I get to practice about 90 minutes a day (30 mins in three segments on a piano during my work day), and my teacher is also giving me a lot of listening homework. She wants me to familiarize myself with styles, composers, and famous pieces. Lately it's been Chopin and Rachmaninoff. She's preparing a Granados piece and I've been listening to these and following along in the sheet music even though I have no hope of playing anything that difficult.
I guess my question is this: with a small little apartment I live in here in Taipei and no hope of a piano at home, what else can I do to make the most of the time I have away from the piano? At best I get an hour and a half six days a week to practice. I'm listening to and reading as much music as possible. Also, what are some pieces I could start working on this early to feel like I can play something? I'm working on Satie's gnossiennes, and I've almost got the first one down. I just don't have the touch for it yet. I think I may be able to handle Chopin's prelude in Em, (op. 28, no 4.) any other suggestions for things that would be good for me to learn this early?
Thanks in advance, guys!

Offline proklover

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Re: New student looking for opportunities to improve
Reply #1 on: January 01, 2013, 05:34:19 PM
I'd say just listen to as much a you can. And sight read
"That's why I say 'seem', rather than 'to be'-because seeming is art's job and measure."

Offline foreignwords

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Re: New student looking for opportunities to improve
Reply #2 on: January 03, 2013, 05:24:24 AM
Any suggestions for what to listen to or play? Obviously I've been listening to what I'm trying to learn (Satie pieces) but I'm not so sure those are the best place to start. They're not technically difficult (gnossiennes) but I enjoy them and they make me feel like I can play something.
As for everything else, it's stuff I don't have any realistic dreams of playing in the next decade. Is that sort of listening helpful? I have scores for a lot of it (mostly Chopin) and have no problem following along.
I suppose the most helpful part will be actually sight reading things at my (ever so low) technical ability. I'm working on getting more sheet music for that, but for now I suppose the exercises in the books I have (Beyer and Czerny) will do.
 

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