Schumann's Scenes from Childhood

[sarah14]

I am about to begin Schumann Scenes from Childhood Op. 15 No. 5 (Perfect Happiness) and Op. 15 No. 10 (Almost Too Serious), and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to practice them. I am also working on Sonata Op. 2 No. 1 1st Movement by Beethoven. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to practice that piece as well? I am trying to find the most efficient way to practice, so that I'm not just sitting at the piano for 5 hours not accomplishing anything. Thank you so much in advance!!

[leroy199]

Hello Sarah14

first of all is do you have a teacher?  if you are serious about piano and really want to get a decent result with the pieces you are  playing then i really don't see any other way then finding a teacher. he or she will take the time to guide in your playing even tell you if the pieces you play are appropriate for your level.
  my only suggestion for playing a piece is make sure you are working with a metronome slowly, one hand at a time

[sarah14]

Thank you so much for your reply!! I do have a private teacher at a university. I am working on getting my pieces ready to audition for a music scholarship as I am going to begin studying to be a registered music therapist in the fall. I am currently 17 years old, and I have been playing the piano [seriously] for four and a half years. My teacher sent me home with these pieces to work on my own to get a start. So, I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with these pieces, and if they did anything specific to help them learn the pieces with better accuracy and rhythm. Thank you for your suggestion! I have been playing slowly and hands separate, but not with the metronome, so I'll definitely do that!

[thesixthsensemusic]

www.pianofundamentals.com offers you a comprehensive practice guide. Follow it, and you will be playing Schumann's Toccata within a couple of years, LOL.

Score analysis and thoroughly making use of the way the human brain works is the key there