Newbie - some queries

[waldstein]

Hi

I have just joined this forum and find it really amazing. It has been really helpful in many ways.

I would say - i am some where in the early intermediate level (have done a couple of mozart sonatas / beethovens pathetique & moonlight - first 2 mvts of both and working on the third/ some bach 2 part inventioins, a couple of preludes and one fugue/ havent done much of chopin / lizst and co).

I would like some advice on
General
1. I would really like improve my ear, i am think there is no one worse than me - it takes me ages to catch basic melody lines. How do i improve this?
2. The flow of ideas in the forum suggest that there are better excersices than hanon's. Any specifics??

Specific
1. Andante spianato - should i try it now or later
2. Waldstein sonata - the third mvt - how to play the bars with glissando on the left, trill and melody line on the right (I am in love with this sonata - and have kept it as a very very long term goal!!!)



Thanks in advance

[faulty_damper]

1.  What do you mean when you say it takes you a long time to "catch" the melody?
2.  Almost anything is better than Hanon.  Bach WTC, Scarlatti sonatas...

Specific
1.  Which is this by?
2.  I think there is a thread about the double glisandi somewhere around here.  About the trill: learn to be very good at the trill and be able to switch fingering from 13, 12, 23.  As the melody is played, you can stop trilling for a moment to play those notes but don't make it so obvious that you have stopped it.

[waldstein]

Thanks damper

By ages - i mean to play the melody by ear, takes me a very long time. Even simple ones, are very hard for me to play by ear. I think it is about improving relative pitch understanding.

Bach WTC - Do i play only the preludes - I find the Fugues very tough. Can u suggest something from the WTC / Scarlatti for trills and cross rhythms

Andante spianato - By Chopin. Prelude to the Grand Polonaise Brilliante.

I was thinking the same way, where u cheat (and get away) on the trill during the time when you play the other notes. Is this how even the virtuosos do it??