Learning simplified versions or the full thing?

[idler95]

Hi! I bought a keyboard a few months ago but didn't get serious with it until a few weeks back. I'm learning by myself for now, until I decide whether or not a teacher is worth it.

Anyway, I wanted to ask if it's okay to learn simplified versions of certain pieces (Für Elise, for example), or should I wait until I'm good enough to play the full thing the way it was intended?

I'm afraid that when I try to play the real thing I'll already be too fixated on the simplified version. What do you think?

[j_menz]

A teacher is definitely worth it.

As for simplified arrangements, they won't hurt you (just don't kid yourself you can actually play the proper version).  One word of caution, though - they are often not nearly as well written as simpler pieces by the composer in question (or others with a similar style), and do not necessarily help too much in developing your skills. They can thus sound rather weak compared to pieces better written at the same difficulty. As something fun/satisfying, though, go right ahead.

[nufan]

I don't play simplified versions for two reasons:

1) Often they're badly written and lack the charme of the original work.
2) The simplified arrangements typically just skip the difficult bit; they don't really help you progress towards the real piece.

There are so many beautiful pieces for beginners out there, so I really don't see a reason for simplified versions of harder pieces.

[muleski]

I'd always go for the original, similarly because the pieces just don't sound the same simplified, but also because of the way I learn.  I have to memorise everything, so to learn & memorise a simplified version would just mess up learning the full version.

Having said that, it's taken me about 8 months to get through just 7 pages of one piece of music so far!  Only about another 14 pages to go, argh!