Chopin, Waltz Am

[stefo78]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and please feel free to leave any advice and comment about my piano playing and to improve myself.
I don't think it is always easy to play an apparent easy piece, do you ?
How to improve my musicality and feelings at my best ?

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Thanks by advance,
Stephane

[mjames]

In some parts the left hand over powers the right hand clouding up the melody. I believe that in this piece, you should always try to keep the right hand in power/dominance.
You also make the harmonies sound all mushy because of too much pedal in some places. Remember, play legato with your hands not with the pedal.

Other than that, you played really well man. Way better than my playing xD

[stefo78]

Thanks, I will try to improve in these ways.

I always find some difficulties using the pedal in another way than removing and replacing it immediately at the end of the measure. In fact I put the pedal only for the left hand to sound what I would like (and the right hand follows), but I don't know if there's any better way to do it. Finally, is there any moment where I can remove it for more than one pulsation ?

By the way, this is one of my first piece I learnt with mental play - I find it difficult to MP the left hand with so big jumps... And MP the two hands is far beyond my reach. But this thing maybe for another topic.

[stefo78]

Hello,

Here is my second try on this waltz. I really hope this is better - tried to lead the melody with the right hand, to improve the use of the pedal.

Do you agree ? Do you think there's more work to do on this ? Thanks for all your comments - they're always very useful !

[lorcar]

Hi Stefo,

I really like your vids
How long have you been studying?

[stefo78]

I learned piano in a school between around 7 and 12. Then I stopped until 22, when I touched a piano again during 6 months, then I stopped again.
Now I'm 35 and I've been starting again since july 2011. However I consider that I'm really learning since february 2013, when I began to read forums and to understand I needed to memorize and "mental play" the pieces. Without that, my motivation would not be so big - and my play wouldn't be like what you've listened to.

[lorcar]

I am 38 and started again recently after a longest interruption.
How did you learn to memorize? any tip/suggestion? it's just repetition or what?
Any hint you feel to share is highly appreciated
thanks in advance

[stefo78]

Personnally I came accross "fundamentals of piano practice" by Chuan C Chang, you could find it on the web easily. That it is how I understood the use of mental play.
That's the best thing I read about piano practice so far (even if my knowledge is very limited), but it boosted my learning.

Look also for "mental play" or "mental practice" on this forum. You need to memorize the pieces via mental play first, and not via muscle memory, which comes after. It's what I've understood.

By the way, if any people have other references or views on the subject, please share !