Piano Forum

Topic: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.  (Read 5439 times)

Offline lucy_a

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 3
Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
on: August 23, 2013, 03:42:59 AM
Hello All!

As I said in the subject, I am looking for an interesting Chopin piece level 5-6. I have to mention that I am not really interested in something overly cheery at the moment. Looking for something more deep with a lot of emotion. I should also note that I am open to any other suggestions besides Chopin! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Lucy

Offline outin

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 8211
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #1 on: August 23, 2013, 03:50:45 AM
Hello All!

As I said in the subject, I am looking for an interesting Chopin piece level 5-6. I have to mention that I am not really interested in something overly cheery at the moment. Looking for something more deep with a lot of emotion. I should also note that I am open to any other suggestions besides Chopin! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!


Prelude 28-6

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #2 on: August 23, 2013, 03:52:26 AM
There's a list of them here.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline steve_uk

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 21
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #3 on: August 29, 2013, 01:02:54 PM
I think the Raindrop Prelude would be ideal.

Offline awesom_o

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2630
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #4 on: August 29, 2013, 01:15:33 PM
I don't know.... Chopin was definitely a level 10 pianist, so that means even his level 6 pieces are really just level 10 pieces in DISGUISE as level 6 pieces.

Offline marielofredwall

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #5 on: August 29, 2013, 01:20:42 PM
I think some of his nocturnes are relatively easy, but I'm not sure of the exact level...  ;) The one in c sharp minor is really beautiful, and not too hard.

Offline awesom_o

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2630
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #6 on: August 29, 2013, 01:22:38 PM
I think you've been gullwhackered on the head, mariel. It's most certainly level 10.

Offline marielofredwall

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #7 on: August 29, 2013, 01:53:22 PM
Oh, sorry... I meant C minor. :-[

I'm not really familiar with ABRSM levels and such. :P

Offline prestoconfuocco

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 98
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #8 on: August 29, 2013, 03:47:22 PM
I don't know the grading system very well, can you tell me of other pieces you've been playing?
"If I decide to be an idiot, then I'll be an idiot on my own accord."
- Johann Sebastian Bach.

Offline musicman99

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 37
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #9 on: August 29, 2013, 04:11:31 PM
The nocturnes in C minor and C# minor (opus posthumous) are very good. I recommend these. The F minor nocturne would also be good. Liszt Consolation #3 is nice, as well.

Offline ale_ius

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 180
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #10 on: August 29, 2013, 05:01:33 PM
I should also note that I am open to any other suggestions besides Chopin! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Lucy

----Alee Marie.

Offline the_fervid_pig

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 211
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #11 on: August 29, 2013, 06:42:23 PM
The Nocturne in G Minor 15/3 is very beautiful. I've been playing for just short of a year and I'm learning it at the moment, I'm finding it challenging (one part in particular) but not impossible. It's meant to be one of the easier ones.
Currently learning:
Mendelssohn 19/6           Chopin 28/4
Satie Je Te Veux            Rach C#m
Poulenc Bal Fantome       Chopin 28/20
Schubert Serenade         Chopin 15/3
Chopin 10/9

Offline bsharp77

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 3
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #12 on: August 30, 2013, 08:16:56 AM
I would recommend waltz in a minor op 34/2 - technically undemanding and very beautiful. Or perhaps op 69/2 in b minor, also about grade 6.

Offline awesom_o

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2630
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #13 on: August 30, 2013, 08:19:57 PM
I still maintain that Chopin was a level 10 pianist and as a result, even his shortest and simplest-seeming works are in fact level 10.


 :)

Offline musicman99

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 37
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #14 on: August 31, 2013, 11:05:07 PM
I still maintain that Chopin was a level 10 pianist and as a result, even his shortest and simplest-seeming works are in fact level 10.


 :)

I think that you've contradicted yourself. First off, Chopin was an exceptional pianist of a very high standard. That doesn't mean that he couldn't write technically simple pieces like the E minor and the C minor preludes. And "level 10" is a grade given to a piece of a difficulty X. If a piece is simpler than X then it is not level 10.

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #15 on: September 02, 2013, 12:47:43 AM
I still maintain that Chopin was a level 10 pianist and as a result, even his shortest and simplest-seeming works are in fact level 10.


 :)

+ 1

I think some people confuse difficulty of playing the notes for difficulty of playing the music.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline awesom_o

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2630
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #16 on: September 02, 2013, 02:32:58 AM
I think that you've contradicted yourself. First off, Chopin was an exceptional pianist of a very high standard. That doesn't mean that he couldn't write technically simple pieces like the E minor and the C minor preludes. And "level 10" is a grade given to a piece of a difficulty X. If a piece is simpler than X then it is not level 10.

I don't feel I've contradicted myself at all. I've played over one hundred and twenty of Chopin's works and I think they're pretty much all level 10.

Perhaps the Prelude in A major is only a level 6.5, but we're practically splitting hairs by this point. I don't think I ever heard a good performance of it by a pianist who wasn't at least level 7 or 8.

Offline outin

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 8211
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #17 on: September 02, 2013, 05:01:14 AM
Anything by Chopin is horribly difficult, so I guess I'll have to agree with awsome, although the actual level/grade seems irrelevant. His music requires flexibility and control of the hands in a way that seems impossible (at least for me) without having much more experience at the piano. I can sort of play some of the easier pieces, but I am not at all pleased with the results.

Offline hfmadopter

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2272
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #18 on: September 02, 2013, 09:57:00 AM
I agree with others in that what perhaps may be rated lower is not really so with Chopin. My teacher back when I had one made me do Clemente, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Mozart works before ever introducing me to the easier Chopin pieces and mid Beethoven Sonatas. Then we moved on to using Chopin Etudes sectionally as studies for other composers works. With her a lot of Bach was important as well. So in ten years of study with her Chopin was about last on the list of to do works. You had to be able to play with full emotion, yet reserve that ability ( hold back a bit, in other words control it) before she would introduce me to it.
Depressing the pedal on an out of tune acoustic piano and playing does not result in tonal color control or add interest, it's called obnoxious.

Offline musicman99

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 37
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #19 on: September 02, 2013, 12:42:53 PM
I don't feel I've contradicted myself at all. I've played over one hundred and twenty of Chopin's works and I think they're pretty much all level 10.

Perhaps the Prelude in A major is only a level 6.5, but we're practically splitting hairs by this point. I don't think I ever heard a good performance of it by a pianist who wasn't at least level 7 or 8.

I misunderstood; I apologise. Now I understand what you mean. What I meant, however, is that they can't all be level 10 pieces, technically. I do agree with you about how an easier piece must be played by a more experienced performer. I can play some Chopin pieces and there are other that I can't (quite a lot :) ).

Carlos R.

Offline awesom_o

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2630
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #20 on: September 02, 2013, 01:14:28 PM
Some of Chopin's pieces are longer than others. Some of Chopin's pieces contain more notes than others. All of Chopin's pieces contain a vast amount of music for the pianist.

I played the B minor and E minor Preludes when I was about 7. Chopin rolled around quite a bit in his grave. I've been working quite hard to redeem myself in his beautiful eyes ever since.

Chopin demands virtuoso control of the hands at all times. All of his works, great and small, require the pianist to make the instrument come alive in a very peculiar manner.

Making something that is dead come alive is necromancy!

 

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.
Reply #21 on: September 03, 2013, 01:04:23 AM
I played the B minor and E minor Preludes when I was about 7. Chopin rolled around quite a bit in his grave. I've been working quite hard to redeem myself in his beautiful eyes ever since.

Given the number of pianists out there in the same boat, I suspect Chopin is on permanent spin cycle.  ;D
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
“Piano Dreams” - Exploring the Chinese Piano Explosion

The motivations for learning the piano are diverse, ranging from personal enjoyment to cultural appreciation and professional aspirations. While some see it as a way to connect with cultural heritage, others pursue it as a path to fame and fortune. In the movie “Piano Dreams” director Gary Lennon documents the struggles and sacrifices of three wannabe piano stars in modern China. Read more
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert