Just watched The Pianist, inspired even more

[ranniks]

My hands are shaking to play Chopin Ballade 1 in g minor op 23.

Bloody freck how long it will take me; my blood is telling me to learn it.

This is my progres up till now:

WIP= work in progress

minuet in g
prelude in c major
prelude op 28 no 4
Fur elise 80% (WIP)
march in D (transposed in C)
schuman kindersehen no 1
prelude no 2 (WIP)
prelude no 3 (WIP)
River flows in me (WIP)
Moonlight sonata movement 1 (WIP)

When will I be able to ignite such beauty as the ballade? I don't care if my version is half-assed, I just want to play it.

[yohankwon]

1) the chopin is MUCH MUCH harder than all of your learned pieces, technically and musically
2) depends on how well you've played your learn pieces...if you played them really well then probably, but if not then don't even think about attempting the ballade

[hfmadopter]

Bloody freck how long it will take me; my blood is telling me to learn it.
 I don't care if my version is half-assed, I just want to play it.

First you're an infant in regards to time at the piano. What is it now, about 14 months you have been at it ? Chopin Ballades ? Think years more before your attempts won't address perfectly the second line above ! No offense intended, just fact.

[perprocrastinate]

Be patient. Take this from someone who decided to "learn" Chopin's 10/12 immediately after starting the piano. To say I butchered the piece would be a severe understatement.

However, here is some more inspiration, if you're interested. His recording was done at two and a half years of experience.

[mjames]

lol, it's going to take some time my friend

There are plenty of beauties in the piano repertoire besides the ballades.

[outin]

My hands are shaking to play Chopin Ballade 1 in g minor op 23.

I think this is the problem with trying to learn piano: There's far too much wonderful music that you are just aching to play, but the road to being able to is just very long. With most other instruments the repertoire is a bit more limited so you don't feel like you're in a candy store with no money all the time 

Just resist the temptations and try to find consolation in some beautiful easier romantic piece that you do have a chance to play well at this point. They do exists!

[ranniks]

Lesson learned, thanks everyone. Still, this piece will be a goal for me to play one day.

I think this is the problem with trying to learn piano: There's far too much wonderful music that you are just aching to play, but the road to being able to is just very long. With most other instruments the repertoire is a bit more limited so you don't feel like you're in a candy store with no money all the time 

Just resist the temptations and try to find consolation in some beautiful easier romantic piece that you do have a chance to play well at this point. They do exists!

Definitely! There's just SO many pieces to learn. Hungarian dance no 5, moonlight sonata mvt.3, tchaikovksy concerto 1, etc.

Which ones do you recommend Outin?

[outin]

Lesson learned, thanks everyone. Still, this piece will be a goal for me to play one day.

Definitely! There's just SO many pieces to learn. Hungarian dance no 5, moonlight sonata mvt.3, tchaikovksy concerto 1, etc.

Which ones do you recommend Outin?

You haven't tried any of the Grieg's Lyric pieces yet... Many of then are nice and not so difficult.

And then of course there are the Scarlatti sonatas, why don't you pick one of them?

[ranniks]

You haven't tried any of the Grieg's Lyric pieces yet... Many of then are nice and not so difficult.

And then of course there are the Scarlatti sonatas, why don't you pick one of them?

Well I could, but then I would have a plate so full that I won't be able to handle it. I think I need to think small steps. Like first step: finish bar of this piece. And then move on from that.

I do plan on going for a scarlatti piece one day, but it could be years before that happens.

Also, I've tried to play the first meassure (read it from the sheet) just because I wanted to........I know probably anyone can do that first meassure, but still.

[outin]

Well I could, but then I would have a plate so full that I won't be able to handle it. I think I need to think small steps. Like first step: finish bar of this piece. And then move on from that.

I do plan on going for a scarlatti piece one day, but it could be years before that happens.

There are many that are quite within your reach already you know...

I see you have spent quite a lot of time with some of those pieces. May I offer another point of view? Spending a lot of time polishing pieces you have started as a relative beginner is quite taxing and at some point they just won't get better. Sometimes it may be more beneficial  to move on, start on fresh pieces and maybe return to these later.

It seems that no matter how much you practice a piece, the end result is limited by your general skill. And you could do more for that general skill by working on a broad variety of pieces that are within your reach, but still challenging enough to push you further.

The thing with advanced repertoire (like the Ballade) is that no matter how much one practices them in small sections, they just won't sound the way they should, because the level of control required both from your body and your mind is so high, it can only be achieved by a very long training.

BTW, did you get a new teacher?

[awesom_o]

There are many that are quite within your reach already you know...

I see you have spent quite a lot of time with some of those pieces. May I offer another point of view? Spending a lot of time polishing pieces you have started as a relative beginner is quite taxing and at some point they just won't get better. Sometimes it may be more beneficial  to move on, start on fresh pieces and maybe return to these later.

It seems that no matter how much you practice a piece, the end result is limited by your general skill. And you could do more for that general skill by working on a broad variety of pieces that are within your reach, but still challenging enough to push you further.

The thing with advanced repertoire (like the Ballade) is that no matter how much one practices them in small sections, they just won't sound the way they should, because the level of control required both from your body and your mind is so high, it can only be achieved by a very long training.

BTW, did you get a new teacher?

Great post!

[j_menz]

I know probably anyone can do that first meassure, but still.

Actually, it's the bit most people wind up doing worst.

[outin]

Actually, it's the bit most people wind up doing worst.

First measures are always damn difficult...at least for me 

[j_menz]

First measures are always damn difficult...at least for me 

They should be. The opening sets the tone for the whole performance.

[nickadams]

Be patient. Take this from someone who decided to "learn" Chopin's 10/12 immediately after starting the piano. To say I butchered the piece would be a severe understatement.

However, here is some more inspiration, if you're interested. His recording was done at two and a half years of experience.

THAT IS INSANELY INSPIRING TO ME!!!


are you a true adult beginner or did you have lessons as a child and then stopped playing for a while?

[faa2010]

Hello ranniks,

I have read your post and I know what you are feeling.

The Pianist has also motivate me with the piano. Also I remember that when that scene of the Ballad was passing and finished, my father came thinking that I played it.   

I didn't pay attention to play it at that moment, but I became focused in the Nocturne, and I wanted it to became a special piece for me, a piece which I can play during my life.

After the movie, I started to want to play more seriously, which made me think gradually on entering to a music school and improve my technique and my playing.

It has been difficult, but I have detected my faults and I wanted to improve them.

I agree with the people who posted that the Ballad is very difficult, because as someone said in the post, it requires patience and also one has to open his/her mind to other pieces of other composers. 

I once tried to learn the Fantasie Impromptu, and I though that I got it right once I memorized it, but a teacher of the conservatoire rejected my play and in the forum they told me that I needed more flowing, more speed, more everything (although someone told me that the second part was fairly well).

That has made me think in learning other stuff in order to improve my technique. I wanted to enter to a music school, but I was rejected. However, that hasn't discourage me to continue playing.

Patience and constance are the key to do it.