Introduction to classical pieces?

[divwx]

Hi everyone!

So I have been playing piano for 9 years now; since I was 8. Still, I feel like I have only progressed very little. I have been playing pieces from Ludovico Einaudi, Yann Tiersen, Yiruma. Nothing too hard. Actually not that hard at all. But since I want to start playing more pieces from the big composers, I wonder what would be a good programme. I like romantic pieces. How could I introduce myself on this territory?
 Please help?

Thanks in advance

[bronnestam]

The only wise way to go, I suppose, is to listen. And listen, and listen.

When I was in your age I played a little of Beethoven and to tell the truth, I hated it. What a boring old man ... OK, so I enjoyed playing the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata, but the rest - 

Today, I cannot understand my younger me, because I am totally in love with Beethoven. He was an excellent pianist, an excellent composer and he laid the whole foundation to modern rock music, IMO. (Of course not the only one!) And he is always fun to play, there is always something new to discover! So today I'm a Beethoven junkie, always in the need of my daily fix.
So a start could be to listen through all his 32 sonatas, because they are a great journey through a great composer's life. When he wrote the first ones, he was young and a big admirer of Mozart, and also a student of Haydn. You can hear that. Later on he developed his own style and also took advantage of his amazing improvisational skills. He lived his life, he fell in love, had his heart broken and later on he had to struggle against his developing deafness. These passions and torments are all reflected, somehow, in his music. When he wrote his last sonatas he was totally deaf. The last movement of the last sonata is totally amazing, as it is partly a boogie woogie piece ...

But, take it easy. Going through all the Beethoven sonatas is not something you do in one evening or two, especially not if you are new to this area.
And, speaking of Beethoven: Für Elise is a must for every piano student.

If you want something really romantical, I suggest you check out Schubert and his lovely Improptus.

And, considering the pieces you mention you have played, I wonder if not Debussy and his impressionistic music is your cup of tea? Try Clair de Lune, Rêverie, The Girl With Flaxen Hair, the two Arabesques. Beautiful, dreamy and interesting music, I love to play Debussy.

[divwx]

Thankyou for your reply! I actually told my piano teacher I wanted to play more classical pieces; I also stated I adored (particularly) Debussy and Chopin. I said Clair de Lune was a must but his response was "that piece is super hard right now, I don't think it'd be appropriate"  . I thought I'd give Chopin a try. Nocturne op. 9 no. 2 (sorry mainstream hahah) So I got that going for me right now. I think this piece will be a sort of gateway into the classical world. Or at least I hope so. So far so good. However I think this piece is more emotionally challenging than technically. Thanks again for your reply!!

[hfmadopter]

Thankyou for your reply! I actually told my piano teacher I wanted to play more classical pieces; I also stated I adored (particularly) Debussy and Chopin. I said Clair de Lune was a must but his response was "that piece is super hard right now, I don't think it'd be appropriate"  . I thought I'd give Chopin a try. Nocturne op. 9 no. 2 (sorry mainstream hahah) So I got that going for me right now. I think this piece will be a sort of gateway into the classical world. Or at least I hope so. So far so good. However I think this piece is more emotionally challenging than technically. Thanks again for your reply!!

I'd have tried you out with a little Erik Satie, Fur Elise, Mozart K545, something Schumann, see how you made out with those before Chopin personally. There is something in each of those you could use when working on Chopin.

[divwx]

Oh I totally forgot I also played Satie (premiere gymnopedie) and Fur elise, anyways I asked my teacher if op 9 no 2 isn't too hard and he said I could do it. So thanks anyways!

[chicoscalco]

First and foremost: Bach, Bach, Bach... Really, it's not by chance that in most conservatoires around the world, at least for graduation students, they have to do one Bach PF each semester/trimester. It's a very important part of your repertoire. That, and the first Viennese School. Mozart, being the most famous. He has a lot of repertoire very suitable for you. And, IMO, Schumann is also VERY important. He can be, in my humble opinion, grossly named as the Bach of the Romantic Era. His writing, although not very pianistic, is extremely orchestral, polyphonic. You should definitely get acquainted with this. It's extremely beneficial. I'd recommend for you the Kinderszenen. Don't get fooled, it's no easy piece. To play Schumann well it's quite a challenge.
And congratulations on "discovering" the classical world by yourself! I think it's so wonderful when one decides to start exploring it, instead of starting to play it since childhood because of external factors ( like myself    ).
Keep us updated on your progress!

[divwx]

First and foremost: Bach, Bach, Bach... Really, it's not by chance that in most conservatoires around the world, at least for graduation students, they have to do one Bach PF each semester/trimester. It's a very important part of your repertoire. That, and the first Viennese School. Mozart, being the most famous. He has a lot of repertoire very suitable for you. And, IMO, Schumann is also VERY important. He can be, in my humble opinion, grossly named as the Bach of the Romantic Era. His writing, although not very pianistic, is extremely orchestral, polyphonic. You should definitely get acquainted with this. It's extremely beneficial. I'd recommend for you the Kinderszenen. Don't get fooled, it's no easy piece. To play Schumann well it's quite a challenge.
And congratulations on "discovering" the classical world by yourself! I think it's so wonderful when one decides to start exploring it, instead of starting to play it since childhood because of external factors ( like myself    ).

Keep us updated on your progress!

Thankyou! I think i'm going to give Schumann a go. And when I was 9-10 classical music was forced on me, but I didn't want to so I switched teachers. Now that I'm a bit older I really started to appreciate classical. Thanks again for your help and will definitely keep you updated!