Complete Chopin Works

[jwchopin]

Ok so I REALLY like Chopin. Like a lot. Enough to want to learn his entire piano works (or most). The thing is (I don't know if this is good or bad), but I am only in Grade 6 RCM.

My plan was to use this list (https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=13206.0) to play what is at my level currently.
My level is around Bernhard's Grade 4/5 level.
When I become Grade 7 RCM, I will move on to the Grade 6 songs of that massive list.

So;
1) Is this even possible? How should I go about practicing these songs efficiently and effectively?
2) Is it best to start in Grade 6 RCM?
3) When I get into more advanced songs (Ballade No. 1) which I would play constantly, and someone asks me to play an easy song I did ages ago (Prelude in E minor), will I even remember it? Should I record myself playing these songs when I finish them?

Overall the main point is if I should (or if i can) even do this. And yes, even I love the Chopin songs that are horrendously underplayed (Waltz no. 18 in Eb or Nocturne in C minor op ph).

Also, this doesn't give me much variety on music, and I have books on Mozart Sonatas and Mendelssohn Songs Without Words which I want to learn too. SO MUCH MUSIC SO LITTLE TIME! 

Thanks

[awesom_o]

Well, it's definitely possible. Not easy though.

I've played about half of his works, although I've never counted precisely.

I started learning Chopin when I was about 7.... although I wasn't at Gr. 6 RCM until a few years later.

However, since then (I'm 25 now)there's a lot of other music I played which made me better at playing Chopin and able to learn more of it than the average person.

One big thing with Chopin that you need to know is.... you never finish his pieces. Not even the easy ones! They can always be better, even once you are very, very good!

So don't play ONLY Chopin! Chopin wouldn't like that at all!

One of the most efficient ways to practice Chopin is to practice slowly but with good rhythm, without any pedal! Try to produce good legato tone with only your hands at the keyboard!

[symphonicdance]

Good that you have such an ambition.  And if you do have the endeavourance, I think it is possible.  Some Chopin works (not a lot) can be played by lower-grade learners (from technical perspectives), though it will take time for them to develop better musical sense.  Another way to learn (especially those you are not yet capable technically to play) is by studying the score, understanding the structure, while listening to the music, where the (lyrical) lines are, how to properly sound the note/line.  BTW, it's so good that there is free score download, youtube, better-facilitated libraries these days.  Last but not the least, you still need to learn other great works (incl. the fundamental ones like Bach 2 & 3-part inventions / WTC /suites, sonatas of Haydn/Mozart/Beethoven).  Good luck!

[mjames]

Chopin himself would tell you to work on some other composers (especially earlier ones) before you work on him such as JS Bach (inventions, sinfonias), Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, John Field (play his nocturnes before you play Chopin's!), Czerny (not his exercises, actual compositions...he was pretty talented) etc. Though it's not necessary to do so, it's highly beneficial. Good luck!