YET ANOTHER FANTASIE POST (but this one maybe for real???)

[telekineticturtle]

It's time for this to make the rounds again. Hopefully we can kill this one quickly before others try to jump on the bandwagon. "I'm grade 2 that's basically grade 8." "If I can get the rhythm correctly when I go reallllly sloooow I think I should be able to play the song at speed." "I can play both hands separately so that's basically like the real thing." No thanks!

I suffer absolutely no illusions about how good I am. I am a "filthy casual" by most of your terms - I don't even have a proper teacher at the moment to keep me on the right track and mostly get by on pure enjoyment of the instrument. If I didn't love pushing the keys in proper ways, to a possibly unhealthy extent, I'd have given up long ago on the practice hours and consistent attempts that inevitably come along with anyone who could be considered "self-taught."

I've taken the song slowly. I've separated each beat into 12. I've found the balance. I can play Fantasie Impromptu at 1/10 the speed, and have been able to for about a week now.

The problem? If I stop counting, I am literally unable to play the song at any speed.

It seems that the technical side of the piece is so deeply ingrained in my head that I am totally unable to play the piece even slowly without a constant beat going in my head. I've tried slowing it down, trying to remember positions of notes, the works. I am not able to play the song without counting.

Obviously I can't be thinking furiously "12345678101112" when I begin the first of many, many attempts to play the Fantasie at speed. I simply can't go that fast. Go ahead, look it up on Youtube and try to count to 12 four times in the first measure. Once you're done with that, please tell me who wins the Super Bowl because you're obviously a wizard who could help me make a bit of quick cash amongst my friend group.

Those of you who already put in the work I am just beginning: How did you wean yourself off the numbers? What, specifically, did you do to make the transition from "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12" to "Fantasie Impromptu"?

[j_menz]

How did you wean yourself off the numbers? What, specifically, did you do to make the transition from "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12" to "Fantasie Impromptu"?

By starting with something else.  In my case it was Debussy's first Arabesque and a Bach fugue what done it.

[telekineticturtle]

I'm a little confused what this means.

Why those two songs? What concepts should I be taking away from them that I can apply/should be applying to the Impromptu? Do they have similar rhythms?

[j_menz]

The Arabesque has a simpler polyrhythm, but similarly unrelenting and somewhat more exposed. The Bach Fugue (any would do, as would various other pieces) exposes polyphonic listening. The combination, for me, meant I could then hear and play the two lines individually, no counting up to 12 (or multiples thereof) required.

[pianoplayer002]

You should be counting the beats: 1,2,3,4 in each bar. Start by playing each hand separately while counting out loud. "Aim" in your mind for the notes on the beats, while letting the notes between the beats just fall in place as "filler". When you've learned to feel the beats and the notes inbetween the beats are completely even you start working hands together. You have to be able to play both hands at a pace where you can feel the pulse. When you try it hands together you have the same approach - aim for the notes that fall on the beats in both hands, and let the notes inbetween fall in place as "filler".

And I agree with j_menz - try some easier polyrhythmic stuff to get the hang of the method and you might find this piece feels much easier when you return.

[telekineticturtle]

Oh, okay. Yeah, it would make sense that other polyrhythmic songs would give me what I need.

I'm so glad you guys understood what I was talking about though. I was pretty sure it was a common problem with this piece, but I wasn't certain if most people got over it quickly or if I was just really bad at understanding the relationship between beats.

Thanks a whole lot you guys!