Grieg Piano Concerto Movement 1

[thepianomansam]

Maybe you can help me: I've been trying to learn this piece for about 3 weeks now, and I still get stuck at the weirder parts (i.e., the 116 animato, and the god forsaken cadenza). Do you have any tips? This is the first piece i'm learning without my teacher, because I want to  surprise him. Any tips?

[j_menz]

It seems to me any piece we may wish to learn falls into one of three categories:

1) All the technical stuff is within our present ability and it is a matter of putting it all together and making it work musically;

2) Some of the technique required is currently beyond our ability, but we know what to do to acquire it; and

3) Some of the technique required is beyond our current ability and we do not know what to do to acquire it.

It sounds very much like this is, at present, a type 3 piece for you.

Both because you have a teacher (who may be able to solve type three issues and therefore should be utilised for such), and because this is your first solo learning effort (and therefore you should make it less of a stretch) I would suggest this piece is not currently suitable.

I'm assuming that you want the "surprise" to be a pleasant one.

[thepianomansam]

Alright thanks!
I realllly don't want to give this up, because I went from the Rach 2 (lol) to this, and was told this one was one of the easiest concertos out there (the first movement at least). Thanks for your response, but I honestly think I am on the brink of learning these techniques. I was just wondering if anybody had SPECIFIC TIPS on the concerto.
Thanks though.

[thalbergmad]

I was just wondering if anybody had SPECIFIC TIPS on the concerto.

Yes, leave the damned thing alone and don't touch it again until your teacher says so.

Thal

[stevensk]

Yes, leave the damned thing alone and don't touch it again until your teacher says so.

Thal

-That was cruely said but surely true!

[chopinlover01]

@Thal, what if he drops the Grieg and goes to the Schumann A minor instead?

[visitor]

@Thal, what if he drops the Grieg and goes to the Schumann A minor instead?

Isn't that like asking if it's better to set down a cat turd in order to be free to grasp a big dog pooh?

[thalbergmad]

Any time spent on that trash is wasted.

Thal

[rmchenry]

Any time spent on that trash is wasted.

Thal

Thal.  I thought you were into preserving concertos?
It's a perfectly lovely concerto regularly played by great concert pianists.  I first heard it live in my teens played by a 13 year old Australian Geoffrey Tozer who tragically died at quite a young age.  But one of the highlights of my musical life was hearing it played at the Royal Albert Hall in London by the incomparable Emil Gilels.  Percy Grainger loved it and in fact studied with Grieg who opined that Grainger was the pianist he would most like to hear it played by.
Now, if you haven't worked it out, I very much like this concerto as do many more music lovers than ever thought it trash.
Regards,
Ray

[rmchenry]

Any time spent on that trash is wasted.

Thal

Forgot to say that I agree that the OP may be wasting his time until his teacher is there to help.

[visitor]

Any time spent on that trash is wasted.

Thal

 

[rachmforever]

hey guys! I even wasn't surprised by you guys. You've never heard him play and one of first response here was "Yes, leave the damned thing alone and don't touch it again until your teacher says so." like serious?
 Even this is negative motivation you shouldn't have or give to other pianists.
Why he couldn't play that piece? If he feel, he's able to play it he can do it and there is no one to have right say opposite.

[thalbergmad]

Thal.  I thought you were into preserving concertos.

Apart from that one.

Thal

[thalbergmad]

" like serious?.

Like yes, it is perfectly sensible advice. If the OP would care to post some of his playing of other pieces and illustrates he is capable of learning the Grieg, no doubt he would get advice from learned members here, including specialist advice for the "wierder" parts.

Until that time, he should leave the bloody thing alone. Nothing negative about that.

Thal

[rachmforever]

Like yes, it is perfectly sensible advice. If the OP would care to post some of his playing of other pieces and illustrates he is capable of learning the Grieg, no doubt he would get advice from learned members here, including specialist advice for the "wierder" parts.

Until that time, he should leave the bloody thing alone. Nothing negative about that.

Thal

How you know he IS NOT capable play that piece? I just mean say to someone leave that alone and go learn some easy is not very well attitude it's like you have no ambitions learn some more.
By the way think you can play Rach3 or some piano concerto If you playing Mozart sonatas is crazy. I'm just little concerned because I was in same situation before one year on Conservatory (not only with this piece) when teacher said you can't play this but I learned it and played it with orchestra. Cuz there always will be people saying" You can't play this " and you have to prove you can.

[thalbergmad]

If he was capable, perhaps he would not be asking questions.

Thal

[pianoplayer002]

How you know he IS NOT capable play that piece? I just mean say to someone leave that alone and go learn some easy is not very well attitude it's like you have no ambitions learn some more.
By the way think you can play Rach3 or some piano concerto If you playing Mozart sonatas is crazy. I'm just little concerned because I was in same situation before one year on Conservatory (not only with this piece) when teacher said you can't play this but I learned it and played it with orchestra. Cuz there always will be people saying" You can't play this " and you have to prove you can.

For you it turned out fine. For others trying to swallow more than they can chew exposes them to a great risk of injuring themselves very badly. Therefore it's a safer bet to advice someone whose level you can't evaluate to not touch very difficult repertoire they seem uncertain how to tackle.

[thalbergmad]

That is exactly what i wanted to say but lacked the required command of the English language.

Thal

[emill]

That is exactly what i wanted to say but lacked the required command of the English language.

Thal 

Really Thal ?!?!??