what to play to make good progress?

[kawai_cs]

Hi Folks!

I am looking for some repertoire to play next. I would like to play some technical pieces/etudes to progress with technique. But they must be likable. I am not playing just anything
I haven't found anything that I would like at the moment. I spent a couple of hours listening to Moszkowski, Czerny and Cramer etudes. The only ones I felt like playing right now are
Moszkowski op 72 no 11:
   However I am not sure if it is worth playing it right now, because I am just finishing 72 no 1 and they seem to address similar skills? Correct me if I am wrong, please.
 Moszkowski op 92 no 12.:
92 no 12 is an octave etude for left hand so very specific. Maybe I would prefer something not so narrow, I do not know
I do not have a teacher now and am still hesitant to get one due to my very negative experience with the last teacher I had (I explained it here https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=58028.msg627333#msg627333)
But it would be great to have somebody knowledgable tell you - play this, this and that and that will do the most for your technique.  
Anyways, maybe somebody can give me some advice on some nice pieces which maybe did a lot for your technique?
I am currently working on: Moszkowski: op 71 no 1, Paderewski: Caprice op 14 no 3, Rachmaninov op 16 no 4 (it will be loooong till I can play it up to tempo), Chopin op 25 no 12.

[michael_sayers]

I do not have a teacher now and am still hesitant to get one due to my very negative experience with the last teacher I had (I explained it here https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=58028.msg627333#msg627333)
But it would be great to have somebody knowledgable tell you - play this, this and that and that will do the most for your technique.  

Hi Kawai_cs,

That is what a teacher would do, though, based on watching and hearing you play!

What about doing one of the Liszt Concert Etudes?


Mvh,
Michael

[kawai_cs]

Hi Michael,

thanks for your reply! Do you mean op 144? Those are nice! I would have difficulty deciding which one to choose! It is just that I am a little afraid of Liszt. For some unknown reason I have never played anything by him. Do you think those Concert etudes would be a smart start?
I would not like anything too difficult, because I would like to handle the etudes soon and go on to next ones. I have those 2 pieces by Chopin and Rach that will take me longer thus I would like something  that I could handle faster to have a little closure pleasure haha
It is rather difficult for me to assess what would be best to play - I would need a teacher indeed. It is just that I am afraid that I will feel discouraged. I read here a lot how some teachers criticize everything (which is of course correct and wanted) but on the other hand, I am afraid I might not enjoy the playing as much as I do now.
Moreover, those gradings of pieces do not make it easier to decide. I do not agree with many of them or maybe it is just a matter of personal strong/weak sides.

[chopinlover01]

Not technically etudes per se, but studying Bach two part inventions, three part inventions, and the WTC never hurt anyone, save for those who didn't do it (me right now!).
They were a large part of Bach's pedagogy, as they're great learning material- they don't focus on one specific technique, but rather playing polyphonic music.

[michael_sayers]

Hi Michael,

thanks for your reply! Do you mean op 144? Those are nice! I would have difficulty deciding which one to choose! It is just that I am a little afraid of Liszt. For some unknown reason I have never played anything by him. Do you think those Concert etudes would be a smart start?
I would not like anything too difficult, because I would like to handle the etudes soon and go on to next ones. I have those 2 pieces by Chopin and Rach that will take me longer thus I would like something  that I could handle faster to have a little closure pleasure haha
It is rather difficult for me to assess what would be best to play - I would need a teacher indeed. It is just that I am afraid that I will feel discouraged. I read here a lot how some teachers criticize everything (which is of course correct and wanted) but on the other hand, I am afraid I might not enjoy the playing as much as I do now.
Moreover, those gradings of pieces do not make it easier to decide. I do not agree with many of them or maybe it is just a matter of personal strong/weak sides.

Hi Kawai_cs,

The "Un Sospiro" Concert Etude in D-flat Major is, I think, the easiest of them, which is from S. 144.  There are some complications, though . . . In addition, there are two more concert etudes as S. 145.

Something you could do would be to choose a piece just based on specific technical emphasis.

This one might be for chromatic scales -

This one might be for tremolos -

and so on . . .


Mvh,
Michael

[kawai_cs]

Hi Chopinlover,

I know you are right. One should play Bach, indeed:-)  I remember always playing Bach at the beginning of a lesson back when I was attending music school. I played 2-part inventions, then 3-part inventions and then some fugues and preludes before I quit. I also remember fugues and preludes being difficult...
I know it would be good to start playing Bach again but I must admit I am a little lazy about it. I prefer to hear it than to play it myself Which fugue and prelude do you like?  

[kawai_cs]

Hi Michael,

I guess I will look for some etudes with different problems. Tremolo is actually a good idea since I am not quite happy with my tremolos. That actually keeps me away from recording some Chopin and posting it here
I will keep those op 144 etudes in mind because I really like them.