Advice

[oded7272]

Hello, fellow piano lovers. I have a question for you.

I have studied the piano for 6 years, but I was too young back then and decided to quit. That happened a few years ago and I have recently decided to return.

It was difficult at first, but after a few weeks of practice most of my instincts came back to me. My problem is that I forgot the entirety of my repertoire during the break. That was around a month ago and since then I have learned Bach’s Minuet in G Major and the first movement of Moonlight Sonata, which I play fairly well (by “fairly well” I mean that I touch the right keys at right time for the right duration; I still lack the artistic skills). I have no idea what to do now.

So, my question is: what piece would you recommend me to learn next?

Thank you very much

[skywalker_06]

I'd try to work your way back through the repertoire - starting with baroque/classical and work your way through some pieces (whatever you can find at your level) ending with some 20th century and modern works. For next you could try some Bach Inventions? Or continue with your moonlight sonata through the 2nd movement? And if you're up for it the 3rd eventually! Another good one would be Mozart's B Minor Adagio.

[oded7272]

Thanks for the quick advice!

Unfortunately, the 2nd movement is (still) above my level, and I am not anywhere close to the level of the 3rd.

I have thought about Bach's inventions, but I have always had problem with their polyphonic nature, and I'm afraid I'll just butcher them.

I will look up the sheet of Mozart's B Minor Adagio and I'll see if it is within my grasp. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to tell me

[pianocat3]

I'm about your level.. I've been working on Faure 's Sicilienne which should be quite good when I polish, Chopin's raindrop prelude which so far is mostly a key signature challenge, I'm just starting it, I did Faure's pavane, got it pretty good but some timing issues with 3 against 2 if i recall correctly, I'm starting Bach's invention no 8, but my teacher isn't going to have me polish that. She has something else from Bach in mind. I think maybe a fugue? The middle part of raindrop prelude is the same key as moonlight first movement. I haven't started the part at beginning and end in Db major, I have been learning the key playing an easy Yanni piece that is a favor for a relative who likes yanni ( i dont like most of his stuff very much). End of August or something. I think it will work well to get Db major in my head. My teacher had me play a page of moonlight to get C sharp minor into my head. Also when I just took up piano last year I played intermezzo by Manuel ponce, that's easier than Sicilienne, which is easier than raindrop or the pavane, IMO. Anyway, lovely minor key works, at least for me.

[pianocat3]

Oh goodness, I mean when I RE-took up piano last year!!

[indianajo]

Unfortunately, the 2nd movement is (still) above my level, and I am not anywhere close to the level of the 3rd.
I have thought about Bach's inventions, but I have always had problem with their polyphonic nature, and I'm afraid I'll just butcher them.

Bach 2 part inventions are great for developing the two track mind.  You play the right hand until it is automatic- ie memorized by your inner brain, not involving your cortex or concious thought.  You play the left hand the same way.  Be sure to learn them so you can play them slowly as well as fast. Make sure each hand is learned with no mistakes.  No butchery allowed.
Then you turn the two parts of the brain loose at the same time, that is to say play both hands at once.  Slowly with no mistakes.   If you make mistakes you are not practicing slowly enough.  
I learned Moonlight part 1 age 11, part two age 32 and part three age 55.  The movements vary wildly in the difficulty involved.  
Graded instruction books with numbers are boring, but do put pieces in the right sequence.  I learned from the John W. Schaum ones up to about grade IV.  After that the teacher put me in a book of chestnuts, "everybody's favorite piano pieces for the young student" Amsco music publishing co, nyny, everybody's favorite series book #80.  Great resource, probably long out of print.  At the charity resale shop five years ago I found another bound book of chestnuts, Masterpieces of Piano Classics selected by Albert Weir, 1907, pub Carl Fischer NYNY, #03619  There are Lots of fun middle difficulty pieces in there.  I'm working on Bizet Habenera right now. 

[oded7272]

 pianocat3: You suggested some very interesting pieces. I adore Chopin's Raindrop Prelude; how hard is it? I'm still a bit rusty so I would be very happy to hear your opinion. Looking at the sheet it doesn't seem very hard, but it seems difficult to express emotion there (just like in Moonlight).

 indianajo:

I learned Moonlight part 1 age 11, part two age 32 and part three age 55.

Wow, that's really awesome to hear!

When you put it this way, Bach's inventions don't seem that hard. It's just that I've heard Glenn Gould play them and he made it seem so easy (and yet so hard) to create two voices using one instrument. Invention number 1 has always struck me as a piece that is moderately easy to play, but very hard to play well.


Thank you all.

[pianocat3]

I am not far along in learning raindrop. I am working the c sharp middle part. The difficulty so far is my hands are small or I'm tense so the repeated octaves make my arms sore. I think it is harder than moonlight mov 1, but I only played 2 pages of that. I like expressive music very much and this is what attracted me to this one. I don't have a good education in classical music, so I get CDs at the library and use YouTube a lot.