What to learn after Rach C# Minor?

[sparoz]

I have just finished the prelude - not quite at concert standard yet and a bit of polishing to do, but my teacher wants a new piece.  She suggested the G minor, but I am struggling to connect with the piece and want to do something else.  After only learning for two years, initially self taught for the first.. my repertoire is a bit limited, but the main piece for the next student concert she would always like me to pick up a new technique and do something "harder".  Any suggestions?  I like do the Chopin E Major etude, but my teacher doesn't want me to do that for some reason.  She suggested "To Spring" is another.

It seems like going I am in an awkward place where either a piece is easy for now, and the next step is too far out of reach?

[visitor]

 

[jgallag]

Beautiful, visitor! Also, try these:

[danielo]

Next step.......I don't think the Chopin Etude in E would be out of your reach although the 6ths passage is a considerable challenge!
Chopin Etude Op25 No1 is a beautiful piece too, a step up from the Rach but not one of the more tortuous ones to master.
Liszt Liebestraum No 3 is another possibility, it's beautiful and impressive if a bit overplayed; it's very satisfying to play and actually somewhat easier that it sounds.
Schubert's Impromptus are also a good technical challenge without being out of reach.

If you love Rachmaninov, I would recommend listening to more of the Preludes, I'm currently learning Op23 Nos 1 and 4, 4 in D major is one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever come across.
I know what you mean about the one in G minor, it's quite a lot more difficult than the C#minor one, lots of jumps and very tricky to play at the correct speed.

I wish you luck......I have tried learning all of the pieces above, with varying degrees of success.....but I will guarantee you that your technical skills will improve massively just the the process, if you have a good teacher and learn in the correct way.