What should I play next. Help,please :)

[softbn]

Hello. I've been playing the piano off and on for lets say, altogether, 4 years - having classes. I played some keyboard and a trombone for some times when I was young. Now I'm 33.

But let's cut to the chase
Now I'm doing my masters degree in music. I need to choose pieces for the next semester. 4 pieces - 1 etude, 1 polyphonic piece, one sonata or 1 movement, and one piece I want.

Last semester I played the 3rd movement of the Tempest sonata, Fantasie impromptu, Bach C minor prelude BWV 847 and some other minor pieces. The pieces I listed were demanding for me and I learned them in tempo though I need some time to master them. I think I could perform the Tempest 3rd movement.  Fantasie needs some time to master.

My teacher suggests the 1st movement of the Tempest and the Dwarfs March by Grieg.

Do you have any other suggestions? What would you choose? I think I'm not ready for Chopin's etudes yet ... I need to focus on developing my technique so I don't want anything tougher than what I played.

[pianistavt]

For the studies/etudes requirement, I would recommend you get Czerny - The School of Velocity op 299. It's foundational technique for the serious pianist.  These are etudes, not exercises (like Hanon).  Start with the first few.  The point is to play them with clarity, precision, musical line, dynamics while you try to reach the tempo indicated.
I recommend you continue with Bach preludes and fugues for your polyphonic piece - how about the pair in A major from Book I, the prelude is very contrapuntal (as is the fugue, of course).
I agree with your teacher to continue working on the Tempest sonata, then you can perform the whole thing.
The piece you want should really be something you've heard that you like and which is within your reach.   What composers do you like?  Grieg is enjoyable, but gets boring quickly, imo - better for sight reading at home, rather than preparing for a recital.  I recommend you explore Debussy - it's a unique approach to music and a very important composer for pianists.

Just curious, why are you pursuing a MM at 33?  How do you support yourself? 

[softbn]

For the studies/etudes requirement, I would recommend you get Czerny - The School of Velocity op 299. It's foundational technique for the serious pianist.  These are etudes, not exercises (like Hanon).  Start with the first few.  The point is to play them with clarity, precision, musical line, dynamics while you try to reach the tempo indicated.
I recommend you continue with Bach preludes and fugues for your polyphonic piece - how about the pair in A major from Book I, the prelude is very contrapuntal (as is the fugue, of course).
I agree with your teacher to continue working on the Tempest sonata, then you can perform the whole thing.
The piece you want should really be something you've heard that you like and which is within your reach.   What composers do you like?  Grieg is enjoyable, but gets boring quickly, imo - better for sight reading at home, rather than preparing for a recital.  I recommend you explore Debussy - it's a unique approach to music and a very important composer for pianists.

Just curious, why are you pursuing a MM at 33?  How do you support yourself?

Thank you a lot for your reply. I'm sorry, I don't know what the MM is, as English is not my first language ...

As to the composers I like - I like Debussy a lot, Ravel I love the piece called Pavane pour UNE infante defunte - it's so calming and soul soothing.
I love love Chopin as I'm Polish

As far as the etudes - I played Czerny op 299 no 21 in c minor last semester. My teacher's wife said The march of the Dwarfs could be counted as an etude ...

Maybe I could take something jazz as my teacher is a jazzmann
That's him:

i=65hZOSTlUmiOv_gP

But his repertoire is rather difficult

[liszt-and-the-galops]

For the etude requirement, don't immediately exclude the op 10 and op 25 etudes. Some of them (op.10 no. 6, op. 10 no. 9, op. 25 no. 2, etc.) are fairly easy and don't require much technical skill. 25/2 is very similar to the impromptu, only much shorter and easier. 10/9 is often said to be very easy, and 10/6 has absolutely no technical difficulties. I think that you could find success with some of these etudes.
I don't know what polyphonic means. Would chopin's nocturnes count?
Sorry, my horizons aren't very broad and I'm still fairly new to music terminology. Still, I hope this helps in some way.

[pianistavt]

Thank you a lot for your reply. I'm sorry, I don't know what the MM is, as English is not my first language ...

MM = masters degree in music
BM = bachelors degree in music

[softbn]

Thanks a lot
The a minor prelude and fugue seems to be very demanding and besides the uni, I need to work so I think I won't have the time for that ;(

Sonata - I'm going to work on the 1st movement of the Tempest

The etude - I'll find some Czerny one unless no one here will recommend something else which will catch my attention.

Polyphony - it could be something short. I played some time ago a 3 part invention/sinfonia in g minor no 11 and it was ok. 

I'm still thinking about the 4th piece ...

[the_franzliszt]

I'm still thinking about the 4th piece ...

For the Fourth Piece I would recommend an easier not as well-known Chopin Etude.

Trois Etudes (Composees pour la Methode de Mosceles et Fetis) No. 1 in f minor - Fryderyk Chopin

[softbn]

For the Fourth Piece I would recommend an easier not as well-known Chopin Etude.

I can take it as an etude thanks

Trois Etudes (Composees pour la Methode de Mosceles et Fetis) No. 1 in f minor - Fryderyk Chopin

[the_franzliszt]

For the Polyphonic piece, you could probably do the famous Toccata and fugue in D minor "Dracula theme".
It's an overall fun piece and not too difficult at all.