Quote from: Kilini link=topic=7702.msg79628#msg79628 date=1112471165P.S: And learning the FI by yourself is, IMO, dangerous and silly. [quote aww! quit being so dramatic Sometimes learning pieces that are above your technical level will push you to the next level- IMOIts always worked for me!Yes but not a piece that is far beyond your technical level. The leep must not be too high because then you will waste too much time on it and you might get very dissapointed when you noticed you can't play it or that it doesn't sound as good as you thought it would.
aww! quit being so dramatic Sometimes learning pieces that are above your technical level will push you to the next level- IMOIts always worked for me!
Here's why I think what some of you say is wrong:Your implication is that if a student learns a piece with not enough or just barely enough experience to tackle it, that once the piece is learned, the student CANNOT learn anything more about playing that piece.This seems to me just plain false. When I began teaching myself the Fantasy Impromptu, by some of your standards, I was undoubtedly "not ready" for it. In a certain sense this is true: It took me many months to play it competantly. Then, when I worked on it with Dr. Smith, it improved more. I continue to play it to this day and am continually improving.This idea that learning a piece means you'll never learn anything more about playing that piece is rubbish.If I took a false implication, I apologize.
Posters on piano forums frequently use the word "dangerous" in relation to various aspects of playing the piano. Dangerous ? Is the piano likely to explode if a certain combination of keys is pressed ? I have difficulty with the idea that anything anybody plays on the piano can be even remotely dangerous. I once noticed that a leg of my piano stool was becoming loose and was too lazy to do anything about it. One day it broke off and I hit the floor, which consequence was my own fault for not fixing it sooner. This is possibly the only time in my life I have experienced danger, even then amounting to no more than a few bruises, from playing the piano.
NO ONE HERE SAYS YOU CAN'T DO IT, JUST THAT IT MAY BE IN YOU BEST INTERESTS TO WAIT A WHILE.
I will reiterate:NO ONE HERE SAYS YOU CAN'T DO IT, JUST THAT IT MAY BE IN YOU BEST INTERESTS TO WAIT A WHILE.Read this slowly. Absorb it. Comprehend it.
I think the piano can be very dangerous.If you feel like proving me wrong, go play some Dohnanyi exercises as fast and as loud as possible for six hours. You wouldn't even be able to type out your apology to me.
I'm 13 years old, been playing for almost 5 years, and my latest mastery was the 3rd movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. Right now, I'm currently working on the FI. I don't believe that a person can just play a piece if she/he loves it. There is definately some amount of technical skill and musical sense nessesary to play this Impromptu. I don't mean to say that you have to play 5 years to play the Fantasie Impromptu, but I definately don't recommend a beginner who just finished the Bach Minuet in GM to start on this piece. It'll end up in:1.) An extremely poorly played piece with little-no musical sense and extremely shaky technical work.2.) An extremely frustrated person who will consider quitting the piano.I suggest maybe, a couple years of experience at least? Generally, people should really listen to their piano teachers. It's good to be spirited and want to do something passionately, but don't quit your piano teacher just because he/she didn't think you should play a piece. Most of the time they're right and know more than you do. If your piano teacher advises against it, then you should listen.
That would not be dangerous, it would be stupid, like this comment. I don't think anyone was suggesting such silly extremes. The very idea that playing piano is "very dangerous" ... LOL, if that's your definition of dangerous you need to get out more... LOL
Steve, where is your head?Overpracticing anything (but especially Dohnanyi exercises, and I'm assuming you've never heard of them) can lead to carpal tunnel and tendoniticis. And last I checked, you need your wrists and arms to play the piano. So if you're risking an injury that will literally prevent you from playing, then yes, Steve, that's pretty dangerous in my book. I understand you have a cute little vendetta against me for my "negative attitude," but grow up and face the facts for a second. Please.From "Developing a Healthy Piano Technic":What is "Piano Technic"?THE STUDY OF MOTIONPiano technic is the STUDY OF MOTION - - - of trying to find the best ways to move to develop coordinate playing - - - NOT the study of how to develop muscles. My students' most common choice to the pre-quiz is usually "How to Develop Muscles" because everything else in their life boils down to building strength and endurance --- whether it's track, baseball, aerobics class, weightlifting, or even mental endurance. But at the piano, if you focus on finding the right ways to move, this in turn LEADS to precision and an effortless sort of strength. Correct motion overcomes technical problems and produces virtuosity. Correct motion is based on the way that our bodies move naturally. It's the way that many child prodigies move instinctively, and it's the way that we can move so that we never feel pain or tiredness when we practice and play the piano. Most pianists tend to concentrate on trying to improve their playing by "developing stronger fingers" through exercises and lots of practice --- to develop that so-called "weak 4th finger" and pinky - - - to develop endurance and so forth. The problem with this mentality is that as soon as you FOCUS on the MUSCLES and on building strength and endurance, you become TIGHT and tense. So instead of focusing on building 'strong hand and arm muscles' and endurance through hours of technic exercises and scales, try to FOCUS ON FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT -- on making everything feel FREE and EFFORTLESS as if you're not having to use any muscles at all! By focusing on finding the right ways to move, this in turn LEADS to precision and an "effortless" sort of strength. (See "Why I didn't actually need all those bulging muscles in the 1st place!!" below.)"The Taubman method demystifies mistaken ideas of how to play the piano --- that muscle strength and constant repetition are not the key to success." "With other teachers I practiced passages repeatedly and didn't understand why my back and arms became tired. Some teachers have a natural technique that works for them, but they have a hard time explaining it to their students. Often they teach the way THEY were taught [not the way they actually play]. At Julliard ... everyone did exercises, but there was no relationship between them and the music ... [the exercises were simply a waste of time]." Piano exercises simply to "build muscles" are a waste of time. Some exercises are very dangerous. Piano technic exercises that involve extreme stretching and finger isolation, like Dohnanyi and Plaidy, can be very dangerous. Mrs. Taubman explains."If the arm is free and unrestrained, it naturally reacts with corresponding motions to the direction of the motion of the fingers." In order to have "active fingers and a quiet arm", ala Czerny, there would have to be a restriction on the arm's motions. Can you imagine the effect on the fingers freedom of action with a rigid arm dragging behind it? In fixating the arm while trying to move the fingers quickly, it could be compared to 5 racing horses pulling along a train without an engine. It is clearly expressed in Czerny's exercises recommending "active fingers and quiet arms". Exercises for creating powerful fingers, and stretching the fingers, are responsible for most of the injuries and limitations in musicians."
If you LOVE the fantasy impromptu, which I'm sure you do, then you are ready. Why can I do it? I LOVE THE PIECE. if you love it, YOURE READY, ignore anyone who says anything the contrary!
I love all rach's concerto. I love all Liszt's concerto. I think I'm hardly ready to play 1 of them all.