Preparation for Future Repertoire

[arguably_argus]

I wanted to seek some advice on some “progression trees” so to speak with advancing my technical skill. I’m a late starter to piano, been playing for about 3 years but have been a musician all my life. I want to be ready within the next year to start tackling some of the considerably more technically challenging pieces of the repertoire (especially Beethoven’s Waldstein sonata, and a Chopin Ballade).

My teacher and I are currently working on Beethoven 110. I picked it not only because it’s my favorite sonata but also because I could flex my musicality from over the years without the technical challenges feeling overwhelming. I would say it’s going well for how long I’ve been playing, though it’s not amazing yet. I’ve also spent a lot of time with Debussy’s Gardens in the Rain, and won a competition at my college with it.

I realize building my chops takes time. I learned that with trombone, but I want to make sure I’m spending my time efficiently. What resources would you all recommend I pursue studying in the meantime to prepare for these kinds of works? Suggestions for planning my practice time effectively? I have been very dedicated for the previous 3 years and will continue to be for I think my entire life. I fell in love with piano when I switched instruments 

[dizzyfingers]

Learning Czerny's The School of Velocity op 299 (75% of it) should advance your technique quite a bit in a short period of time.  Make sure you play the studies with as high a musical quality as you can muster - listen to recordings to get a good example.   Czerny's op 740 is often studied by serious aspiring pianists as well, but those pieces are longer and there's not as much variety as in op 299 - I think it will be quicker progress with op 299, however listening to how Francesca Libetta plays op 740 would give you a model of how to play Czerny well.

Another worthy set of studies is Moskowski 15 Etudes de Virtuosité, Op.72
And then do the Chopin etudes.
I think the Liszt Transcendental Etudes are more concert pieces focusing on bravura technique, not really a required stepping stone.

There are also exercises by Liszt, Brahms, Dohnanyi, if you can stomach pure exercises.

[ned174849]

DizzyFingers made some good suggestions. I think his suggestion of the Czerny would do well. I’d recommend at some point going through maybe Chopin Op 10 for a year or so learning maybe two or three at a time on cycle. If you learn them carefully with guidance from a teacher that would be incredibly beneficial. Also don’t forget Bach. If you haven’t already, I’d Start reading through the inventions and maybe a few P&Fs with a French suite or something. If you stick with these suggestions as well as others a lot of the repertoire will be within your reach in the future.

Ned

[stringoverstrung]

Apart from what you play, the way you practice will also greatly determine your progress.
I am not a professional teacher but I can give you some random things to try and you can check out what works for you:
1) read the posts of user Bernhard on this forum on how to practice and slice. this is not THE method but worth trying
2) check out the videos on YouTube of Denis Zhdanov, a great resource for very very good advice by a very very very good pianist.   https://www.youtube.com/@DenZhdanovPianist
such as  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSu7JuiYHQo

3) check out the video from Graham:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKQ1m3KEAvk&pp=ygUmb3JnYW5pc2luZyBwcmFjdGljZSB0aW1lIHN0ZWlud2F5IGhhbGw%3D

4) I know you know this but remember the basics:
practice a lot slow and piano, also learn the " choreography"  of the movements needed for the piece. Relax the right way; you will only achieve real virtuoso speed if you understand how you need to relax ( not too much but more than you think), understand hand mechanics ( eg if your bones are aligned and support the hand than your muscle energy can be used for speed only which results in lightning speed compared to your normal limit), always practice musically ( "  Piano playing must always be noble (free quote from Arthur Rubinstein)) etc...
Kr,
G

[fishingtested]

Apart from what you play, the way you practice will also greatly determine your progress.
I am not a professional teacher but I can give you some random things to try and you can check out what works for you:
1) read the posts of user Bernhard on this forum on how to practice and slice. this is not THE method but worth trying
2) check out the videos on YouTube of Denis Zhdanov, a great resource for very very good advice by a very very very good pianist.   https://www.youtube.com/@DenZhdanovPianist
such as  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSu7JuiYHQo

3) check out the video from Graham:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKQ1m3KEAvk&pp=ygUmb3JnYW5pc2luZyBwcmFjdGljZSB0aW1lIHN0ZWlud2F5IGhhbGw%3Dstickman hook

4) I know you know this but remember the basics:
practice a lot slow and piano, also learn the " choreography"  of the movements needed for the piece. Relax the right way; you will only achieve real virtuoso speed if you understand how you need to relax ( not too much but more than you think), understand hand mechanics ( eg if your bones are aligned and support the hand than your muscle energy can be used for speed only which results in lightning speed compared to your normal limit), always practice musically ( "  Piano playing must always be noble (free quote from Arthur Rubinstein)) etc...
Kr,
G

Thanks, G. Really helpful advice. I'll check out those videos and put more thought into how I practice, not just what I practice. Do you consciously think about it while practicing, or does it develop naturally over time?

[dizzyfingers]

so fishingtested = arguably_argus?
lost your pw?

I've watched plenty of Denis Zhadnov's videos, he's a very good teacher, and has a sense of humor, though I don't recall a video on planning practice time.
The one by Graham may be good, I haven't watched it.
Another online teacher, tutorial video creator (shorts and regular length) is Aaron Petit.  He has a lot to say about organizing and focusing your practice time and tactics.  He's even posted some recordings in Auditions, way back.
https://www.aaronpetitpiano.com/
He has an online community which you may or may not find helpful.