Most helpful piece

[Rach3]

I was thinking about what it means to learn a piece, beyond the obvious result of being able to play it. I mean how the process of practicing and learning improves you, gets your fingers more agile, or you mind more flexible. Or perhaps makes you a more experienced musician. So...  in retrospect, what one piece of music has most helped you in becoming a pianist? (and I sure hope it ain't Hanon)

For me, I think it would have been the op. 81a Beethoven sonata.

[stebroccm]

chopin etude in 3rds, tchaik PC1

[daemon]

chopsticks

[Goldberg]

I think there are three essential pieces that have made me the pianist I am today, for the better. I am no genius, but the following pieces have been imperative for my understanding and appreciation of music and technical ability: the Goldberg Variations, Beethoven's op. 27 no. 1 and Liszt's HR6.

Now, I will quickly say that I only learned half of the Variations over a period extending almost a year, and I never played them very well (though I could hit the notes and play with an at least tolerable degree of understanding....it still was nowhere near good enough of course, I was only 15), but it was my first big project and I did most of the basic work on my own, starting my independent endeavor in learning music, even though at the time I also had a teacher. Beethoven's op. 27 no. 1 was basically the same way. As for the HR6...well, that was the first piece I learned entirely by myself after I quit lessons, and frankly, my performance of it at my school recital was the best one I have ever had of any piece. It was with that piece that I truly developed an appreciation for and understanding of advanced technique, demanded by the octaves of course, and I worked tirelessly to get the piece to a high standard, though it wasn't as perfect as I would have preferred. I feel that working alone, I have much more motivation and a clearer thought potential, and the HR6 proved that I was able to accomplish significant amounts just by myself.

Interesting thread.

[steinwayguy]

Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 4. This piece totally opened my eyes to the possibility of "arm involvement" in piano playing. Before that I had absolutely no sense of refined technique.

Good thread.

[viking]

Prelude and Fugue in C#minor, BK1.  Bach is amazing, after playing 2 hours of bach, your other peices are WAY better.  Its like 2 hours of bach puts 10 hours into your other songs.  Before a competition, I spend the last few days playing bach and it really pays.  (Although not always fun)
SAM

[nanabush]

Probably an etude in running passages such as Revolutionary, 10/4, for example.  It helps with hand coordonation, phrasing, and overall accuracy.  After learning these types of pieces, pieces a step above such as octave etude, etude in thirds, and feux follets imo will come somewhat faster...