Which piano concerto as first piano concerto?

[Bouter Boogie]

Question..

I've never really played a piano concerto, but now I'm at the level that I'd be able to.
Any advice which piano concerto may be do-able for someone who hasn't really played piano concerti before?

[ The level of my playing: Chopin etudes op. 10, Rach Etudes-Tableaux op. 33, Prokofiev Suggestion Diabolique, Chatschaturjan Toccata, Schumann Fantasiestücke, and many others.. ]

Thnx 

[Kassaa]

Bach Dminor, maybe a Mozart concerto.

[apion]

Mozart #17 or #21

[lostinidlewonder]

I agree that Mozart Concert should be probably your first concerto's to try out, and choose one which you are partial to. One of the earlier concerto's I learnt next to the Mozart was the Greig Piano Concerto in A minor which isn't too difficult. Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major is an easier selection imo as well.

[hodi]

Haydn's concertos aren't really difficult too.. the D Major one.

[brokenagraffe]

Beethoven C minor #3. it's my first concerto which i started around april-ish. sounds good, so far.

[anda]

Question..

I've never really played a piano concerto, but now I'm at the level that I'd be able to.
Any advice which piano concerto may be do-able for someone who hasn't really played piano concerti before?

[ The level of my playing: Chopin etudes op. 10, Rach Etudes-Tableaux op. 33, Prokofiev Suggestion Diabolique, Chatschaturjan Toccata, Schumann Fantasiestücke, and many others.. ]

if you played all the above (decently at least) then you should be able to play most concertos. you can chose something you like (make a decent choice, don't go directly for brahms ) as long as your teacher can play 2nd piano along and teach you the tricks on playing with an orchestra.

best luck

[musicsdarkangel]

Question..

I've never really played a piano concerto, but now I'm at the level that I'd be able to.
Any advice which piano concerto may be do-able for someone who hasn't really played piano concerti before?

[ The level of my playing: Chopin etudes op. 10, Rach Etudes-Tableaux op. 33, Prokofiev Suggestion Diabolique, Chatschaturjan Toccata, Schumann Fantasiestücke, and many others.. ]

Thnx 

Mozart 21....... at the level you're at, I'm confident that it would be a great, fun, action packed starter.

Make sure to take the kick@ss cadenza with the chromatics and trills!

Anyway, I have two good recordings of this if you need them and have AIM.

[rachmaninoff_969]

Here...if you want some selection anything from the following list should be within your grasps...I also decided to write down some def. NOs incase you get overly excited!!! which is normal haha:

Bach
Any of them (# 5 in F minor if you want an easier one to learn quickly)

Beethoven
 No. 1, 2 or 3

Mozart
No. 5, 17, 21, 23 (if you want a bigger challenge)

Haydn
any of them...D major for a challenge

Rimsky Korsakov C# minor....GREAT GREAT choise for a simpler first concerto...it's also fairly short so you'll be able to play it sooner

Saint-Saens Africa fantasy (not really a concerto but a great piece)

Ravel G major

Definite NOs

Scriabin, Tchaikovsky (even though it's tempting), Rachmaninoff, Ginastera, Ligeti, Stravinsky, Bartok, Shostakovich, Barber, Liszt, Chopin, Saint-Saëns, Alkan...and the list goes on...but I think that covers the major ones.

Schumann (Not a first but maybe a second)

same for Grieg

Mendelssohn NO (these may seem tempting, but there are parts which are extraordinarily difficult for any pianist who is honest with himself and others)


most importantly...CHOOS ONE YOU LOVE and HAVE FUN!

[Phillip]

On this subject, can anyone tell me why violinists play Vivaldi violin concerto movements at (UK) Grade 6 level, and have available 'training concertos' by the likes of Rieding and Kliegel, and yet most pianists would not play any concerto movement until they are post-Grade 8?  Maybe it is the shortage of two-piano facilities, although these days one can always use a keyboard as a second piano substitute.

Incidentally, a couple of years ago I accompanied on a second piano at a local music festival two girls from Kent, both under 12, who were pupils of the late Ronalld Smith.  He encouraged them to play concerto movements as soon as they could manage them.

Phillip

[C-A]

Any of these will do:
Mozart: #s9, 21, 23- all are around 30mins.
Mendelssohn: #2 in D minor (my grandma plays this, she said it isn't to difficult)
Beethoven: #s 1-3 In #3, the 2nd movement is wow!
Haydn: The D Major

If you want something better, more famous, a little( but not too much) more challenging a little more exciting, or more energetic, try these (But I suggest DON'T TRY IT YET):
Mozart: #s24, 26 (These are one of the most famous, but not as famous as #21)
Tchaikovsky: #1- the shortest of the 3- around 38 mins.
Beethoven: #5
Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor
Kabalevsky: #3
Shostakovich: #2 in F- The easier of the 2. Be careful at the 3rd movement- some parts have an odd time signature- 7/8.
Chopin: #2-  2-parts Piano Sonata, 1-part  Piano Concerto, but it's still a concerto.

But don't try the other concertos- they're extremely long and really difficult to play.
These are just my suggestions, since my hands can stretch up to 10 keys, loves banging and loud, massive chords and octaves (Chopin's Polonaise is full of them), incredible leaps(like Chopin's Etude 25/4), stretches and gaps (like Chopin's Etude 10/1), odd fingering and espcially loves manoeuvring through the black keys.

[ludwig]

On this subject, can anyone tell me why violinists play Vivaldi violin concerto movements at (UK) Grade 6 level, and have available 'training concertos' by the likes of Rieding and Kliegel, and yet most pianists would not play any concerto movement until they are post-Grade 8?  Maybe it is the shortage of two-piano facilities, although these days one can always use a keyboard as a second piano substitute.

Incidentally, a couple of years ago I accompanied on a second piano at a local music festival two girls from Kent, both under 12, who were pupils of the late Ronalld Smith.  He encouraged them to play concerto movements as soon as they could manage them.

Phillip

Hi Philip,

I'm currently accompanying a lot of "student concerto" or "training concertos" and found that they actually help the students sense of rhythms, intonation, a sense of working together (which some solo violinists choose to neglect), perhaps these pieces help them to develop their aural skills, and improve their musicality? I find that they love practicing with the piano and find it a much more enjoyable experience?!

However, 2 piano settings are harder to arrange, plus, I think pianists have so much solo repetoire that they do not feel the need or want to play with other instrument(s).. This is a shame because although they probably cannot gain as much rhythmic/intonation help with another piano or orchestra, but they certainly can learn to LISTEN and appreciate the partnership! This will help immensley when they play chamber music, accompany, or their own concertos in the future, when they can't be too absorbed in only the sounds they're making...

When I was about 11-13 my teacher pushed me to do a Mendelssohn, Grieg, and a Mozart concerto, I didn't think I was capable but nevertheless I pushed! It was the best experience of my life! I got to play the Grieg and Mendelssohn with orchestra! And learnt how powerful concertos can be! And its all about working together

[apion]

Rimsky Korsakov C# minor....GREAT GREAT choise for a simpler first concerto...it's also fairly short so you'll be able to play it sooner

Never heard of this.   Sounds interesting! 

[dave santino]

Would Beethoven no. 3 or 5 be better as a first concerto? I also have to pick a first concerto. I did look at Mozart D minor as well, but I'm not really a fan of Mozart, whereas Beethoven......love it!!!!