Rachmaninov 2nd concerto

[pianojems]

Hi everyone, my teacher wants me to start on the Rach 2 concerto and I'm wondering if any of you played/performed it and what kind of difficulties you encountered. I would really appreciate the feedback. Ps. how long did it take to learn it?

[Ruro]

lol, I bet your so chuffed

I'm just trying to find answers on how to play a scale perfectly in the depths of the search engine for Arabesque, whilst your twiddling your thumbs on where to start on Rach 2!?!?

Thank god I'm familiar with patience! Goodluck with it! ^_^
And when you get really good, perhaps swing a recording on the third movement onto the Forum, I love that one!

[Nightscape]

This piece is HELL.  Well, pretty close.

All I can say is that if you're going to learn it, learn it right the first time!  Don't allow bad habits to form while you're learning it, because they will come back and haunt your, especially in this piece.


So just take it easy, find the most difficult spots for you, and figure out why they are difficult for you, and then practice those spots first.  Then, starting learning each movement back to front (this is very important).  When I say back to front, for example start with the last measure or two of the 1st movement and practice and learn that.  Then add a measure or so and practice that, combining that with what you practiced before.

[pianojems]

 :)Yeah I can't believe my teacher has this kind of confidence in me, but the big stretches kind of scare me because I have short fingers. It is one of my very favorite concertos of all time though, so it helps when you can be passionate about a piece. I really wish to have some specific advice though

[gee]

Good for you  I've always admired this piece. Good luck with it. srry can't offer you any helpful advise though 

[dreamplaying]

I think your teacher will guide you properly in technical affairs pasages, and so on,....,I just would recommend to read a little of Russian literature, watch russian movies, etc,  to get familiar with Russian motives and environment, this in order to understand the russian great themes flowing over this concerto, so that you do not fall in playing this beatiful master piece as if it be an american love novel.

The best for you.

A very fair version of it is that one of Ashkenazy....perhaps the best of all the Rach 2.

[happyface94]

Thats cool, mine wants me to start the 1rst one. I can ask my friends to give me her fingerings for that concerto (Which she has played incredibly well... she's 17 )

As always, I always say it and forget, so you must remind me... often.

[kaiwin]

LOL... Its Hell and Bliss.

I'm starting playing this concerto too. So far I got through 9 pages. First of all try to figure out a good fingering for yourself after the big chords. Then it should not get you any trouble. I think on page 8 theres this pretty hard part.. I don't have my music with me. First practice slow with a metronome and slowly build up. Do this every day and you would have it at full speed.
Don't give up on this piece and you'll be able to get it! GL
Hope this helps! 

[pianojems]

Thanks for the encouragement, I just felt slightly overwhelmed when I scanned all the pages with my eyes. Seems impossible at first. I really wonder how long it would take for me to learn it.

[musicsdarkangel]

From what I've heard, the 2nd concerto is just quite akward.


Rachmaninoff himself enjoyed playing the 3rd more just because of the awkward intricacies of the 2nd.


Koji seems to agree with this as well (i believe he's working on it now)

[rachmaninoff_969]

Firstly, congrats on beginning this piece.  I am glad to hear that you are beginning with Rach's easiest concerto, and not overambitiously making a feeble attempt at his others.  There was one VERY important comment made on this post already, which is to immerse yourself in Russian music.

Otherwise, there are only a few things I can say about this concerto.  Be sure to play through each movementof the concerto to determine your fingering right off the bat.  This is one piece you do NOT want to have to go back and change things with.  DO NOT worry about interpretation when learning the notes.  Honestly, as unmusical as this sounds, just learn the notes first.

Lastly, as a time gauge, use the third movement.  It is by far the first, and will take you as long to learn as the first two movements combined.  Also, try to avoid banging in this piece...as tempting as it is haha.  Anyway, good luck my friend!

- A