New here

[roman]

Hello fellow Pianists, Concert Masters, and Classical Music lovers!

I just found this awesome website, and am totally excited about it.  I'm 16 years old, and I'm a pianist.

I've been playing for about 4 1/2 years, and I know many of you guys are going to say that you can't learn much in 4 1/2 years, but to tell you the truth, from hard work, and hours at the piano, I have been able to achieve results on the Piano that people usually achieve in 10 years.  I have a great teacher from the former USSR, and he is responsible for bringing out my talent in me and teaching me all I know.

Let me just give you basic run down of some pieces from my current repertoire:

-Chopin Nocturne in C-Minor
-Chopin Nocturne in E-Flat Major
-Beethoven Pathetique Sonata
-Mozart Fantasia in D-Minor
-Bach Prelue and Fugue in D-Major
-Chopin Waltz
-Some Etudes

I've played many songs over my 4 1/2 years, I've played many of Bach's difficult Preludes and Fugues, Chopin's Nocturnes, Cherny's Etudes, Tchaikovsky, etc, etc.

I play a minimum of 2 hours each day, and I strive to be the best pianist I can be with the talent and calling that God gave me.  I currently play for a few choirs, and I'm trying to improve my skills in Musical Theory, Hearing, and hearing songs and playing them.

One downpoint in my musical career, is performances.  I have performed at very few performances, because one, I live in Sacramento,CA, two I don't really know how to find them or get into them, etc.  But I have performed at a few concerts, and people were just thrilled at how I play.

I hope maybe somebody here can give me some tips for a breakthrough you know, how to get into these competitions, because I feel I have a good talent and I can do it with God's help!

Hope to meet some new friends and learn much!

-Roman

[ThEmUsIcMaNBJ]

-Chopin Nocturne in C-Minor
-Chopin Nocturne in E-Flat Major
-Beethoven Pathetique Sonata
-Mozart Fantasia in D-Minor
-Bach Prelue and Fugue in D-Major
-Chopin Waltz  
-Some Etudes

are pieces not songs...!

[pskim]

thank you!

[Colette]

i'll give you a friendlier welcome. hi, nice to meet you and best of luck in your piano career! it sounds like you're off to a great start!
as for how to start concertizing more, have you considered auditioning for any music schools (weekend ones maybe) in your area? the best way to get concerts is to be in a community with other piano students and teachers who can frequently give you tips, offer you engagements, etc. since you have a good teacher, it should be part of his job to provide you with ample performing opportunities. talk to him about this. also, forming a chamber group with other musicians is a great way to get out there and perform. remember, you prob. won't get your first, second, or third concert hall choice righ away, hense that breakthrough your talking about will happen gradually. that goes without saying. if you want to perform, firstly, to better your pianism, simply play at any chance you can get...for you friends, family, and maybe take on a small studio of students. then you can always play at the end of your student's concerts.
as for competitions, don't waste your time entering all those "teacher association" ones out there, or the very small, regional, new competitions. the level is usually quite low. never start from the bottom if you don't have to. i'd say start off with competitions that don't have massive repertoire requirements, but are well established and respected. the bartok kabalevsky competition is a very good one to start out with.

[roman]

I meant to say pieces, man you guys, do you only search for errors in a message?

[ThEmUsIcMaNBJ]

Sorry I've just become incredibly aware of that in any posts now probably because of this forum and everyone who gets on peoples cases about it.  But it really does make a difference...  I dunno it kinda shows ignorance?  I don't know if that is the right word but it's kind of like being a baseball player and calling the baseball a basketball doesn't make much sense?

[roman]

Thanks for pointing it out, I don't know I just sort of totally forgot they weren't songs.


Maybe we should just call them Compositions? Because pieces isn't that great of describing masterpieces of music.

[Stral]

I too am new, I've been really enjoying reading through the archives here (always learning something new!) and I figured I'd register and say hello.  

Although I am definately not a professional pianist, I am quite serious about my playing.  I was privately trained for six years from 8 until 14, until  I decided (foolishly) to rebel and quit playing; now I am 18 and have just recently begun again (four months ago).  I've made more progress in the past four months than I ever would have imagined, and believe it or not I'm actually enjoying myself this time!  

Anyways, thank you all for providing such a wonderful resource by the way of this community to those of us with much to learn.

Dan

[roman]

Hey Dan,

Great to hear the fire is still burning in you!

Can anyone answer me one question, why do people love playing Piano so much? I mean people who HAVE NOT/DID NOT take lessons when they were young?

EVERY PERSON that I've talked to regarding music, has ALWAYS said how they regret that they didn't take lessons or that they quit!  It's amazing how every person wishes they never quit or started.