Where to next?

[PhilomelaShira]

I just finished performing Beethoven's "Sonata Pathetique" Op.13...and I don't know where to go next...any tips? I'm looking for a real challege this time....I tend to go pedal happy so my teacher always gives me something that doesn't use too much pedal so I don't have to worry about control, but a little mental workout is in order I think...and I love faster pieces....help!

[lostinidlewonder]

Try another Beethoven Sonata, just knowing one won't give you enough. In my opinion Bach + Czerny works well along side with studying Beethoven so choosing pieces from them is a good idea. Czerny has many fast paced pieces which also relate to things you find in Beethoven and Bach just ties everything for piano together really.

[steinwayguy]

Try another Beethoven Sonata, just knowing one won't give you enough. In my opinion Bach + Czerny works well along side with studying Beethoven so choosing pieces from them is a good idea. Czerny has many fast paced pieces which also relate to things you find in Beethoven and Bach just ties everything for piano together really.

Czerny? You must be kidding. Pieces? A good joke.


Czerny is hopelessly pointless.


If you're looking for standard repertoire do something from the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Op. 57 Beethoven Sonata or any Chopin Etude.

[Rach3]

I humbly beg you, don't learn op. 57! Everyone's doing it! Everyone! Not to be rude, I'm sure you could do it, maybe even a really good performance but do you have any idea how awkward it would to be take your version of Appassionata to a master class with a straight lineup of eleven other Appassionatas? Think of the awkwardness! Think of the children!

Well, most people would ignore this advice, so feel free to.

[/end rant]

I agree with everything the previous poster said - another Beethoven non-op.57 sonata would be great, Chopin etudes are useful, Czerny is not music. All of WTC is doable (minor hint - don't start with a six page fugue). Some doable Beethoven sonatas are (off the top of my head) op. 26 (with the variations), op. 31/3 or 31/2,  op. 90. I'd recommend 31/3 or op. 26 most.
(edited for mistake)

Or you could do one of the few works existing in the non-Beethoven repertoire - like say a Brahms intermezzo or rhapsody, or Prokofieff's 3rd sonata, or anything by Chopin...

$0.02 from
[Rach3]

[keys]

I did the Waldstein after the Pathetique. Op. 111 is nice as well. It is hard to go wrong with Beethoven, just don't pick the hammer or something stupid.

[Rach3]

Waldstein is hard - harder than Appassionata even; the finale is almost ridiculous. And definitely stay away from op. 111 - it's a monumental work that demands a lot of maturity (come on, it's a twenty minute adagio!). And if you don't believe me, well then the notes are extremely hard as well - maybe harder than Waldstein; double trills and worse.

I'd say op. 31/3 (E-flat major) is the best choice after Pathetique - after all, it's Beethoven writing in his favorite key! Or anything else I mentioned - "Tempest" (31/2) or op26 or op90. Or anything else I didn't mention - like op. 31/1 (a really strange piece).

-Rach3

edit: On the subject of op. 111, I should have mentioned that all of the really late (op. 101 onwards) sonatas are extremely difficult and mature works; op. 109 is the most manageable of these.