Impatience?

[Ruro]

*Tries writing this again before even posting*

This is difficult to explain, but I think I'm getting tired of all the Burgmuller Childrens pieces (Arabesque, Petit Reunion, and most recently Innocence), not to mention the "esile ruf" (done backwards for the sake of sanity). Sorry if it's not "childrens music", especially the one written backwards, just a common starter for beginner pianists I guess.

Problem is, I guess I'm tired of learning all the notes in 15 minutes, because the song plays for about a single minute, before it's over! Not to mention it loops around half way, so we're hardly talking that much content.

I wanna be able to twiddle my fingers over a piece for ages! I want a challenge!
(Which is Ironic to say, because perfecting any of the peices I mentioned earlier, are infact impossible to get right for me. But it's no suprise either, when you are playing the same 20 notes, a bagillion times!).
I guess I'm stating it's the equivalent of listening to the greatest Concerto over and over, piece of cake, great fun! In comparison to listening to the Crazy Frog Monophonic ringtone shiest over and over, there is a CLEAR difference!

I guess I'm infact asking whether there is music of professional quality at my level? And yeah, there was a thread of "Beautiful music that is easy" recently, but I bet my bottom dollar, that they are pieces that loop around half way through like Innocence...

Sorry if I'm just sounding like a baish, but I was quickly losing interest ealier in Innocence just because all I had left was to perfect it ¬_¬ It's like when learning the piece, the keys is the fun part! And it passes by like no ones business with Burgmuller music!

Or... am I wasting my time, and to improve at all, I must accept and learn this music?
(although you might aswell call Burgmullers pieces Tunes rather then pieces! Atleast the ones I named at any rate...)

Flame me if you desire! For some reason I'm expecting an insult from SteinwayGuy, lol, he seems like a rowdy fellow with his repertoire board summary, which I believe I might be stepping all over by posting this thread

[Glyptodont]

Ruro--

As best I can understand your situation, I would suggest you need two things.

1.  You need . . . . . A teacher flexible enough to allow you to find pieces, bring them in to show her, and then to play them.  Perhaps you might have to check with her first before getting a green light.  Such a teacher must be a bit of an adventuress, and cannot be "wedded" to a particular line of method books. 

2.  You need . . . . Enough motivation to do some research on your own and to FIND THINGS.  Are you willing to spend hours researching piano music?   Because if you don't want to play Fur Elisa or any of the other chesnuts, you may have to go and find an alternative --  on your own.

There's a good chance at this point that you may not even know what you like. 

I don't know where you are in your piano study, but Schumann has quite a few really beautiful pieces that are within the reach of an intermediate. 

That's my shot at it.  Best luck to you --

[Ruro]

Right... Thanks for the reply Glyptodont!

With how far I am getting, I'm realising it would be so useful to have a teacher, and I'm 2 weeks from finishing my Course now, so I can get one soon enough! But "adventuress"? I don't thinking I'll be going to the one I tried last time ¬_¬

Motivation to find it? I can do that I'll have to go to the library more often, and instead of getting preferable music, experiment a bit? >_< I just hope I don't go choosing composers well known for there impossible music though (One name I know of, but I won't say for the sake of sanity).

As soon as I hear a good clip of classical music, I try and get a copy of it >_< So I think i am gradually getting there anyway ^_^

There's a good chance at this point that you may not even know what you like

I see what ya mean, there is styles within the Classical Genre, and I have to depict which ones I like over others, then perhaps finding composers in that area would be a good way to go!

Schumann has quite a few really beautiful pieces that are within the reach of an intermediate

Really? Well I will look into that, I dunno how you define intermediate, but that could be a bit outta my range

And even BETTER, I'll listen to Classic FM more then my collection of music, then I would hear a great selection ^_^ Thanks for your help again!

 Ruro

[robertp]

Ruro---

I especially agree with Glyptodont's first point. A teacher with flexibility, and not just for the issue you raise -- someone who doesn't think "one size fits all." While I still rather like those B. pieces you mention, I also well recall that they can get...mind numbing.

It sounds like what you need is a stretch. Something you can grow into, even if at first it seems rather hard...or impossible. Exactly why the right teacher is needed. Because you'll be working extra hard, so continual how-to-practice-this advice is even more crucial.

I recall a notable experience of my own.  Back-when, I wasn't mired in B., but I was having your same feelings. My teacher pondered for awhile, and gave me...a Chopin Etude. I was scared and thrilled all at the same time. I practiced even harder than I usually would have...my teacher had shown confidence in me, and I wanted to show it was well placed. Bottom line -- even though others probably come to it with a bit more technic than I had, I did grow into it. Rather well, in fact. Moreover, all of my playing, including sight reading, got a whole lot better. Part due, obviously, to the technical workout. But also...the increased sense of confidence (my teacher especially remarked on this point).

Actually, I'm at this same point again -- later in time, different teacher. But I get to pick a Mozart sonata, excluding a couple my teacher is working on. Wheee!

If you don't have a teacher who understands what Glyptodont is talking about, get one!

[Siberian Husky]

no one is going to spoonfeed you progression...

take the innitiative yourself...

Note: this was not meant to sound offensive..was meant encouraging

[gorbee natcase]

youse your inititive, and go to your public library and get some music books out and have a pop at them, present what you like to your techer and discuss the notation etc
If you have a good teacher they should oblige you, A teacher likes nothing more than enthusiasm, as without it you will learn nothing.

[Ruro]

take the innitiative yourself...

None was taken offensively! (although I thought that before the Note )
If I wanna expand my horizons, only I have my taste of composers and all that, so I shall move onwards!

And after you said that robertp, I went in search of Chopin Etude scores (which I found legally!), and NO, I'm fine... I considered Op.10 No.9, which seemed reasonable... but I think I'm okie ^_^ I infact... I went back to my "X Japan" scores I have, and now I have some experience, I think I can play some of them! With difficulty I might add... so I'm gonna be pleased if I can work on them. I could be foolish, but I might try for Crucify My Love, or Rusty Nail

And I went to reply, and your post had appeared gorbee natcase!
Yes, the library is the greatest place for getting Classical music at a Pound Fifty per CD. Although, music books... didn't consider that :/ And I have no teacher, if I hit a job, in 2 weeks after my course I will get one again!  ***Has Enthusiasm! ^_^***

Well... it's been an eventful night for me, so I think I'll cut it there >_< Thankyou for your continuing help!

OH GOD, I just remembered, instead of making an Innocence thread, I thought I could chip it in here. On the 4th Bar, where you hit the C# on the left hand, it's part of a chord. How are you supposed to get this? No fingerings are marked on this part, and using Finger 2 seems odd :/
And using Finger 1, well, you gotta shift your whole hand round. Number 2 seems to work fine, but feels uncomfortable how you have to strech it >_<
Any suggestions welcome!

Apologies if none of this makes sense, it turned messy when gorbee posted :/

[Glyptodont]

How about going to the music store, standing in front of the sheet music display, and picking up one after another sample of sheet music, looking at it, then moving on .  . . .  again and again . . . . for like 45 minutes at a pop?

How about getting one of those huge anthologies, like "Piano Music of the Romantic Era" or similar -- book's length, perhaps 90 pages -- and leaving through it?

You will find some nice Schumann pieces that can be handled at what they call grades 3 or 4. 

Alas, taking the path you want to take, you will have to invest some real TIME to find some nice alternative selections to tackle.

Otherwise, you can just to "go with the flow," and play what the teacher hands you to learn.

I was surprised to find that very skilled pianists, who are capable of some of the classical repertoire, are still being "ordered" by teachers to  . . . LEARN THIS!  And are handed what they will play.  What is this?  Nuts.

One way or another, "time is of the essence."  It takes major time to find the material, and even more time to learn it.

Best luck, fella--