What Are You Learning?, ...and how's it going? Options

[saxophile]

'Polishing' of the Beethoven Pathetique 2nd movt

I found an arrangement of that for clarinet and piano in some music I've been given.

Ooh - I can imagine that sounding beautiful... the register is just right for clarinet.

[MadMatt]

but my teacher told me flatly at my last lesson before the summer break that he didn't require me to like the piece, only to play it (ie it's a piece which is supposed to be "good" for me! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) ). Ho hum...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I couldn't stand that, the thing that put me off all those years ago, was that I didn't really like any of the pieces she wanted me to learn. >.< How am I supposed to feel enthused about practising, when all I want to do is throw the music in the bin. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[saxophile]

but my teacher told me flatly at my last lesson before the summer break that he didn't require me to like the piece, only to play it (ie it's a piece which is supposed to be "good" for me! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) ). Ho hum...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I couldn't stand that, the thing that put me off all those years ago, was that I didn't really like any of the pieces she wanted me to learn. >.< How am I supposed to feel enthused about practising, when all I want to do is throw the music in the bin. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Generally, my teacher is really good about not insisting I do pieces I don't like, so I can forgive him this one. He's quite right that there are elements in it I need to practise (trills - ugh!) and it's also got a number of passages which will put into practice the stuff I've been working on in the Czerny exercises, so I can see his point.

(I think that's why he's loaned me his copy of the Mozart, actually, rather than asking me to buy a copy: that way I have to restrain myself from ripping it into tiny pieces when the trills get too much for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) .)

[MadMatt]

Generally, my teacher is really good about not insisting I do pieces I don't like, so I can forgive him this one. He's quite right that there are elements in it I need to practise (trills - ugh!) and it's also got a number of passages which will put into practice the stuff I've been working on in the Czerny exercises, so I can see his point.

(I think that's why he's loaned me his copy of the Mozart, actually, rather than asking me to buy a copy: that way I have to restrain myself from ripping it into tiny pieces when the trills get too much for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) .)

I'm not familiar with the exercises, but I listened to some briefly on youtube and I can certainly see how some of them are most probably very relevant to the Mozart piece.

I do certainly hate it when I'm playing something and there's supposed to be a trill, I've meant to play a trill but only half of what I'd like to come out, actually comes out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

And of the loaning of the music, most of the classical stuff is public property, you can always find a version, print it off and play from that. Then if you really want to rip something to shreds, you can!

I've found this website particularly useful.

[Solari]

'Polishing' of the Beethoven Pathetique 2nd movt

I found an arrangement of that for clarinet and piano in some music I've been given.

I wonder how different it is from the normal piano music... might be a good forum event duet piece! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[eldatom]

Mozart K545 - still not inspiring me (trills - bah!), but my teacher told me flatly at my last lesson before the summer break that he didn't require me to like the piece, only to play it (ie it's a piece which is supposed to be "good" for me! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) ). Ho hum...

Schubert sonata in A, 2nd movement - haven't got very far in this yet but it's beautiful. I'm not at all familiar with Schubert, but I suspect that may be about to change (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .

Debussy 'Reverie' - also haven't got very far on this, but again am thoroughly enjoying it.

'Polishing' of the Beethoven Pathetique 2nd movt and Granados Spanish Dance no.2 are progressing OK. I can't exactly describe them as 'sparkling' as yet, but the rough edges are gradually becoming fewer.

Still ploughing on with Czerny and Hanon. I wish my fingers would work faster!!

I love the Mozart K545, I am looking forward to being able to play the whole sonata right through.

[Solari]

I love the Mozart K545, I am looking forward to being able to play the whole sonata right through.

I've banned myself from learning any Mozart until I can sort out my 4th and 5th fingers... too much uneven-ness (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[clavicembalo]

I love the Mozart K545, I am looking forward to being able to play the whole sonata right through.

I've banned myself from learning any Mozart until I can sort out my 4th and 5th fingers... too much uneven-ness (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

They don't have to be the same length! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[sbhoa]

'Polishing' of the Beethoven Pathetique 2nd movt

I found an arrangement of that for clarinet and piano in some music I've been given.

I wonder how different it is from the normal piano music... might be a good forum event duet piece! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

It's the same except that the clarinet has the melody.
I'm working on being able to get to Taxidriver's next houseparty.........

[Mad Tom]

I have been told to learn a Mozart piano concerto (before returning to improve one of Beethoven's, and to overcome the remaining technical difficulties - lots of them - in Rachmaninoff's 2nd)

I confess that I had never listened properly to the m before now, but I just listened to almost the complete set ... as recorded by Jeno Jando. They are wonderful. But the choice is very difficult.

[Solari]

I have been told to learn a Mozart piano concerto (before returning to improve one of Beethoven's, and to overcome the remaining technical difficulties - lots of them - in Rachmaninoff's 2nd)

No.20 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) You know you want to! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Must be fiendishly difficult in parts, though!

24 is great, too!

[clavicembalo]

I have been told to learn a Mozart piano concerto (before returning to improve one of Beethoven's, and to overcome the remaining technical difficulties - lots of them - in Rachmaninoff's 2nd)

No.20 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) You know you want to! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Must be fiendishly difficult in parts, though!
24 is great, too!

Notewise Mozart Concertos aren't that bad, easier than the Beethoven, it's their performance and interpretation that are the real challenges.

[clavicembalo]

Bach Prelude & Fugue in B major (Book 2)

Beethoven Sonata in G, Op.31/1

Chopin Nocturne in C minor, Op.48/1

Well, now I have reached the end of the Bach Prelude; the first page is now fluent, the second, becoming so, with the notes of the third at least familiar to me. As for the fugue, maybe I'll look at that later this evening and see how I get on this time. It'll still be at a snail's-pace, for sure!

With the Beethoven, just more of the same really, checking that my fingering is right - I might just leave one of the sections of parallel semiquaver, so that I don't get used to an inefficient choice of fingers. There is quite a lot of repetition and imitation in this first movement, so things ought to move swiftly once this matter is appropriately resolved.

Chopin was in luck today! Everything's fine, up to the introduction of the large arpeggiated chords. These will also be OK once I have fingering determined - not sure if my Schirmer copy doesn't contain some anomalies, so I'm a little wary. Consequently, I skipped to the semiquaver octaves in triplets, which aren't too bad and then slowly went through the remaining few pages a few times 'Hands Separately' - quite a way to go, unsurprisingly.

Finally, I played through some Manuel Ponce piano works - written for piano, not guitar, in case you're wondering! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Solari]

Manuel Ponce

Sounds like a great name for a Beggar! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[clavicembalo]

Manuel Ponce

Sounds like a great name for a Beggar! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Along with Rodrigo and Albeniz, Ponce is better known for his guitar works and, like Rodrigo, he wrote a Piano Concerto! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)