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

[corenfa]

...

Sorry I lied, I have! It has markings written into it in my teacher's handwriting, so we must have done the whole set and I clearly don't remember playing it. Goes to show how clueless i was.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The worrying thing is that there is apparently a heck of a lot of music like that.. has writing in it but I have zero memory of learning it.

[Solari]

The worrying thing is that there is apparently a heck of a lot of music like that.. has writing in it but I have zero memory of learning it.

I'd have a run through some of it if I were you - I daresay quite a lot is tucked away in your subconscious and will come back quickly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[corenfa]

The worrying thing is that there is apparently a heck of a lot of music like that.. has writing in it but I have zero memory of learning it.

I'd have a run through some of it if I were you - I daresay quite a lot is tucked away in your subconscious and will come back quickly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Already tried that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And what I found was that I really didn't like a lot of it, which probably explains why I don't remember it. Though that mostly applies to the Mozarts and Bachs.

D899/3 to me seems harder to understand than the others, because I remember quite well playing the other three in the set and liking them. It doesn't have quite as catchy a tune or figuration as the others and it feels like there is a lot more going on. I reckon this is one of those that I just didn't get then.

[heslop01]

Mozart- Piano Sonata in G major, K. 283- 1st mov. Allegro


It's a great piece but I somehow have problems with my timing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[Solari]

D899/3 to me seems harder to understand than the others, because I remember quite well playing the other three in the set and liking them. It doesn't have quite as catchy a tune or figuration as the others and it feels like there is a lot more going on. I reckon this is one of those that I just didn't get then.

This highlights how we all see things differently - I think that D899/3 is supremely beautiful because of its simplicity. Those tortured LH trills are pure musical sorcery!

Chopin nicked that idea from Schubert, I reckon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Juan Carlos]

and I am really stuck on the arpeggiated chords in the middle section Any tips gratefully received!

When it comes to arpeggiated chords, as has recently happened with a terrible bar - the last one - in Liszt's Romance in e-minor (Grade 7 List B), and also in a few passages in Black Coffee (Webster-Burke, Grade 7 List C) my teacher invariably suggests learning it with doubling. If the chord is, say, C - E - G - C - to mention an easy one - then the exercise to be done is:
C / E - C - E / G - E - G / C - G - C / and descending C / G - C - G / E - G - E / C - E - C, where the notes in bold type are crotchets and the others quavers.
This system, which may seem boring and monotonous, has helped me a lot with many tricky arpeggiated chords, especially when there are black keys involved! It seems that by going back to the pairs of notes, the muscles memorise the distances more accurately and the chord comes smooth and fluent after a few days of slow (!!) practice with firm touch.
Hope it's clear!

[corenfa]

Have started practicing in earnest again. Two of the pieces I'm learning are unmanageable in total (Chopin Op. 53 Polonaise and Rachmaninov Prelude Op. 25 No 5) so I am reduced to still playing separate hands, or only short passage of hands together. No matter - I am philosophical about it, it will just take a long time. Tonight I'm appreciating how nice it is to not have an exam to work towards- though I've been re-learning the piano for 2 years, there are many more years of working towards exams to counterbalance that.

It will take as long as it takes. I have plenty of time.

D899/3 to me seems harder to understand than the others, because I remember quite well playing the other three in the set and liking them. It doesn't have quite as catchy a tune or figuration as the others and it feels like there is a lot more going on. I reckon this is one of those that I just didn't get then.

This highlights how we all see things differently - I think that D899/3 is supremely beautiful because of its simplicity. Those tortured LH trills are pure musical sorcery!
...

Oops missed this first time around - I think I didn't do it justice the first time because I was too unsophisticated to get it. I just filed it away as "no bashing chords, no nice tunes, no impressive fiddly bits, BO-RING". Which is sad, but that's what I was like at age 15.

[Mini_mo]

I have finally started to get back into piano for now. Not managing to practice loads but at least I am doing something. No scales yet but a few technical exercises and 3 pieces of varying difficulty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Still not got total enthusiasm back yet but once I start having lessons again I think it will give me some direction.

[pianophrase]

I have finally started to get back into piano for now. Not managing to practice loads but at least I am doing something. No scales yet but a few technical exercises and 3 pieces of varying difficulty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Still not got total enthusiasm back yet but once I start having lessons again I think it will give me some direction.

Great to see you posting Mini mo, do you have a short term goal to aim for ? not sure when Solari's next playday will be (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/piano.gif)

[jod]

lets think... Bach partita in c minor: Capriccio, Beethoven Sonata Op 13: Rondo and Debussy Valse Romantique.

Any one who notices these are all on the current grade 8 syllabus are very astute. Whether I take the exam or not depend on how my scales in thirds and sixths go in the next week (especially the ones in sixths, and especially the harmonic minors which I detest at the best of times; I much prefer playing melodic minors). If by Friday my shoulders and neck are still standing up to the practise regime then I will consider entering as the pieces are coming on nicely. I sight-read well and Aural is something that comes relatively easily to me.

Yes I know two out of three are in c minor. I'm planning to play them Bach, Debussy, Beethoven. I'd prefer to play the scales, arpeggios, dominant and diminished sevenths first if possible, then do the aural and finish with sight reading. (but I don't the ordering of the supportive tests and the centre in Cambridge has a practice facility to warm the hands and arms up, and a cloakroom in which one can wash ones hands before the exam.

[scotliz]

Just starting on the TG grade 8 syllabus and hope to take the exam next March. I had started the Mendelssohn and the Rachmaninov before I took my grade 7 this term and have just decided I love the Beethoven.

Beethoven Scherzo and Trio from Sonata in C. opus 2 no 3.

Mendlessohn Song Without Words opus 67 no2

Rachmaninov Melodie in E

It took some persuasion to let my teacher do the Mendelsshon and the Rachmaninov!

I know the scales well as I have been doing them for some time and I like doing scales!

I hope I stick to these pieces and don't change when the new syllabus comes in.

[madbassoonist]

lets think... Bach partita in c minor: Capriccio, Beethoven Sonata Op 13: Rondo and Debussy Valse Romantique.

Any one who notices these are all on the current grade 8 syllabus are very astute. Whether I take the exam or not depend on how my scales in thirds and sixths go in the next week (especially the ones in sixths, and especially the harmonic minors which I detest at the best of times; I much prefer playing melodic minors). If by Friday my shoulders and neck are still standing up to the practise regime then I will consider entering as the pieces are coming on nicely. I sight-read well and Aural is something that comes relatively easily to me.

Yes I know two out of three are in c minor. I'm planning to play them Bach, Debussy, Beethoven. I'd prefer to play the scales, arpeggios, dominant and diminished sevenths first if possible, then do the aural and finish with sight reading. (but I don't the ordering of the supportive tests and the centre in Cambridge has a practice facility to warm the hands and arms up, and a cloakroom in which one can wash ones hands before the exam.

I am also working towards G8, but will probably do the exam in the autumn, with GCSEs and a clarinet exam to worry about this session. Is your Cambridge centre the one on King's Hedges Rd?

I'm learning the Madsen Prelude & Fugue in C major, Beethoven Rondo and Albeniz Sous le palmier. I'd like to play them in that order, but the Beethoven has the biggest finish so might sound odd put in the middle.

The B and C pieces I have by heart, and I can play the Prelude, but the Fugue is sounding... interesting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) It'll need a lot more work, and some re-orchestrating to fit small hands! Scales are OK although staccato ones are hard. Sight reading should be all right, I read well enough to score about 17-18 usually, then I'll somehow muddle through The Tests That Must Not Be Named...

[jod]

lets think... Bach partita in c minor: Capriccio, Beethoven Sonata Op 13: Rondo and Debussy Valse Romantique.

Any one who notices these are all on the current grade 8 syllabus are very astute. Whether I take the exam or not depend on how my scales in thirds and sixths go in the next week (especially the ones in sixths, and especially the harmonic minors which I detest at the best of times; I much prefer playing melodic minors). If by Friday my shoulders and neck are still standing up to the practise regime then I will consider entering as the pieces are coming on nicely. I sight-read well and Aural is something that comes relatively easily to me.

Yes I know two out of three are in c minor. I'm planning to play them Bach, Debussy, Beethoven. I'd prefer to play the scales, arpeggios, dominant and diminished sevenths first if possible, then do the aural and finish with sight reading. (but I don't the ordering of the supportive tests and the centre in Cambridge has a practice facility to warm the hands and arms up, and a cloakroom in which one can wash ones hands before the exam.

I am also working towards G8, but will probably do the exam in the autumn, with GCSEs and a clarinet exam to worry about this session. Is your Cambridge centre the one on King's Hedges Rd?

I'm learning the Madsen Prelude & Fugue in C major, Beethoven Rondo and Albeniz Sous le palmier. I'd like to play them in that order, but the Beethoven has the biggest finish so might sound odd put in the middle.

The B and C pieces I have by heart, and I can play the Prelude, but the Fugue is sounding... interesting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) It'll need a lot more work, and some re-orchestrating to fit small hands! Scales are OK although staccato ones are hard. Sight reading should be all right, I read well enough to score about 17-18 usually, then I'll somehow muddle through The Tests That Must Not Be Named...

Yep, Kings Hedges Road! I'm making two entries as I don't want to think about my Grade 8 and pupil exams at the same time. Beethoven is coming on nicely, Debussy has currently had two days work and for that amount of work is progressing nicely. The Bach well I love (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) it and it is going to be fine once I've got it up to speed, am happy with the middle voice transfer and have got the left hand sorted.

[piano/violinplayer]

I have just started JS Bach's Capriccio, John Field's Allegro moderato, Chopin's Nocturne in B and Prokofiev's Prelude. These are all from the 2011 & 2012 Grade 8 syllabus. My teacher said my hands were too for Prelude and she said she played it for her final music recital in music college but she is letting me try it as I really like it. Anyone else doing Field's Allegro moderato?

[Solari]

I've decided that I'll pick an "easy" piece every two weeks and aim to get it to a decent standard by the time the next one is due. So... I started on the Grieg Norwegian Air on Sunday as a bit of fun/light relief. Got all of the notes now, just need to tidy it up a bit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Plodding on with the Schubert D899/1 and quite a few other pieces which are a mix of long-term projects and playing for fun. Practice time has been rare lately but nevermind.