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

[Sam-ChopinFan]

Chopin Prelude No.4 in E Minor ("Suffocation") - about 98% there!
Field - Nocturne in E Minor - about 80% there!
Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag - A and B sections are fine, the TRIO and D Section need some SERIOUS work.

And of course all my Grade 5 pieces (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
It's going well!

[clavicembalo]

Most young pianists are introduced in the middle Grades to his Six Sonatinas Op36, ...

Satie's Sonatine Bureaucratique based on Clementi's Sonatina No. 1 is also fun to play, especially when you know the original piece.

Back on thread, I spent an enjoyable two hours this morning on Bach's P & F in D major (Bk2), gradually raising the metronome from crotchet = 40 up to 69 - fingering, distinguishing between legato semiquavers and staccato quaver triplets simultaneously in the same hand. Often rather 'aggrannoying' - my cross between aggravating and annoying, but rewarding when efforts bear fruition.

[bean52]

Clementi's Sonatina in C major op.36 N.3. I know it's nowhere near as advanced as what others are learning but I consider it my first proper piece of "real" music and it's certainly challenging enough for me!

[clavicembalo]

Clementi's Sonatina in C major op.36 N.3. I know it's nowhere near as advanced as what others are learning but I consider it my first proper piece of "real" music and it's certainly challenging enough for me!

Never be put off or dismayed by what others are learning. I know so many people who regret never having taken up or continued with playing an instrument at all. So we are the lucky ones! If I compared my progress to that of some others on the Forums I too might be inclined to keep quiet about it. It's not a competition, we all continue to learn, we all face musical challenges at whatever level, however far we have reached.

I bought the Clementi Sonatinas for my niece, a couple of years ago, having enjoyed learning them myself. For many they're almost a rite of passage!

Best of luck!

[Solari]

I bought the Clementi Sonatinas for my niece, a couple of years ago, having enjoyed learning them myself. For many they're almost a rite of passage!

I bought that book (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Must get around to having a go!

[Fran*Piano]

Clementi's Sonatina in C major op.36 N.3. I know it's nowhere near as advanced as what others are learning but I consider it my first proper piece of "real" music and it's certainly challenging enough for me!

Never be put off or dismayed by what others are learning. I know so many people who regret never having taken up or continued with playing an instrument at all. So we are the lucky ones! If I compared my progress to that of some others on the Forums I too might be inclined to keep quiet about it. It's not a competition, we all continue to learn, we all face musical challenges at whatever level, however far we have reached.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) what a lovely, inspiring post (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[sbhoa]

Clementi's Sonatina in C major op.36 N.3. I know it's nowhere near as advanced as what others are learning but I consider it my first proper piece of "real" music and it's certainly challenging enough for me!

Never be put off or dismayed by what others are learning.

What about when people pre grade 5 are playing things that I'd barely manage at post grade 8? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[eldatom]

I bought the Clementi Sonatinas for my niece, a couple of years ago, having enjoyed learning them myself. For many they're almost a rite of passage!

I bought that book (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Must get around to having a go!

I bought that book a couple of years ago, it has some lovely pieces in it.

[clavicembalo]

What about when people pre grade 5 are playing things that I'd barely manage at post grade 8? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

On July 15th last year I had grade 2 piano to my name. On July 16th I had grade 8.

I recall having played many pieces over the intervening years at various school functions (as a member of staff) including six different half-hour programmes preceding Prize Giving Evenings. However, in the light of my newfound attention to dynamics, articulation and fingering, I would now baulk at the idea of playing many of those pieces (at least in the same way as I did then). For sure I played the notes correctly (most of them) but the level of what I would now deem acceptable to foist upon an audience has altered dramatically.

I always thought that as an adult much more would be expected of a performance, whilst students had leeway and bags more sympathy.

So, perhaps your pre grade 5s just haven't taken any higher grades yet or maybe they have the fearlessness of youth on their side. Of course you could just be paranoid but I'll leave that diagnosis to the likes of Robodoc! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)

[sbhoa]

What about when people pre grade 5 are playing things that I'd barely manage at post grade 8? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

Of course you could just be paranoid but I'll leave that diagnosis to the likes of Robodoc! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)

I think Robodoc may have been witness to a pretty comprehensive butchering of my 'easy option' piece in one of the workshops sessions at last year's summer school. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[bobifier]

Schumann piano quartet (piano part (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)). It stands as the only piece to date that has managed to physically injure me.

[kingsley13]

Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag - A and B sections are fine, the TRIO and D Section need some SERIOUS work.

I've been learning this piece for 2 years now and I still can't play the trio! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[clavicembalo]

Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag - A and B sections are fine, the TRIO and D Section need some SERIOUS work.

I've been learning this piece for 2 years now and I still can't play the trio! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Is it the left hand that's causing the problem? The right hand is relatively static and lies well under the fingers.

[kingsley13]

Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag - A and B sections are fine, the TRIO and D Section need some SERIOUS work.

I've been learning this piece for 2 years now and I still can't play the trio! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Is it the left hand that's causing the problem? The right hand is relatively static and lies well under the fingers.

Its just two bars that I have trouble with, I don't really have a problem with the left hand (I assume your talking about the massive 2 octave leaps). Also I fall to pieces trying to play the trio without the music. As I've been playing it for so long I can actually play the first bit with my eyes closed, but I really struggle to play the last page without music.

[davidmackay]

Matyas Seiber
jazz - etudiette

It's killing me.
Piano teacher suggested it weeks and weeks ago and I've been battling it ever since. I then learned a few other things and thought (hoped) she had forgotten about this piece. Sadly not, "how's that jazz piece going" she asked the other night.
Grrrrrrr

I'll get it if the last thing I do!!!!!!