im thinking of changing pieces that im doing for grade 8, i already changed from scarlatti sonata to bach allemande and now i want to change from liszt in C to arabesque no.1 i definitely wont be able to learn it well enough for november time. Should i change pieces and move my exam forward or leave it as it is?

Can I ask why you want to change the piece? If it's because you're finding it difficult to play then you have to decide which piece you think you will be able to perform better in the exam. You said that if you did change it, the piece wouldn't be ready by November so don't you think you should just stick with what you've got? It's better to be prepared than to go into an exam and not feel comfortable with what you're playing.

Good luck!

Lisa xxx

Hi crazy_purple_piano_freak

If you are good enough to do grade 8 in the first place, then you can learn the Arabesque in 5 months.

Have you consulted your teacher s\he should know best what you are capable of.

Steve

the reason i want to change is because i cant really play a piece if i cant get into it. I could play scarlatti sonata but it sounded horrible and i just felt like i was playing scales. I dont really like the liszt and nomatter how much i practise i cant get into it or play it any better and find it really boring. Ive not asked my teacher yet but will do in my next lesson...

Yep, I hate playing Scarlatti too, so I don't. I always steer my grade 8 students towards the movements from the Bach Suites that always appear in list A.

There is no point in flogging away at the Liszt for 5 months if you do not like it. You do have time to learn the Debussy properly, I promise. To be honest, it is not all that difficult, although it does have its 'moments'.

When you talk to your teacher about this, have your reasons for wanting to change pieces really clear in your mind and be prepared to put them forward calmly and clearly. I am sure s\he will be receptive but may well have very good reasons for suggesting the repertoire in the first place . We piano teachers do not get many piano fanatics and treasure thme when they arrive; you will get a sympathetic hearing.

How well could you learn the Debussy in time for your next lesson. If a student tells me they want to change a piece, I am much more impressed if they have made a real effort with the new piece first.

Steve

Incidentally, purely out of curiosity and with no relevance to your question whatever; is your hair actually purple?

What makes you think its my hair?????no its not...
i only started practising yesterday and my lessons on saturday so i obviously wont get very far...the first phrase is quite easy but im well and truly stuck on the triplets in righthand, duple in left hand bit...

OK, so what is purple? I am only asking out of curiosity. My own students turn up with all sorts of colours in all sorts of places - hair (most common), cloathes, nails etc

Right, describing 3 against 2 is really hard when there are no graphics to use. I will do my best. Imagine notes are identified by the digits 1-3, so the RH quavers go 1-2-3 for each groups of triplets. The rhythm 1-2&-3 involves the RH quavers playing on 1-2-3 whilst the LH quavers play on 1--&-

Your teacher can show you what I mean, if you don't understand.

I can send you and audio file describing it, if that would help.

Steve

I teach my students to say "Nice cup of tea" with a crotchet, 2 quavers and a crotchet - it works at slow speeds to get the brain to understand how the 2 hands fit together. I was taught differently - play the duplets several times with a very strong pulse then play the triplets several times with a very strong pulse then start alternating one then the other, all the time keeping a very strong pulse then finally try together. It worked with me, but it may not work with everyone and my pupils tend to find the nice cup of tea helps and once they can see where everything goes they can gradually speed up.

Think (if I can type this right!)



Nice cup tea Nice cup tea
Nice of Nice of


where the top line is for the right hand and the bottom line is for the left hand - hope it helps! I use sentences a lot to help my pupils with tricky rhythms, and then afterwards show them how the counting works.

AARGH! The stupid computer corrected all my spacings! TRY AGAIN!!!




Nice.....cup...tea.....Nice.....cup...tea.
Nice.........of...........Nice.........of......

Try that you silly computer!

thank you! i'll try both ways and see which works best...
Nothing is purple, i just like purple. ie, my room, clothes random files...sorry the purple thing isnt interesting! If i dyed my hair it probably would look that purple as my hair is naturally black!