Instrument Players - Come and chat (Part II)

[CoteDAzur]

Previous thread is here.

We filled one thread, so here’s another

Haha Cote I did Hindemith and Poulenc for my grade 8 flute many years back and I’ve still not quite forgiven my teacher. Some of this stuff sends my brain scribbly for days!

In my experience, the pieces you will learn most from are those you love, which are slightly over your level of competence at the instrument.

I have had several of those: Gorgeous pieces I thought I wouldn't be able to play, my teacher thought it was too early to even try. I loved them so much that I obsessed over them, practicing them several hours per day just to be able to play them at all. I made huge leaps and progressed quickly when learning these pieces.

One was Jean-Philippe Rameau's which starts slowly enough but goes nuts towards the end , passing through some interesting bits where one hand plays over the other & where 3 separate melodies are played with 2 hands.

Another is again Rameau's . I'm posting the one correct performance of this piece that I was able to find on YouTube, on the harpsichord. Practicing it on the piano is making my arms ache, because of the many 'ornaments' (trills etc) but it is such pleasure to play this incredibly beautiful music

ALL pieces are above my level, lol.

Another question...the easy exercises in the books have fingering numbers and fixed positions for your right hand. C and F position (As in right hands thumb on those notes)

But the pieces I am trying to play have no figuring numbers and range up and down the piano in terms of octaves. Can I place my hands where ever I feel is sensible for playing those particular bars and move it as I need to. Or should I be sticking to C and F layouts ?

Speaking of Bartok, I always liked playing - the 3rd movement starting at about 3.38.

Great fun with the key signatures, particularly when it spreads out into 3 staves...

Babies, you don't have to stick to the 5-finger position, so yes, do what you feel works and is comfortable for you. Where fingering is written you still don't have to use it. I used to do some strange contortions. If you really get stuck you can always Google, ask on a forum and of course ask us.
When to just pick up and move your hand instead of moving by steps to keep it legato is a question...

In my experience, the pieces you will learn most from are those you love, which are slightly over your level of competence at the instrument. This. Absolutely.

I'm not a Bartok fan. As for modern music

Thank you Broken :)

That said, What to Do When it Rains by Balch is lovely.

You're welcome

In my experience, the pieces you will learn most from are those you love, which are slightly over your level of competence at the instrument

I kind of agree with this but have very fond memories of that awful Poulenc piece I did on the flute and being delighted when I nailed it even though I didn't think it sounded very nice. Because it was so technical it was a huge challenge and even though it wasn't my cup of tea at all I learned a hell of a lot and ironed out a lot of acquired bad habits in learning it, much more than I did with the comfortable baroque pieces I would have chosen in its place. It's not relevant really now as I'm just learning for fun, not to take exams this time around. I want to be able to play some pretty classical music to relax.

I'm only playing for fun now too but I think it's good to push yourself outside your comfort zone now and then. My last attempt was Scriabin but I did pick a pretty little piece.

is nice.

Hmm. That wasn't quite it. .

After I can play my Jane Austin songs or have given up
I want to learn this one...it is on my piano and I have the music for it. But in my learning I am just up to chords and two handed playing so this is far to difficult for me yet...but one day, I will play this.

In my experience, the pieces you will learn most from are those you love, which are slightly over your level of competence at the instrument

I Kind of agree although there's a real skill in taking something relatively simple and making very beautiful.

When I started playing again after a 17 year retirement I found playing with people who were better than me really pushed my playing back up to where I was before. And it's a great cycle - the more you play the better you become and you love it more so you play some more and on it goes

Well just playing scales last week has paid off in this week’s piano lesson - finally it’s all making sense!
I love hearing about everyone’s projects. I’m feeling a bit bogged down by grade 5 but I sort of feel i’s a milestone to be reached before I branch out!
Also my teacher reminded me to go back to the Hanon exercises.

Been learning Schubert lieder accompaniments. What a genius the man was.

And learning that Albeniz's Layenda. Jumping octaves is fun.

I enjoy reading about the music that everyone is working on - keep them coming

Meanwhile, here’s what I’ve done with . It’s not perfect yet (if it ever will be) but at least I’m playing it correctly, my teacher was sirupeuses to find.

Aside from overall difficult, the tricky part is that the arpeged notes (e.g. Re-Fa-La-Re) on the left hand are to be played evenly and scaled ones (e.g. Mi-Re-Do-Si-La) on the right hand are to be played unequally, in true Baroque fashion.

Anyway. Enjoy my sausage fingers

You have wonderful fingers Cote!
Not a bad lesson last night - arpeggios are definitely coming along, same with chromatic scales. Not entirely sure why abrsm wants chromatic scales contrary motion but I can do them so not complaining. I have 2 and a half pieces hands together now as long as I’m not asked to play fast. Hopefully can get the third piece straight over the Christmas holiday.
My teacher has even suggested we play something different for a Christmas treat and I can bring in some music! Very tempted to try Bach!

That's really nice cote!

Is that your favourite harpsichord?

Loose Do try Bach! There are some nice ones in the 2-part invention. #1 and #2 are very nice, #4 too. #8 is jolly. My favourites are #13 and #14. I think #13 a Grade 6 piece. I remember learning #14 too. Happy memories!

Yes, I love this harpsichord. There is another one that I like that has incredible timbre but it doesn't have two keyboards, so what you can do with it is somewhat limited. I should record something on it to show you all the difference

A big YES to J S Bach, the greatest composer who has ever lived. All those zillions of pieces he has composed, with all instruments known to man, and his melodies are always different & original. Each one better than the other in some way. True genius.

You're doing well Loose. The joys of chromatic contrary motion, I cannot get them. Thirding Bach Love that we all think it's a treat. Yes Never invention 13 is on current grade 6 list. I started on 1 a while ago but got distracted, must go back to it. The little prelude I'm learning is nice but only about g3, sounds more difficult imo, if you want something easy Loose or there's that ubiquitous prelude...
I am rambling on to myself on my thread

Which little prelude are you working on, Broken?

“I am rambling on to myself on my thread ”

Well, come back & talk to us on here, then

I will follow up these Bach suggestions, many thanks! I think it will be a reward for plodding through the grade 5 requirements.
DS2 really enjoys playing Bach on the cello although he’s only grade 5 level at the moment so it’s the easier pieces!

Yes, Broken tell us more here! These threads easily drop off my list and then I lose track! How is the clarinet coming along?