Practice Advice: Is this piece too difficult for me?
A common question is: "Can I start working on this piece, or is it too difficult for my level?" Today we will discuss general questions and considerations to make when choosing new repertoire that will challenge you to improve!
Find the start time in your time zone by clicking the photo or following this event link:
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/is-this-piece-too-difficult-dominic
We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!
- What questions do you have on this topic?
- Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
-
- Should I start pieces that have "big stretch" for small hand size?
- Should I try part of a repertoire for the sake of learning, without the whole piece? like etudes, ie... La Campanella, Winter Wind
-
I seem to take ages to learn a new piece, and wondered if this was a sign of too much difficulty - What might be considered a reasonable amount of time to learn a "development/progress" piece?
Also, i've just been introduced to the benefits of memorising music. Are there things to look out for if trying to improve skills in this area without getting overwhelmed and taking on something too tricky?
Thank you, this is such a useful topic!
-
Thank you for the advice! Unfortunately due to the time difference I can't join webinars live but really enjoying these :)
-
I like that approach to improving: building on success. Excellent! That places emphasis on empowerment. Yes!
I so appreciate being able to watch these Livestreams after the fact.
I like the 30 - 70 recommendation: 30% - Difficult pieces / 70% - Comfortable pieces.
I love the analogy about playing the "root" pieces (easier pieces) to get to the "tree" (dream piece(s). ) That is a wonderful way to get there...to learn the culture of the composer, the feel, the taste of his/her work.
Your advice about memorizing pieces is very eye opening.
Thank you, Dominic! Thank you to everyone who asked questions, too!
-
I also like the term "lively music" rather than "fast music". :D
-
Thank you for being so candid, Dominic. I find that you often address aspects of music that one doesn't often hear. It speaks to your wisdom and your concern to help us be the best we can be - to reach the goals we set.
-
Regarding "perfection", I have heard this, and I like it:
"Progress not perfection."
-
Hi Dominic ! Thank you for this great class! Very valuable insights, and I see things pretty much the same as you that a piece shouldn't take too long to learn and that we can loose motivation if playing something too difficult early on.
Speaking of difficult pieces, I've been practicing The Goldberg Variations a little on and off for some time now, and I realized that I've been playing very little Bach threw-out my life. I think it is causing me some difficulties with learning this piece fast enough. I have the aria, var 1. most of var 2. and 4 memorized. Var 3 and 5, I'm working on on the slower side. I decided on doing the aria and var 1. - 5. for now, and learn some other Bach! I started playing threw some 2-part inventions, then will progress to sinfonias, prelude/fugue and suite/partitas perhaps.I was wondering; do you have any specific recommendations as a road-map to the Goldberg variations? What should one have played to learn G.V. in one month?
-
Sindre Skarelven following
-
-
This is a great topic. Building on success versus challenge. So good. I have always picked pieces that are too hard....not because they are hard, but because I love them. Love is a big part of my formula. If you love a piece you can work on it for a long time without as much success. I am only getting some success now. Some of it is due to Tonebase! You cover the pieces I have been working on and I get great advice that has led to palpable success. So thank you.
-
Thanks for this very interesting class. My question is, it is ok to learn a challenging piece but very slow, I mean really slow...
Maybe retry later, I don't know, one year later or whenever we are ready to.
The basic job is done. Analysis, memorise the piece, the choreography, the specific difficulties and come to this time to time. This is my approach for the moment and I would be interesting to what you think.
p.s. oh is a really past topic. Any way, question still remains.
-
Sofia Hi Sophia, regarding your question: Is it ok to work on a very challenging piece way above your level very slowly? I started my 1st Concerto Mozart #17 the Starling 1 1/2 years ago. It was very difficult . Now I can play the 1st movement up to tempo from memory with an interpretation I like. And, I will continue to learn Mvnt 2 & 3 up to tempo. I also did this with Debussy, Arabesque, which after a year I play very welll. It was very difficult at first.
I play in an Orchestra. Our violin soloist said he has played the concerto he played with us since he was in High School and finally now he is happy with it. So, I think, Yes with a lot of patience you can try a big challenging piece. Work on it intensively. Put it away a few months and come back to it with fresh eyes, ears and meanwhile more technique. Good Luck, Carole
-
Carole Kincaid I stick to this: Put it away a few months and come back to it with fresh eyes
and meanwhile more technique.
That's what I'll do.
Its been 2 months I struggle with sonata 545 and nothing else.
It has moved me to another level, so I think it is well done till now.
Thanks so much Carole
-
Sofia I totally agree. Working on my 1st concerto has moved me to to a level I never thought possible a year ago. So, taking that Quantum Leap that seemed impossible a year ago has been worth it. I am also in Tonebase Violin. Last week a teacher demonstrated Paganini as a warm-up at maximum slow tempo. I thought it was funny at the time. But, I might try his idea.
-
Carole Kincaid Yes, actually very slow can be not so easy though...
-
