Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Piano Study Groups for Intermediate-Early Advanced Levels (anyone interested?)

Mike, Glad you decided to join in. I think there will be a few folks wanting to work on the Raindrop (I may be one of them). By the way, you might be amused to know I saved a copy of your Waltz in A-Flat from the last recital in case I decide to work on that one too.

Agilita, nope, no boobs

FurElise, I agree on keeping it simple! (I'll have enough challenge learning these peices)

Oh, on re-reading my post I can see where you're coming from. No way can I pick up the Raindrop Prelude, for example, and just record it.

I mean, technically I could, but it wouldn't bear much resemblance to what Freddie had in mind when he composed it.

So, to be clear, we pick a piece from the list, work frantically on it for months, hope we get it into some reasonable, unembarrassed shape, record it, then post it?

Opus:

Don't overthink this whole thing!, just pick a song, a date and go with it!!. (executive descision time)

I did this with the online recital and it worked out great. Of course, there will be suggestions along the way, but you can't please everyone!. This is YOUR thing, so make the descisions and get it going. We will all follow your command, and if needed, possibly make a few positive suggestions along the way if needed.

Now, "instruct" us on what song, when etc.

I'm new to this forum. This looks like a good idea. I play mostly classical, so I'll probably be in that group. Chopin is always good, but how come no one has suggested Beethoven? There are a lot of sonata movements that are doable. We just have to find one. Also there are some bagatelles and variations that might be intermediate/early advanced. Some others that I can think of:

Schumann--Kinderscenen (any of these)
Schubert--Impromptu in G (definitely advanced, but how could you not want to play it?)
Debussy--Reverie or Claire de Lune, possibly an arabesque
Mozart--of course
Bach--2 part and 3 part inventions, some preludes
Grieg--some of the Lyric pieces would be doable.

I don't expect you to list all these, but I thought I'd broaden our classical horizons from Chopin only.

I listened to a download of the CROATIAN RHAPSODY, it is a beautiful song. It sounds hard, but I would like to see the sheet music for it
to see if I could attempt to play it. So if anybody is gamed to try that song with me , I might be interested.

Cookie74, Glad you're joining in (and welcome to this forum) I'll add you to the list. I'll also add the specific pieces you mentioned on your list of suggestions.

Super-Hunky, Here is the tentative schedule that was proposed over the Memorial Weekend. I am not personally opposed to starting sooner, but I do think this schedule is reasonable enough to accomodate everyone. I also think in the long run, it will be better to get everyone involved in deciding how to organize the group, rather than someone making an executive decision and imposing that on the group.

Tentative Schedule 2006
June Week One: Recruiting & Ideas
June Week Two: Suggestions for piano pieces for the Group (Classical, Jazz, Modern, Other).
June Week Three: Open discussions/suggestions on how to organize the groups & develop a music schedule.
June Week Four: Obtain music (purchase hard copies/download or share?)
July: Start new pieces, in group(s) of choice
August-December: Continued work on pieces and/or start new pieces, as desired.
December: Evaluate Experience & Decide on whether or not to continue in 2007.

Everyone:
It's time to submit piano pieces for consideration. When you do, please indicate who wrote the piece, and in what category the piece belongs (Classical, Jazz, New Age, Modern, Others?) as well as whether you believe the piece should be classified as intermediate or advanced (for the group).

Petrof, I know ShiroKuro will be delighted to hear that. I haven't seen all the sheet music, but here is a portion of it .

So what do you think? [it looks scary to me]

OPUS: I checked out the portion of the sheet music for The Croatian Rhapsody and now I'm not sure if I could handle it right now. This song reminds me of one of those Bachs Inventions that I found too difficult to play. Maybe in another year I might be ready to try to play the Croatian Rhapsody by Tonci Hulji. I need to move up on my skills level first.

Petrof. I understand...it does appear to be very challenging (but hey, if you really like the piece, maybe the group could help you get through it?)

Nina LOL, okay. That could happen I suppose, but worded that way makes it sound like a contest or a preparation for a recital, when really, it's more just a way for us to work on our repertoire with others who might also want to work on the same piece. That's all. It's not going to be an overly formal process, with rules & expectations. Have you ever spent a month or so (or longer?) working on a difficult piece of music that you really wanted to learn? That's really what this group thing is all about...finding others who also want to work on the same piano pieces you want to work on...helping others, getting help from others, commiserating, celebrating, motivating, etc...
But to be clear, recording and posting is NOT required, it is optional.

You know what would also be great fun to learn?

The famous Rachmaninoff Prelude in c# minor, Op.3 No.2.

Soft and mysterious in the beginning, with an agitated middle section, it concludes with huge, crashing sfff chords that finally resolve to the quietest ppp.

This Prelude would fit both late-intermediate and early-advanced catagories.

Mel

Perhaps some Bach?

I'm working on the French Suite #5 and it's challenging but not rip-your-hair-out hard.

Beethoven's Bagatelles are also nice.
Schubert's German Dances, Op. 33 are great--melodic, fun and short. They're great choices if you want to learn something to play for other people but you don't want to spend more than a few minutes to play them when they're performance-ready.
Mozart's "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" variations--pick as many variations as you want to learn, based on time and ability. (Some are easy, some are tougher.)
Brahms' Waltzes
Bartok's Hungarian Dances
Coates' arrangement of "Ashokan Farewell"

Just some ideas.

Leaving aside any discussions of body parts, I just started a Yahoo group to keep in touch with some coworkers on a project. It's very easy and straightforward, but it has to have an "owner" (which is a funny expression because it's free.) If someone wants us to use a Yahoo group, I'll create it.

Here's a transcription of Croatian Rhapsody,

http://maksimmrvica.com/downloads/scores/

(scroll down a bit, it's there for download)

This version is almost the same as mine, but it doesn't have that yucky section that Opus was kind enough to link.

Petrof1, that section is, IMO, the most difficult part of the piece, and it's only 4 measures, so don't let it scare you away if you're really interested.

BTW, what category would you all put Croatian Rhapsody in?

Hmm, Rach... but if Dannylux says it's late-intermediate, then it's probably too hard for me! I don't suppose anyone has a link to listen to this prelude or check out the score?

I'd be interested in participating. I might not be the most active contributor for the next few days / a week or so, though. I've had a bit of a rough week, and I've got A/S level exams to boot.

At the moment, I'm pretty much finished learning Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2, but I would be interested in learning some of the aforementioned pieces. Clair De Lune is appealing, despite it being somewhat cliché.

The score for Rachmaninoff's Prelude in c# minor is availabe for free here:


http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/dlpage_new.cfm?composition_id=1043


I'll see if I can find an mp3 later tonight.

Mel

OK, I found an mp3 of Rachmaninoff's Prelude in c# minor here:


Op.3 No.2 in cis-moll


Click on "Скачать" to download the file.


It sounds much, much more difficult to play than it is .

Mel

Welcome DoMakeSayThink, we're all glad you're joining in. No problem with being an active/inactive contributor over the next week or so...we've got you covered.

Dannylux, Nina, ShiroKuro & Dannylux: I'll add your suggestions to the growing list.

Question for the group: Does any one else work, or does everyone have all day everyday to spend on their piano repertoire?

[Edit, Dannylux, THANKS for the links...very appreciated]

Can I commit as a tentative participant?

You bet dk, you're on the list and we're glad you're on it.

Dannylux said:
Mel, with all due respect... I don't believe you! It sounds hard, it looks hard! Wow! Seriously, you should play it, it's beautiful and I'd love to hear your rendition.

Rachmaninoff? Seriously? LOL, I thought Croatian Rhapsody was too hard. That's ridiculous. I may have to re-think this!