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I recently moved to college, but I missed piano auditions, so I am currently without a teacher. I realized that I need to continue choosing more challenging pieces, so I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations. My set list for my HS Diploma for guild from last year was:
Pathetique (All Movements)
Rachamaninoff Humoresque (Op 18 I think?)
Claire De Lune
(Some Bach Prelude and Fugue)
Gershwin Prelude No 2
Fantasie Impromptu
Wedding Day at Trauldhuagen

I think that was it, and I could play all of these pieces proficiently (Except maybe the Bach) from memory, so moving up in difficulty is preferable. I enjoy Romantic/Classical more than baroque by far too, if that helps.

Thank you!

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Off the top of my head I would suggest getting a teacher immediately, and possibly starting on Rachmaninoff's op. 32 nos. 10 or 12, or perhaps another prelude, paying careful attention to dynamics and phrasing. This would be a bit different from the other pieces you've played (I've studied all the ones you've mentioned). Maybe another Beethoven or a Mozart Sonata.

Last edited by Naku; 10/11/09 08:00 AM.
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What Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt have you done?

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I'd suggest Schumann's Aufschwung or the first Novelette, any of several Brahms pieces (Op. 79/2, 118/2, 118/3, 117/2 or 10/1)

Liszt Sposalizio or the Sonetto 104 are also worth investigating. (Both are quite a step up in difficulty, but very possible if your octaves and arpeggios are okay.)

More Debussy is certainly worth a look. The Prelude from the Suite Bergamasque, Jardins sous la pluie from Estampe, or the Engulfed Cathedral would all be good.

The Eb Schubert Impromptu from Op. 90 would also be a great choice.

Then there's Chopin. There are several Mazurkas, Waltzes, Polonaises, Nocturnes, and Preludes that you could handle, and a few of the etudes may be within your reach as well.


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Schubert D960, Beethoven Op78, op28 and maybe even take a look at op7. Should be plenty of challenge, and all amazing pieces.


Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9
Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
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Besides all of Kreisler's suggestions(interesting because my high school teacher gave me virtually the same pieces except for the Liszt)

Chopin: Waltzes Op. 18. Op. 34 Nos. 1 and 2, Op. 64 Nos. 1,2,3 , e minor posthumus, b minor posthumus, f minor Op.69(?)

Polonaises: Op. 26 No.1 and 2, Military

Nocturnes: Op.9 No.2, Op.55 No. 1

Schumann: Arabesque, Blumenstucke, from Op. 12 Des Abends, Warum, Kinderscenen Op. 15

Liszt: Schumann/Liszt Widmung, Mendelssohn/Liszt On Wings of Song, Schubert/Liszt Litaney

Debussy: Girl with the Flaxen Hair, Heather, Minstrels, Evening in Granada, Golliwogs Cakewalk

Beethoven: Sonatas Op.2 No.1, Op.14, Op.26

Mozart: Rondo in D major




Last edited by pianoloverus; 10/11/09 01:29 PM.
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Originally Posted by vvanrij
Schubert D960, Beethoven Op78, op28 and maybe even take a look at op7. Should be plenty of challenge, and all amazing pieces.

I would disagree. Any of those pieces are a large time commitment.
Maybe some shorter Schumann, Chopin, Schubert, Rach., etc.

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Who said anything about a time limitation?


Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9
Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
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Originally Posted by vvanrij
Who said anything about a time limitation?

No one, and I could be reading into it too much.
However, OP said they just went to college, missed auditions, and have no teacher. IMO, that means not a music major, so probably less practice time than a music major would have.

If that's a correct scenario, I would suggest pieces that are still quality music, but don't require as much time to learn. The types of pieces Kreisler, and Pianoloverus suggested seem more realistic.

Cheers


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Originally Posted by Phlebas
Originally Posted by vvanrij
Schubert D960, Beethoven Op78, op28 and maybe even take a look at op7. Should be plenty of challenge, and all amazing pieces.

I would disagree. Any of those pieces are a large time commitment.
Maybe some shorter Schumann, Chopin, Schubert, Rach., etc.


Yes. And besides the length, those pieces are many years beyond what's appropriate now IMHO. Especially the Schubert....it's for professional level pianists.

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The man said he could play the Pathetique sonate proficiently from memory, thats also for professional level pianists correct me if I'm wrong. I was only giving him some suggestions.

(After listening again to the D960 with the score in front of me I do indeed retract that one, but still I think the beethoven sonata's were good suggestions).

Last edited by vvanrij; 10/11/09 02:18 PM.

Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9
Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
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Originally Posted by vvanrij
The man said he could play the Pathetique sonate proficiently from memory, thats also for professional level pianists correct me if I'm wrong. I was only giving him some suggestions.

(After listening again to the D960 with the score in front of me I do indeed retract that one, but still I think the beethoven sonata's were good suggestions).


The Pathetique is usually one of the first Beethoven Sonatas studied. I think all the ones you named are considerably harder so it's better to play some less demanding ones before attempting those.

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In that case one could try op54 and 27/2 (they are the first step up from pathetique), next in line are again 28, 31/3, and 78. It could be that the Pathetique is one of the first ones studied, playing it correctly it is most definitely not the easiest (49's, 10's, 14's, 79, 2/1, and perhaps even 26 are less demanding).

Last edited by vvanrij; 10/11/09 03:54 PM.

Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9
Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
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Originally Posted by vvanrij
In that case one could try op54 and 27/2 (they are the first step up from pathetique), next in line are again 28, 31/3, and 78. It could be that the Pathetique is one of the first ones studied, playing it correctly it is most definitely not the easiest (49's, 10's, 14's, 79, 2/1, and perhaps even 26 are less demanding).


The order you quoted is from a list that is just one person's opinion. I don't think it's particularly accurate in placing the Pathetique or ths Sonatas listed before or after the Pathetique.

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In that case, could you please adjust it to your taste, there is always room for improvement on my list smile.


Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9
Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
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For Beethoven, Op. 10#1, either of the Op. 14 sonatas, Op. 79, and Op. 90. Especially Op. 14#1 - you can do a LOT with that piece, but its decidedly non-Pathetique demeanor means it gets neglected by people who only like the stormy side of Beethoven's genius.


"If we continually try to force a child to do what he is afraid to do, he will become more timid, and will use his brains and energy, not to explore the unknown, but to find ways to avoid the pressures we put on him." (John Holt)

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I hope you don't mean me with that kind of people, because I study every beethoven sonata extensively, and only use this list to know which sonata to work on next. I didn't mention op90 because in my opinion that one is a lot harder than the op13. However, there is no way that everybody will agree on this, one could still say that op14/1 is technically less demanding, and could therefore be considered easier, than op13.


Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9
Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
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Some good suggestions, I've been spending an occasional minute looking through the music library here and there for them.


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