Piano classical music?

Question

I started the piano when i was 11 and i stopped lesson at 17, last year. I have troubles following the right fingerings in scale and unable to play fast. I also have difficulties in playing a piece fast. I do play modern music as in contemporary music by ear well though... Any advice out there? any technique, program or something to get me straight for classical?

Answer 1

scales and arpeggios and of course practice are needed for advanced classical playing but other than the remenschneider by bach my musical bible is Hanons book of exercises! they are amazing, repetative scale exercises forcased on both improving your sight reading and general playing and doing this by building up your hands to deal with the likes of rachmaninov these kind of technical exercises really do help.



http://www.amazon.com/Virtuoso-Pianist-60-Exercises-Schirmers/dp/0793525446



they have helped me loads, for example when im playing something with lots of turns or trills i will concentrate on certain exercises meaning that i can prepare for a piece by doing the right exercises, its like exercise, you dont run marathons if you play right head prop in rugby :)



doing 15 mins a day on this will drastically inprove your playing skills, good luck!

Answer 2

Classical music may not survive much beyond the next generation ... particularly not when the people who espouse its supposed superiority are rude and condescending. Why would anyone want to be like that? Or like anything that someone like that likes? But to answer the original poster, what we call classical music typically conforms to certain requirements that define types of music. For example, a symphony, a concerto, an opera, and other classical pieces have certain structural requirements ... though these vary somewhat depending on the time period. I don't know the piece you describe, but I'll venture a guess from other descriptions here that it is simply a song that may feature certain instrumentation that is classical sounding. If it is still recorded and loved in 100 years, it will still be just a song that is classical sounding. Like ragtime music has been enjoyed for nearly 100 years, but it is not classical and won't become classical. It will just become older.

Answer 3

You have already touched upon your main challenge here: fingering. It is crucial that you develop the correct fingering, especially if you want to play fast. One way is to practice scales in all keys. This will lead you to "body memory." Once your fingers have "learned" the keyboard, you will also find that your ear has become attuned to the tones you play cooresponding to the fingering. In other words, when you play your 2nd finger (of the right hand) when playing an Eb scale, you will "feel" the G. This may sound somewhat esoteric, but it can only be realized by vigorous practice of scales.

Hanon is also good for creating patterns that challenge technique as well as imbue one with finger/note and hand position memory. I believe Czerny also has a book of scales and exercises. Once you have mastered these exercises in all keys, you could move on to Slonimsky's Thesaurus of Scales. This will challenge you harmonically as well as physically.

Answer 4

I would start with Bastien's "Scales, Chords, and Arpeggios" http://www.themusicnmorestore.com/inventory/product.php?inventoryID=100039470&classID=



Play each scale slowly to master the correct fingering. Most scales will follow one of two patterns: 1) Thumb under after 3rd or 4th finger and, 2) 2 & 3 on Db & Eb and 2, 3, & 4 on Gb, Ab, & Bb.



After the basic scale fingering patterns have been mastered, try Hanon's "Virtuoso Pianist" http://www.themusicnmorestore.com/inventory/product.php?inventoryID=100048151&classID=



and Czerny's "School of Velocity" http://www.themusicnmorestore.com/inventory/product.php?inventoryID=100037593&classID=

Answer 5

Scales, scales, scales. Arpeggios, arpeggios, arpeggios. You get the idea. The best is always to start out really slow, making sure EVERY note is right. If it isn't, go back and redo. Then you can start doing variations. Like instead of just the normal 16th notes, do like dot patterns like duh--duhduh-duh--duhduh, like that. Its just technique prcaticing, and its the only thing that really helps. Also with your pieces, just play slow, slow, slow. Then go faster a week later. Then back slow again. Good luck :)

Answer 6

I find that the more I practice a piece the more easily it becomes to play it faster. sometimes I practice a song thousands of times until I get it perfect. some how it starts off very hard but gets more easy after a few days. then it will increase your ability to separate your 2 hands until it gets to the point where you can do it without trying.

Answer 7

technique is just practice. there are no shortcuts (damn!). I would recommend grab yourself a Hanon book for basic technique, then go get a Czerny or Bach book. If its specific problems, like one measure, there's no way around it just to practice slowly until you gradually get it.

Answer 8

learn the piece slowly, then try to up the tempo a bit till you reach full tempo.

train, train, train, classical music is hard.