Hello everyone, I am new to this forum... I would like to ask for an opinion on my study program. I am 16 years old and before the piano I had never touched an instrument (except for the flute in elementary school). I started piano about a year ago, it has been since April of last year (with July and August off), then I resumed in September and I have reached the point where my teacher gave me this stuff here. The fact is that I saw someone else like me started from 0 using books I have never seen (Beyer or one called Thompson) and so I was curious to know what "level" I am at. I know it would be necessary to hear me play, but assuming that I play this stuff decently, how would it be? The books she made me buy are these:
Hanon for piano technique, then scales—currently I am doing those for parallel and contrary motion major and minor
-Czerny 70 progressive exercises, I did some studies before this even from 1 (although I moved immediately to 2) And after about twenty of those I moved to this one. Currently I am studying number 67.
-Bach I have done almost all of "My First Bach". Now she made me buy a book called "23 Easy Pieces"
-I am studying Mozart's Sonata No. 1 in C major and I studied the Butter Tart (Tartina di burro)
-Debussy I studied two pieces, The Little Negro and Page d'Album, both from the "My First" series
-Tchaikovsky I did something also from "My First"
-Chopin I studied a waltz in A minor
This is what I do. I would essentially like to know, what kind of stuff is this? Thank you very much in advance.
Generally speaking, it's fine. I would start with Bartók's Microcosmos and Bach's 23 easy pieces (... which are not easy). Clementi's Preludes and Exercises (extremely useful). Some other easy Chopin waltzes and two easy mazurkas. They are needed to learn how to use the pedal "on the beat." For technique, I would leave Hanon aside—a useless book—and take the multi-volume course by Rossomandi or Longo. Technique books must serve to understand technical formulas, but they must not be gymnastic exercises!!! Scales must be studied mentally: knowing the accidentals and fingering by memory. Then sit at the piano and play through them without ever stopping, first for two octaves and then for four. If a mistake is made, evaluate the mistake and repeat them. Start with those in contrary motion; they are easier. Choose a very easy Clementi sonata and then move on to a Mozart... perhaps the K330.
Also modern pieces: my first Prokofiev, my first Balakirev.
Thank you very much for the answer! Regarding scales, yes anyway, I study them by memory. At the moment for 2 octaves though, I didn't know they were also done for 4. Of the 23 easy pieces, I realized that they are not easy. Anyway, I have done two so far. Which other Chopin waltz would you recommend to me? I like him very much as a composer. I heard an unexpected Fantaisie, but I guess it's not the time for that right now? As for Mozart, I am doing K545 if I'm not mistaken
