Too soon??

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Hello, I am 17 and I ahev been playing piano for about 9 months now. I started to teach myself but then got a teacher after about 5 months. When I started with her i was already playng Chopin's Nocturen op9 no2. Now i am woking on that as well as two other nocturnes of his, the military polonaise and the 2nd movement of pathetique. I am giving a performance of all four in April. And soon i will be playig the Emperor Concerto. I want toknow if i am too inexperiened to be playing these pieces. My teacher doesnt think so however these pieces are quite advanced . Any suggestioms as to whether i sould slow down or not?

-- Jeff Anderson (jfairlawn@aol.com), January 16, 2002

Answers

....You have only been playing piano for 9 months???? WOW!!!

-- Deanne (dpetras@eohio.net), February 24, 2002.

Are you sure these are not easier arrangements? No offense, but I find it hard to believe that one can play LvB Pathetique with 9 months (not to mention that 4/9 were self taught!!). I have never heard of anyone that doesnt agree on LvB Pathetique being not quite advance...it is not as hard as moonlight third mvt, or waldstein, and it's quite slow, but there are alot of elements in that piece that requires years of training....but nonetheless..keep up your good work!!

-- Faye Chu (dornachu@yahoo.com), May 17, 2002.

You sound like you are very up yourself, trying to make yourself appear all smart. There is no-one who could learn to play the piano that well in 9 months, i would hate to hear your shabby interpretation of them.

-- Merkin Maz (merkinmaz@hotmail.com), October 10, 2004.

Well Jeff, If your teacher is qualified and says go for it, have fun! Just make sure she is qualified because you don't want to injure yourself if you're not physically up for the technical parts. I've been playing piano for just over a year and am working on my grade nine Royal Conservatory. Believe me, God gets the credit! I really believe, well, know that! I self-taught myself a little bit, too, as a kid. Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge! My teacher is one of the most qualified in my area and keeps warning me to not over do it, which I tend to do once and a while, and then need to rest. Skipping to grade nine was her idea, though, and as long as I don't push myself to do more than I can manage at a sitting or to go too fast too soon I'm fine. I'm nineteen so we're pretty close in age. That's kind of cool. Just curious, are you playing performer's level stuff or easier versions?

-- Laura (la_ginn@yahoo.ca), November 18, 2004.

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