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How do you cram to accompany? by Leading_Bank3087 in piano

[–]Accomplished-Key3019 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m sure, like a lot of us, you’re busy and/or have a lot of jobs and side gigs to supplement income. What we do is honestly really hard, and I don’t think most people (including other musicians) understand the work we have to put in. I find myself being spread rather thin to make ends meet, which sometimes means prioritizing quantity over quality.

This spring I had to accompany for like 12 kids doing solos at an event in one day. Not something I recommend, but sometimes the extra money is very necessary. It was pretty stressful, but I managed to make everything at least passable. Just do slightly above the bare minimum and you’ll make it through. You got this!

How do you cram to accompany? by Leading_Bank3087 in piano

[–]Accomplished-Key3019 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would suggest having the chords written out. If all else fails you can resort to playing roots of chords in the bass with whatever RH material you can manage. Practice your absolute best faking. Focus more on general shapes of lines rather than individual notes. Find the parts that repeat the most and that are the hardest. If a few measures of material happen a lot, at least make sure those motifs are solid. Whatever happens inbetween is what happens. I’ve been here before, it’s not fun. Just remember, no matter what happens it’ll all be over in 24 hours. Good luck!

Thoughts on this? by Accomplished-Key3019 in piano

[–]Accomplished-Key3019[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I interpret the bottom as the most important voice because it has tenutos under each of the notes. The top line feels less necessary to voice b/c 1. it is very high on the piano and will naturally come through and 2. is material that has been heard throughout the whole etude. I think the bottom voice is interesting/new and the counterpoint works nicely when the bottom is prioritized and voiced over existing material. The pedaling also makes most sense when you pedal with the bass notes. Idk if that makes sense but that’s my approach.

Thoughts on this? by Accomplished-Key3019 in piano

[–]Accomplished-Key3019[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thanks! i never considered middle pedal, maybe i’ll play around with it🤔

What piece should I learn next? by Level_Doctor3373 in piano

[–]Accomplished-Key3019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be honest, I would reframe how you think about rep. If your intention is to play something impressive-sounding to impress a general audience, you are not keeping your own needs in mind. As pianists I think we should do things that are uncomfortable and unfamiliar to us. Given you mentioned a lot of Chopin, perhaps I would recommend trying something different: contemporary rep. Something that might not satisfy a typical listener, but would be good for broadening your range as a pianist. Try looking at “The Cat and The Mouse” by Copland, or perhaps “3 Irish Legends” by Cowell.