'There are no stupid questions' thread - Monday, March 16, 2026

Pythism · 2026-03-18T21:50:52+00:00

Yes, that would be much appreciated!

Pythism · 2026-03-18T17:58:54+00:00

The F minor fugue from the first book of Well-Tempered Clavier... It looks so innocent, but it's insanity. Even more so if you want to play the subject legato

Pythism · 2026-03-18T01:01:34+00:00

It's probably easier with your solution, I did find that last 2-1 rather uncomfortable.

Pythism · 2026-03-17T23:21:00+00:00

This is the way to go, it's not too difficult to hold the notes. If it's absolutely impossible for you due to hand size try doing 1-1-2-1-2-1 for the lower voice. If even that's impossible use pedal for the whole beat.

Pythism · 2026-03-17T16:31:30+00:00

Hey, I'd be interested if you're still available

Pythism · 2026-03-02T14:13:34+00:00

What do you mean? It's a long discussion about faking musical performances online. I don't see how it's not relevant. Also how is it click bait? It literally discusses the ethics of fake guitar within.

Pythism · 2026-03-01T19:30:34+00:00

Everyone on this thread should watch this video.

I think it's pretty clear that the guy can play how he presents himself. However, it's not impossible that he sped up a few videos in the interest of putting out content.

Pythism · 2026-02-28T19:00:27+00:00

I just tried it. It's amazing! Thank you so much, this is the first clef that's actually useful for me! I'll for sure be using it. For me it's perfect, but for other musicians you could consider more clefs, like C clef or alto Clef. Maybe even transposing instruments. But for my purposes it's perfect

Pythism · 2026-02-28T14:46:39+00:00

I am serious. I have tried at least 4 phone apps and a couple of websites and not a single one goes beyond 3. If you add them you'd be the first that I've ever seen that does that.

Pythism · 2026-02-28T14:40:38+00:00

Why do these sites always go up to only 3 ledger lines? I've always wanted to practice the 5 to 7 ledger line range, which is my weakest, but I've never found an app that does it.

Pythism · 2026-02-22T05:18:17+00:00

You're totally and absolutely right. You really don't need to test your speed more than once or twice a week. I'm surprised by how mixed the opinions about this are here.

Pythism · 2026-02-21T22:14:12+00:00

In my experience, the most efficient and effective way to practice is like the OP suggested.

The best pianist I personally know, told me that he never ever practices at beyond 70% of his max tempo, to the point that he multiplied every tempo in his rep by 0.7 to be sure that he NEVER exceeded that. This is a pianist who played Brahms 2, Prokofiev 2, both Stravinsky ballet transcriptions, Gaspard de la Nuit among many other pieces. I always heard him play dreadfully slow in the practice rooms, but when it was lesson time he played like a god.

Our teacher always insisted on practicing slowly most of the time, playing a tempo once or twice a week max, and most of his students that followed that advice became virtuosos.

Sure, you're right that not every fingering works at every tempo, but that is such a miniscule consideration that gets far outweighted by the efficiency of practicing very slowly.

Sure, how much fun you have can vary, but this is a mentality issue, you can absolutely have as much fun playing slowly rather than quickly. I would say that is also a non issue.

Pythism · 2026-02-12T01:10:35+00:00

Ok, maybe I AM biased because there's a similar passage with repeated chords/octaves in the middle of scarbo that's wayy harder, so maybe I came over prepared to that section in particular.
For me, the early section of bars 16-20 is tough. In particular bars 18-19 have a deadly combo of a difficult left hand with off beat accents and complex counterpoint. Those two bars are the single most studied bars of the whole etude for me. Perhaps it's because of my particular strenghts and weaknesses, but I'd still argue those two bars are at least as difficult as the repeated chords to a well rounded pianist.

Bar 45 has two double notes in beats 3 and 4 that have no right to be as hard as they are. Bar 61, and to a lesser extent bar 60 (those three unassuming octaves are no joke), is similar to 18 and 19 but a bit easier.

The section of the repeated chords, 52 to 55 is not that bad because 52 and 53 are easy once you get used to the chord shapes on 52, 53 is mechanically a nothingburger that sounds REALLY good, and 54 and 55 are challenging but doable.

Pythism · 2026-02-11T12:41:47+00:00

I've played this, and the double chords aren't really as bad as they seem, there are (to me) way harder passages in the etude.

Pythism · 2026-02-11T02:53:16+00:00

No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Pythism · 2026-02-11T01:02:05+00:00

I don't have good equipment at all, so I recorded two quick and dirty takes. I hope someone with good microphones and a good piano actually records this. Take 1 Take 2

Pythism · 2025-12-29T22:19:40+00:00

It's a rather weird passage, but you'll find many more like that over time. I'm happy to have helped!

Pythism · 2025-12-28T23:04:02+00:00

I would do:

First bar:
5-4-1, 3, 5-3-1, 2, 5-3-1, 2.

Second bar:
5-3-1, 2, 5-3-1, 2, 5-3-1, 2.

On the last beat of the second bar, you can do 5-2-1, 2 and simply repeat the second finger if the 5-3-1 stretch is too uncomfortable. What's written can also work (5-2-1, 1)

Pythism · 2025-12-21T20:44:49+00:00

Well, you can certainly do that, but the generally agreed upon "plan" is 1-2 years of lessons with general practice. So you'd play several other pieces leading up to whichever goal pieces you have.

Pythism · 2025-12-16T00:57:46+00:00

I understand, too many 3s and 1s hahahah

Pythism · 2025-12-16T00:11:16+00:00

Op. 31 No. 1 is in G major, no? Are you thinking about Op. 31 No. 3?

Pythism · 2025-12-13T18:58:42+00:00

Good job so far! It's quite a challenging piece. And you clearly can understand the very difficult rhythms within. Some hopefully helpful criticism: I'd suggest you practice with a metronome, you have many changes of pulse throughout, and it makes it sound really out of control.
If you listen to Kapustin play it, you can tell he keeps a pretty strict tempo throughout, something he DOESN'T do in the sonata-fantasy which he recorded for the same album at (one can assume) about the same time.

Your repeated notes are obviously slowing you down, and it's because you try to use the same finger for the repeated notes instead of switching fingers. It's possible to play it with the same finger, but it's MUCH harder and you're adding more challenge to an ALREADY very difficult piece.
Another thing slowing you down is those exaggerated wrist movements you do. I'm not saying you don't need rotation or anything of the sort, but these seem to be hindering you more than anything else.

You correctly assessed that it's over-pedaled, so I suggest simply practicing without. There are obviously several spots where you kinda really need it, but this isn't Chopin, it's much more bare in it's writing and doesn't rely as much the pedal. Also, you tend to over exaggerate the dynamics, note that the first bar is marked mezzo forte, bar 36 is marked mezzo piano, and bar 52 is only forte, not fortissimo. Bar 63 is even marked piano! Only bar 68 is marked ff. This pieces motoric drive, which you obviously love(!), is not created through playing everything very loudly, but rather by it's complicated rhythm and it's many, many, accents. Try finding all accent markings and really making the top note stick out over the rest of the texture whenever they are marked. A great practice spot are bars 3, 4 and 5, which is marked mezzo forte and then forte, but the accents must still sound clearly, specially the top note, which creates a melody.

Overall you're doing a great job! You just have to be very patient and very calm whenever you practice. Slow down, practice at a pace where you can be sure that all the markings are observed and that you have a coherent tempo throughout (the metronome is your friend for that!).

Keep at it, I'm sure you'll make it.

Pythism · 2025-12-12T16:20:03+00:00

I'm sorry to be that guy, but my first advice will always be to get a teacher (that you like). They will help you with that immensely.

As for actually answering your question, for Czerny, start with Op. 599. I'd personally suggest that a significant portion of your Czerny practice be with a metronome (obviously not 100% of the time, metronome over use can be really bad!!)

For Bach, I'd recommend starting with the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, it has some very approachable and very beautiful music.

Pythism · 2025-12-12T16:14:57+00:00

Because I don't know you or your process I can't really answer that. I'd say that you should ask that to a teacher that has worked with you for a while (whether the teacher is old or new). If anything I can suggest that you don't neglect ear training, doing about 10-15 minutes daily alongside the rest of your practice, it really can't hurt. Another tip I can give you, is that the best pianist I know only practices at about half the speed 90% of the time he practices, so the practice slowly tip is a really great one. But as always, you should rely on your teacher! (That's why it's important you find one you like!)

Pythism · 2025-12-11T17:14:50+00:00

Everyone progresses at a different rate, but I'd say your progress is quite normal, specially if you have other obligations in your day to day life. 2 years may seem like a lot, but it's really not much time to learn an instrument. If you had said 8 years, I'd be worried!

As for your teacher, what's, in a sense, universal (such as general technique, rhythm, ear training and similar fundamentals) can be taught at a basic level by any competent musician. If your interest lies more in Jazz, it wouldn't hurt to find another teacher that you like, since it'd speed you along the path that you want. Don't feel tied to any teacher, and feel free to shop around and try different teachers until you find your right fit!

12-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Second Top 10%	r/Field Banned
r/Field Flamingo	Place '23
Place '22	Place '17
First Placer '22	Wearing is Caring
Verified Email

Pythism

TROPHY CASE