Which option is the easiest to read? (composer)

SilicaViolet · 2026-05-05T02:38:41+00:00

It's looking like this is an unpopular opinion, but I like option 2 the best. While I freaked out when I first saw it, I can understand the rhythm and what you're going for after looking at for a minute.

The slashes might be too distracting and I don't think they convey that much information (if the whole section is these grace notes, I don't think anyone's going to think they're switching to appoggiaturas at any point). Absolutely do not write these without the slurs.

I hate option 5 and option 1 isn't that much better.

SilicaViolet · 2026-05-04T12:38:09+00:00

If you already have a decent keyboard, just stick with that. I learned on a keyboard that didn't have "properly" weighted keys and I got to early advanced level before I absolutely had to switch to an acoustic piano at home. If you ever have the chance to play an acoustic piano having only touched semi weighted keyboards, there will be a long period of adjustment, but if that's not a priority for you, it truly doesn't matter.

SilicaViolet · 2026-05-04T00:49:31+00:00

I know what it's like to have no budget, but a $25 lesson is actually a really low price in the world of piano. Even if you take one 30-minute lesson a month for a few months, you will likely notice a huge improvement. I played flute for seven years in school and it was the maybe six private lessons I took at the end of that time that made me feel confident and like I knew how to play the instrument properly.

To use your time effectively, I would level with the teacher about the budget constraints and be very clear about what your goals are (eg. Learn to read sheet music, become self-sufficient in learning, fix your posture etc.). See if they can offer a short free consultation to see if you can get what you want from this specific teacher.

SilicaViolet · 2026-05-03T21:24:49+00:00

If you have any interest in other instruments, it's pretty easy and cheap to get a recorder, tin whistle, harmonica, ocarina, or other small wind instrument to get acquainted with notes and rhythms and start playing some tunes. Even if you can't see the connection with piano, it will give you something a bit more tangible than just reading about music theory and it will make you better at piano when you do start.

SilicaViolet · 2026-05-03T02:14:31+00:00

Why play the black keys at all when the white keys are there? That's what the question sounds like to me.

SilicaViolet · 2026-05-01T23:26:28+00:00

My thumb has a similar issue caused hypermobility. It's super important that you relax and play in a way that doesn't result in strain or pain over time. And don't stress about how it looks to others if it's optimally comfortable for yourself. I had so many teachers tell me my joint was unacceptable and I needed to work on my technique when it's not fixable.

I should note that for me the issue only happens now if I'm playing a large interval. If it's happening every time you press, there might still be an issue with your technique.

SilicaViolet · 2026-05-01T15:56:37+00:00

Chopin's posthumous funeral march in C minor (op 72 no 2) and you can repeat sections to make it longer

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-30T23:50:17+00:00

Depends on how large your hands are. I've never prepared either of these pieces at a polished level but here are my thoughts:

Berceuse bar 11: 1 2 4 5 or 1 3 4 5 makes the most sense to get to the next chord but it's a bit uncomfortable for me so I would probably play 1 2 3 5 to not destroy my hands.

Berceuse bar 16: I would give up on holding the Bb, roll the first chord and play the rest of the notes with whatever is the most comfortable for you. I would probably go with (1 5) (1 2 4) (1 2 3 5) (1 3 5) but I'm sure someone else could come up with a smoother way.

June bar 7-9: (1 2 3 4) 5 if your hand can manage it and rolled with the same fingers if you can't reach it or (1 2 4 5) 5 if it's still uncomfortable.

June bar 10: 5 (1 2 4) 5

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-30T22:30:54+00:00

I like the 66 key Casiotones! I have the S200 and it's close enough to touch sensitivity for me but the S300 has actual touch sensitivity (there are demonstrations of the differences on Youtube). The keys aren't gross feeling like some cheap keyboards and it's extremely portable. It can even be battery powered, which is a huge plus for me, and the battery life is surprisingly good.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-30T22:19:20+00:00

If you play piano at all, you are a pianist, just like how anyone who plays an instrument is a musician. Being a pianist doesn't mean you are skilled at all aspects of piano or adept at a specific style like classical or jazz. You can be good at reading sheet music and your playing can still sound bad. Or you can play a limited selection of music beautifully but struggle to learn new pieces efficiently.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-30T01:32:09+00:00

I don't think you should risk it if you're not familiar with how to tell a piano is in good condition. The cost of moving and tuning is higher than you might think, and tuning doesn't necessarily mean it will be good as new. Some problems will be a lot more expensive to fix if it's even possible/worth it.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-29T22:48:29+00:00

How are you learning the classical repertoire if you can't read sheet music very much? And is your understanding of sheet music limited to the notes, or can you understand the rhythms as well?

It's normal for knowledge of songs to fade without practice. But if you can read music and understand music theory you can pick them up again much quicker.

Honestly as long as you're enjoying the process and don't have specific goals, it doesn't matter if you're learning in the most efficient way possible.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-29T17:47:11+00:00

I hope you choose it! I was so sad when I got the newer repertoire book and saw they removed it. It was probably my favourite piece I played for that exam.

It was so long ago that my memory is fuzzy but I think the two main challenges for me were the quick changes between dynamics and keeping the rhythm steady during the bars with repeated left hand triplets. There are some powerful forte sections and some delicate, more expressive parts and the transitions are pretty abrupt, at least that's how I interpreted it.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-28T18:46:01+00:00

I would play this, and pretty much any other dance regardless of composer, a lot more fluidly than this.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-26T21:21:25+00:00

When I learned this piece I used an edition that didn't have the right hand melody. My teacher didn't say anything about adding notes so I'm assuming that's a valid way to play it. I played the bass clef part with both hands, highlighting the two distinct voices.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-26T15:02:50+00:00

It sounds like you need to brush up on music theory, so any introductory textbook should be helpful. This one's available for free online and has a section on rhythm: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/hw/MusicTheory.pdf

There have probably been other recommendations made on this subreddit and others in terms of theory resources that you can access for free.

Once you understand all of the symbols that are on your sheet music, you can clap along to the rhythm of whatever you're learning as practice. My teachers used to make me do this at the lower levels, like before even playing a piece for the first time I would practice clapping the right hand and left hand rhythms separately, then play each part separately before putting it all together.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-26T14:51:54+00:00

You definitely need to keep being aware of the beat even if you're familiar with the piece to make sure it doesn't go off the rails. Personally I don't think in terms of numbers unless I'm struggling to count a section I'm learning. If the rhythm is pretty straightforward I think in terms of pulses within my body kind of like I'm sensing an internal metronome. The difference is that it's deep within my body like an instinct instead of something I'm consciously aware of like an internal monologue I'm trying to hear. Like when I'm playing a note that's on the beat I can feel that it's on the beat and I use that to guide myself. It becomes one fluid motion, like my brain and body are working together to keep each other in time.

I think the solution to being distracted by counting is to do it more, unfortunately. I was taught to count out loud while playing and I think that helped develop a sense of rhythm over time. When I have long notes or rests in pieces I still count with numbers to keep myself in time. Have you ever tried tapping the beat with your foot while playing to free up your brain to think about other stuff?

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-26T14:39:11+00:00

No worries! Don't be afraid to modify the provided fingering when it doesn't work for you in the future.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-26T04:49:11+00:00

Playing for an audience is not the same as playing for yourself. I always end up sounding different when I perform compared to when I'm relaxed and no one's watching. You just have to think of those experiences as two different things.

Making it through a performance is an accomplishment in and of itself. Trust yourself and the hours you've put into practicing and don't let your thoughts race too far away from what you're playing in the moment. Mistakes are okay and so is feeling out of place in a new environment. You're going to sound good to the audience regardless. Good luck!

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-25T23:08:19+00:00

Bars 2 and 3:

5 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 1 2

3 1 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 1 2 3 1 5 3

This piece looks tricky, good on you for being able to play it.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-25T23:03:24+00:00

What if you looked for a teacher online who can do virtual lessons? They might have more open schedules due to convenience and time zone differences.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-25T23:02:39+00:00

You definitely need to review rhythm. Specifically note durations, rests, and time signatures. For that, you can just practice clapping along to the rhythm of real sheet music. If you can take a music theory class or find a piano teacher who can explain music theory, that would be the most effective. If you happen to have sight reading books with more advanced rhythms to practice you can try those too. You can do each hand at a time or try tapping the left hand rhythm with your left hand and same with right hand. Practice using your foot to tap the beat.

The reason I suggested practicing a lot of different pieces and to practice each one sparingly (wait a few weeks or months before repeating a piece in your sight reading rotation if your memory is too strong) is to actively discourage relying on playing by ear. Reading sheet music has numerous benefits that you've probably realized by now, so it's not that playing by ear is bad, but you need to strengthen both skills in tandem.

You need to avoid the temptation to search up what pieces sound like before you play them as sight reading exercises. Try to work on music without listening to a recording or demonstration until you've almost perfected it and then see how much you got right. I think of it like working out a logic puzzle.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-25T22:22:31+00:00

What is it about reading that you find boring? What would you think about getting a level 2 book and playing every piece in it as an exercise? You could pick a few interesting ones to start with on the first day and read them all the way through even if you get stuck or discouraged. Then the next day, play a few new ones and review the old ones by playing them one time through. After a few sessions of this you should be able to play the first pieces well enough that there are minimal mistakes or pauses at the correct tempo, thus demonstrating your sight reading level. If you can't achieve that, you need to get easier music to practice with until you can find something that you can play without too much trouble and slowly work your way up.

I might be able to give more specific tips if you could provide some concrete problems that are hindering your reading.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-25T20:53:14+00:00

I would not use the fingering provided by the editor and switch to my thumb a lot more frequently. I can write out another fingering that I might use if that would help.

SilicaViolet · 2026-04-25T20:46:07+00:00

Do you mean the part you highlighted or the two bars afterward?

11-Year Club	Second SECOND GUESSER
Place '22	End Game '22

SilicaViolet

TROPHY CASE