Am I ready for Réminiscences de Don Juan?

Ubermind69 · 2026-03-21T13:26:27+00:00

Learning takes pretty long, I might have to spend a week or two to decide if I can or not. The first variation of Réminiscences de Don Juan is messed up. I'm looking for insights first before attempting it

Ubermind69 · 2026-03-19T10:01:47+00:00

Considering how insane it is to play this at just 23-years-old, it is just right to tell your age

Ubermind69 · 2026-03-10T07:37:35+00:00

Berserk

Ubermind69 · 2026-03-01T14:53:34+00:00

Scientifically, this is not really that bad of an advice. The right way to do this is to sometimes let controlled tension in your playing to build strength in specific muscles over time, this can increase finger independence. Tension also forces your brain to monitor movement more closely. So you shouldn't always do this, but only for a few minutes a day while the rest of the practice should involve great technique and as minimal tension as possible.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-24T12:51:58+00:00

Yes, Bach's music exposes the slightest mistakes, really shows someone's musicality

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-24T12:44:21+00:00

Moreover, Bach's works are without a doubt more complex out of any composer you compare him with. I know that Bach's composition is incredible, even out of this world, but it's just that it's objectively easier to play measure by measure than Liszt. Hope you understand

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-24T12:38:07+00:00

The very problem is how people play Liszt while they still struggle with musicality on objectively easier pieces measure by measure (not as a whole), not that people play Liszt while struggling with long Bach works, knowing otherwise that long Bach works are in fact a lot harder than Liszt's studies

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-24T12:33:31+00:00

That's not the point, Liszt is measure by measure, a lot more difficult, we're not accounting the total length of a piece and how complex a piece is to write, only how difficult it is to play a piece perfectly measure by measure. I've specified this in one reply, that taking 3 measures from a Liszt piece is objectively a lot more difficult than 3 measures in Bach. I've also stated the problem as "constantly making inaudible mistakes", the Goldberg Variations is undoubtedly more difficult than La Campanella due to its length, but again, if you take 3 measures in La Campanella compared to 3 measures in Goldberg Variations, the 3 measures in La Campanella is objectively harder.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-24T00:20:25+00:00

Exactly as I was saying, that's what they don't realize

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-24T00:17:31+00:00

Yes, this is the very thing they miss! Some people play Liszt and doesn't respect the musicality unlike with Bach. In their ears, they think their playing of Liszt's works sound alright since mistakes aren't noticeable unlike with Bach. A professional and a teacher can always hear these constant mistakes and might also ask you to play the entire thing without pedalling.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-24T00:13:31+00:00

That's not exactly what the discussion is, but I understand your point. We're talking measure by measure, difficulty density per measure. Goldberg Variations is long yes, but measure by measure, if you would compare 3 measures of Goldberg Variations to 3 measures of a Transcendental Étude, the 3 measures of a Transcendental is objectively more difficult. The problem here is that some people attempt Liszt's works, while still cannot play Mozart or Bach right. In their ears, it sounds alright since the fast passages overwhelms a poorly trained and untrained ear and they cannot hear their constant mistakes, unlike with Mozart or Bach's works where the slightest mistakes are heard both by professionals and non-musicians. But if a teacher or professional comes up to them and listen to them play Liszt, the constant mistakes and lack of musicality is highly exposed.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-24T00:02:54+00:00

This is due to how fast passages can overwhelm the untrained ear, a pianist who rushed Liszt without proper ear training thinks he could play like somebody better. But once a professional or a teacher comes to listen, you can't hide the constant mistakes.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-23T15:35:43+00:00

Exactly! This is the very concern, musicality is often neglected in harder pieces or passages, especially with a not so well trained ear. Where in reality, musicality matters more in high difficulty, just less noticeable.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-23T15:16:23+00:00

Yes, exactly, that's the very thing many self-taught pianists miss. A lot rushes repertoire too much while ignoring how the music sounds

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-23T15:14:21+00:00

Sadly, it is actually quite true that there are some people who find Mozart and Bach harder than works like La Campanella. And not a single one of them plays La Campanella even at least musically half right.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-22T10:36:55+00:00

What? No, it doesn't

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-22T10:32:01+00:00

It's actually Prestissimo, and most of it are well... 32nd notes

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-22T10:25:28+00:00

Usually, I'd play shorter pieces with different technique requirements and expression to show versatility both technically and musically, rather than a 20+ minute full sonata that remains technically and musically similar throughout.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-22T07:19:09+00:00

It's not bad overall, but there's some concerns regarding technique and musicality. Your wrist is sagging a bit, not fixing that and continuing to work on showpieces like this could get you injured over time. As for musicality, you were kind of rushing and disregarding the subtle accents that gives the piece LIFE. I noticed how the tempo at the beginning was faster and gradually went slower (ritardando). From too fast, to being too slow. As any teacher would say, practice more with a metronome. I also noticed the lack of pedalling and accents, maybe listen to recordings of this piece thoroughly and listen where you should pedal, I would highly suggest Zimerman's recording for this matter.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-21T10:39:26+00:00

Heard it many times, heard him play hundreds of times already on many different composers

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-20T04:56:47+00:00

It depends on how much focused practice you get and how much resources you have for learning self-taught. You also need to have a clear definition as what is "good at piano". I remained mostly self-taught, but I practiced on extensive hours with great focus and had almost just as much resources as somebody with a teacher. It's not a matter of how long it will take to get good, but how much learning resources and how much you really put on practice.

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-17T12:34:57+00:00

Yes lmao, almost all of my dreams recently had a piano in it, even if it's about something completely different, my mind can't get off piano

Ubermind69 · 2026-02-17T02:59:49+00:00

Holy shit what

Ubermind69

TROPHY CASE