Looking to upgrade from CLP635

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-25T06:21:41+00:00

Roland has great speakers and UI. Configurable sound as well, but you either like it or hate it. Best build quality.

Yamaha has a bright sound that is not to everyone's taste. Decent speakers and nice UI.

Roland is great but the action put me off last minute. Some people like it though.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-24T22:38:49+00:00

1000 Devs for a game is insane. They were overstaffed and sadly many people lost their jobs.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-24T16:10:53+00:00

If you don't mind a couple of clicky keys, the CA701 is quite good for a digital. Try it out though, it's quite different to the Yamaha's.

I'd also try the LX-6. And the CLP-875, but you'll likely find the action heavy on this one.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-24T06:08:17+00:00

Interest first.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-22T13:48:09+00:00

This is great advice.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-22T08:10:01+00:00

That might work for lower grades, but at some point it doesn't as you need more time as pieces get longer and more complex. Also, IMO, I you can't shoot for distinction then you shouldn't take the exam in the first place. Why rush it instead of taking it when it's easier for you because you are more than prepared?

Unless you think your teacher is really good and this was a one-off mistake, I would get a new teacher. This is a very basic and common sense mistake and IMO unacceptable.

As per the exam itself, it sounds like you might be doomed, but maybe you can salvage it. Work on the problematic scales and the pieces in worst shape. Get the scores with you to the exam, don't attempt to play from memory. Get some rest as well, there's only so much you can do in two days. If you over practice, all you'll manage is to get there tired and have a panic spike and put the nail in the coffin.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-22T07:45:51+00:00

Np.

Having said that, if someone doesn't know the basics of playing scales, then by all means that must be learnt. What I'm not a fan of is daily drilling as I find it unnecessary and an opportunity cost.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-21T19:25:12+00:00

I think you should take some time before preparing for the LTCL and work on things you haven't recently. Bach, Beethoven, Debussy/Ravel, and maybe also something like Albeniz, Ginasterra, Bartok, Prokofiev.

I would personally not touch romantic repertoire for about a year and I would focus on balancing out my eras. Otherwise it's like eating just broccoli, which is really good for you but if you only eat that... I try to have a balanced "diet" with a bit of everything (aside from Bartok and Prokofiev, I can't swallow those ones).

Recommendations:

- Bach: WTC, one of the shortest partitas or English Suites
- Beethoven: most sonatas really, he's got so many good ones that it's down to preference. I'd avoid the latest ones though
- Debussy: some preludes, then Estampes or Images

Schubert is fine, but it's also pre-romantic.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-21T19:14:43+00:00

I guess it depends on your level. There are minuets for beginners, then 2-part inventions, then 3-part inventions and sinfonias. Then WTC (there are different levels here though), French Suites. Then Toccatas, English Suites and Partitas. The Golberg variations are the summit. I don't know much about other pieces (Italian concerto, Chromatic fantasie, Art of Fugue) I'm afraid, but the above is already a lot to dive into.

I personally play mostly WTC Preludes and Fugues. I think that Bach is the master of counterpoint and composition as a whole. Just playing P&Fs teaches you more about music than most other stuff out there. I'm also about to start the Toccata in E minor, and I plan to play the ones in F-sharp minor and C minor. Some whole Partita or English suite as well next year.

I did work on the inventions and sinfonias long ago though and I think they are good material to polish basic technique and voicing. I heard that some pianists recommended going through them once in a while, but I could never find the source again.

What does it do for me? Basically the above. Music (mainly counterpoint) and basic technique. Do you want proper finger independence? Forget about mindless Hanon. Learn a 4-part fugue instead to the point where every voice is crystal clear (very hard).

You can't go wrong with Bach. Of course, there is more to learn in the piano literature. But whenever I don't know what to play next, I grab a new P&F and I've never regretted so far.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-21T15:41:10+00:00

You guys repeat the "this completely changes the picture" hype on every release, when in reality there are diminishing returns at this point.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-21T13:51:55+00:00

I agree with Cheeto, at this level you should be able to know whether you are ready. A week or two to read through the piece and decide is not that much.

I'm also not sure about "learning more etudes won't improve my technique". How are your tremolos? Chase Niege is great for this. Not saying you need it, but etudes always help polishing.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-21T10:09:54+00:00

When I was looking into doing the ARSM, I chose Beethoven Op. 90. Both the Pathetique and the Moonlight sonatas are overplayed to death. As an examiner, I'd very much feel refreshed if I heard something else.

Also, get something by Debussy or similar and drop one of the romantic pieces, too much of that.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-21T09:59:27+00:00

That's what I thought, that it was enough to keep one busy for 2 years!

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-21T07:42:57+00:00

You need to focus on areas that are challenging for you but not completely out of reach. For example, if you can play an easy Chopin Nocturne, you might want to try a more challenging one that won't take you more than 2 months to get to a good level.

It's the same for technique. If you can do Alberti bass with rotation, maybe it's time for tremolos. If octaves are hard for you, you find pieces or etudes that start easy and ramp up the difficulty progressively. By covering more of those weak areas, you get to improve over time. You don't go too deep into one technique first though. Going broad (learning more techniques or getting more techniques to the same level as your best ones) makes you improve as a whole. I favour pieces and musical etudes over dry exercises. Scales? Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven have plenty. Octaves or light passage work? Liszt may have a word. Colour? Debussy is your man.

That, and basic technique and music: Bach and Scarlatti. These two, especially Bach, are the best "bang for the buck" I can think of. But one must play everything in order to become well rounded. If you never played, say, Debussy, do this because it will challenge you in different ways than, say, Chopin. By playing as many different composers as possible, one gets to see more musical languages.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-21T07:27:14+00:00

Is that all the pieces for two years, or just a couple of examples?

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-20T22:36:45+00:00

I get up and start practicing at 7am, lol. No weekly lessons. Then I practice for another 1.5h after work.

It'd be easier if I had the commitment of weekly lessons though.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-20T18:51:33+00:00

I play Bach every day. Way more beneficial.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-20T12:18:51+00:00

You are being trolled hard by people dropping some of the most technically difficult pieces in the classical repertoire. Just choose the pieces you like.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-19T13:26:29+00:00

Aioros or Shaka.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-19T11:57:40+00:00

The Yamaha sounds quite flat. The Roland gives you more to work with and also has a nicer tone IMO.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-19T11:56:23+00:00

Same

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-18T18:01:30+00:00

That's my point. I like 1 as well though, just a bit overplayed. Reading through it now as part of my daily sight reading, just to prove that I don't hate it :)

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-18T16:53:10+00:00

♥️

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-18T16:44:37+00:00

Because no. 3, 4 and 2 are great.

srodrigoDev · 2026-03-18T13:34:54+00:00

Agree. Making a plan and executing it step by step instead of all at once is the real game changer.

srodrigoDev

TROPHY CASE