Video of me playing Rachmaninoff as a beginner
Discussion
I started piano 18 months ago and have been using the Simply Piano app, which I think is very good though a bit pricey. Haven't been that dedicated in practice as the music I really like is way too difficult to sight read for me as a beginner. I've probably done 100 hours with that app. I would also say the app doesn't seem to bear any relation to how you would work through traditional piano grades, so no I have no grades to my name.
I also had a go with a few Synthesia visuals on youtube, which are good and I think quicker to learn, but then I saw on another forum mention of "Pianovision" on a Quest 3 headset, which is like an augmented reality version of Synthesia.
You can upload your own midi files so I thought I might as well start with something ambitious, and possibly my favourite piece - Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme by Paganini 18. This is a video after about 80 hours practice of the piece:
https://youtu.be/-Fu-3xRypsI?si=Fbaz3HsxAmRpzzGC
FAQs:
1) Can you sightread music?
Yes, but very, very, slowly, and yes it would be better for me in the long term to improve at that
2) Can you memorise music?
Yes, but very, very slowly, I have memorised some simple Eric Satie but Rachmaninoff is proving harder
3) Is the piano wobbling?
Yes, I'm moving house and when I've moved I will get a sturdy stand installed
4) How hard is the piece?
I will defer to actual piano players, I suspect it's "moderately" difficult, but it's not Rach 3. What potentially makes the piece slightly easier for me as a beginner is there aren't any ridiculously quick scales / finger crossing, and it's only 3 minutes long so "bite sized".
5) Are you pedaling?
Er, not really. It's a simple (I like it) Roland FP-10 piano and the pedal option is just on/off sustain, so I just keep it pressed for most things and to me it doesn't seem that muddy.
6) What's the point?
Other than I love that piece of music so am very motivated to spend time learning it, I was always curious whether piano can be learned "at any age" (I'm 50).
I also had a go with a few Synthesia visuals on youtube, which are good and I think quicker to learn, but then I saw on another forum mention of "Pianovision" on a Quest 3 headset, which is like an augmented reality version of Synthesia.
You can upload your own midi files so I thought I might as well start with something ambitious, and possibly my favourite piece - Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme by Paganini 18. This is a video after about 80 hours practice of the piece:
https://youtu.be/-Fu-3xRypsI?si=Fbaz3HsxAmRpzzGC
FAQs:
1) Can you sightread music?
Yes, but very, very, slowly, and yes it would be better for me in the long term to improve at that
2) Can you memorise music?
Yes, but very, very slowly, I have memorised some simple Eric Satie but Rachmaninoff is proving harder
3) Is the piano wobbling?
Yes, I'm moving house and when I've moved I will get a sturdy stand installed
4) How hard is the piece?
I will defer to actual piano players, I suspect it's "moderately" difficult, but it's not Rach 3. What potentially makes the piece slightly easier for me as a beginner is there aren't any ridiculously quick scales / finger crossing, and it's only 3 minutes long so "bite sized".
5) Are you pedaling?
Er, not really. It's a simple (I like it) Roland FP-10 piano and the pedal option is just on/off sustain, so I just keep it pressed for most things and to me it doesn't seem that muddy.
6) What's the point?
Other than I love that piece of music so am very motivated to spend time learning it, I was always curious whether piano can be learned "at any age" (I'm 50).
Edited by Peterpetrole on Thursday 3rd October 12:31
Edited by Peterpetrole on Thursday 3rd October 12:32
Colour me impressed!
Rachmaninov wrote, I have read, some of the most complex piano pieces ever (certainly comparable to Lizst) much of it due to his massive reach being able to play an octave with just one hand.
To reach the stage you've posted in that vid in such a short space of time is to be applauded.
Rachmaninov wrote, I have read, some of the most complex piano pieces ever (certainly comparable to Lizst) much of it due to his massive reach being able to play an octave with just one hand.
To reach the stage you've posted in that vid in such a short space of time is to be applauded.
cherryowen said:
Colour me impressed!
Rachmaninov wrote, I have read, some of the most complex piano pieces ever (certainly comparable to Lizst) much of it due to his massive reach being able to play an octave with just one hand.
To reach the stage you've posted in that vid in such a short space of time is to be applauded.
Thanks, I meant to say in the OP (and there are a lot of different transcriptions of this particular piece) that the midi file I used also has in it's favour that it doesn't have ridiculously big chords, there maybe other versions that are more of a stretch. I've also been having a go at Moonlight Sonata and that has bigger stretches in it. Rachmaninov wrote, I have read, some of the most complex piano pieces ever (certainly comparable to Lizst) much of it due to his massive reach being able to play an octave with just one hand.
To reach the stage you've posted in that vid in such a short space of time is to be applauded.
Super Sonic said:
Is this an advert? It certainly reads like one, especially with the faq's.
Nope, unless it counts as an advert when someone else on these boards claims the 2018 E63 is better than the 540i for example. I have no interest in gaming with the Quest 3, I picked it up "refurbished return" from Argos for £430 specifically for piano practice after reading a reddit thread.
If it makes you happier in the interests of balance although the technology is helping me pick things up much quicker, it doesn't do much for me in terms of memorizing the music, it's more helpful for muscle memory that getting a deep understanding of the structure of a piece.
If you look up how Pianovision works on YT, it is also a bit glitchy in terms of picking up the keyboard location and can drift, which quite a few reviewers mention. On balance very clever useful tech though.
Edited by Peterpetrole on Friday 4th October 11:27
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