PROGESS IN PIANO PLAYING SKILLS

pianolover wrote: I don't know why but I got stuck in the basic level of the SM method. I went through the music library and could play the most easier pieces, and now I'm trying to move ahead but it seems I can't. In my case I feel like there's a gap between the beginner pieces and the more advanced ones. I'm trying to find the next piece to play which would be more appropriate level wise for me to be able to play. I've finished the following books: Introductory songs, Nursery songs Primer, Nursery songs 1, Favorite classics primer, Favorite classics 1, 2 and 3; Boogie 1 and 2, Christmas Carols, Christmas classics, I've practiced some of the solfeggios, and I even tied some of the pieces in the Nutcracker Book, but "Arab Dance" was the only one I was able to play there. Then I tried Arabesque from Pieces and Etudes 2. I'm glad I was able to play it. But that's it. Someone please help me close this gap. Thanks.

Hi, Pianolover!

I am very happy to see this question! I subscribed to your You Tube channel and was watching your videos with the great deal of interest being very proud of your progress. Some pieces that you recorded were not from our program. Did you learn them from the sheet music?

There is a saying stating that' there are no limit of perfectness!' - it is hard to disagree to that. The more students learn – the more they want to know. Only half-educated think that they know everything.

I am glad that you asked this question, because the pieces that you had learned so far and listed in your post I would call 'adapted' piano pieces. What is it mean? When I was in school learning English, we were using English texts 'adapted' for students (maybe, this is the main reason, why I still struggle to express myself in this language freely and even write with ‘accent’ )

1, Favorite classics primer, Favorite classics 1, 2 and 3; Boogie 1 and 2, Christmas Carols, Christmas classics and Nutcracker had been created for beginners based on some stable 'hand positions' and patterns ‘technique’. They are promoting eye/hand coordination at some point, but not genuine professional piano technique.

The 'real things' that is going to help you are in Albums with not adapted pieces. Seeing and hearing you playing, I would recommend you to start learning pieces from ‘Tchaikovsky Children’s Album’, for example.

Do not let the name to fool you! There are many challenges in it. We just recently downloaded some MP3 files from the Album. Listen to the pieces here or using your own Soft Mozart program by pressing S and let me know, what pieces are most appealing to you (if any) – and will recommend, which one will be more effective for your piano growth.
www.softmozart.com/curriculum/music-libr...i/2-tchaikovsky.html
Let’s be in touch more often!

What a lovely predicament to be in coming from a beginner
Did you find something that is too hard that you love the sound of? Often sticking with a challenge, chipping it off piece by piece can make a big difference to your overall skills. If you can crack one hard piece you will find the level down from that easier from then on. I guess that's why Helene says one piece should be challenging and sight reading should be technically easier. Anyway just thinking out loud...
Could we hear more about your learning?