must learn classical compositions

[abhisek]

list down what you think are "must learn" compositions for a pianist/keyboardist..

[Michael Troy]

chopsticks, twinkle twinkle little star, three blind mice, on top of old smokey.

You know......the good stuff.

[Omega Monkey]

Moonlight Sonata

Pathetique (John Evan does an awesome rock version of this on Living In The Past, which is actually where I first noticed it)

2 Part Invention in A Minor (aka Commodore Theme Song for those of you who remember the early 80s)

Pictures At An Exhibition (if you ca play all of this you are a beast)

Passacaglia & Fugue (dont remember the key and its technically a harpsichord piece but it sounds badass, the Fripp String Quintet does a killer version)

Great Gig In The Sky (awesome female singer sold separately)

Firth Of Fith intro

Siberian Khatru harpsichord solo

as much Chick Corea as you can learn (if you can play Romantic Warrior, you are a sick motherfucker)

as much Herbie Hancock as you can learn, but at the very least Maiden Voyage

Take Five

So What

My Favorite Things

The Entertainer

Honestly, if you could learn all or most of that stuff, you would be a pretty well rounded and capable pianist and would probably be able to play just about anything else.

[Syrinx]

I am no piano player expert, but I feel that if I ever to become one I have to know how to play some Bach, coreection, A LOT of Bach.
I'd start with the 2 & 3-part inventions, then I'd head for the Well Tempered Clavier. Then if I can do this before I reach 70 (I'm not that old, but music is a hobby and I never find that much time to practice), then I'd pick and choose from Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt...etc. It's a dream to me to be able play some of those Chopin etudes, damn, some of them are just insanely beautiful.

Recently, I have been listening to Jazz pianists such as Hiromi, who refered to the 2&3-part inventions as a very important part of her development.
Also I have read that many of the technical aspects of Brad Mehldau playing could be traced to Bach fugues.

Just my 2 cents.

Peace.

[Grey Loki]

Firth Of Fith intro

I can play that :P

I'd recommend at least one Chopin Etude, the Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise (Hey, it's gotta be done :P), and perhaps some Rach (Prelude in C#m, anyone?).

[Liquid Shadow]

Rach (Prelude in C#m, anyone?).



I was just given a scholarship of $250-1,000 (gotta wait for the letter to see what level I was awarded) for a performance of that peice. I had to do it on a piano with a sustain pedal permanently stuck halfway down too.

>:(

That is my angry face. A good face for Rachmaninoff.


And no matter what amount I get, even if its $250...that's one expensive song. :p


























RACHMANINOFF FACE.

>:(

[abhisek]

thanks guys.. and anymore jazz standards?.. i'm just a beginner.. i've been working on solar, all blues, my foolish heart... i'm having a hard time soloing(improvising) though..

[Syrinx]

thanks guys.. and anymore jazz standards?.. i'm just a beginner.. i've been working on solar, all blues, my foolish heart... i'm having a hard time soloing(improvising) though..

I am no expert again, but from the top of my head, anything by Monk, Tatum, Peterson, Corea, Hancock is a must. Of course in addtion to the Jazz standards by others like Miles, Coltrane...etc.
If you are serious about Jazz piano playing, then you HAVE to buy this book (or actually the two books) by Mark Levine
(1) The Jazz Piano book, and
(2) The Jazz theory book.
There are cheaper (spiral bound) versions of both of them. I find them excellent. If you are not gonna buy them, at least check them out at your Univ. or public library.

Best.

[Bastardo Demono]

I can play that :P

I'd recommend at least one Chopin Etude, the Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise (Hey, it's gotta be done :P), and perhaps some Rach (Prelude in C#m, anyone?).

the 1st movement of moonlight and fur elise you have to learn if you want any of the dull ears at a party shut up, that rach prelude is awesome, and chopin etudes are I would say far too advanced to be "essential", that is more concert pianist stuff. I would stick to marzukas, preludes, nocturnes, and waltzes first. I would say the most essential chopin piece is the raindrop prelude, it is beautiful.

the bach two part inventions (and later well tempered klavier) are awesome, they will help you so much. I would say for begineers of classical, it is the most important to learn. of course it is for building finger/hand independence but in a prog rock sense, it helps with fast 16th note solos and being rhythmicly accurate I would say

[Asho]

All of moonlight is required, i think, to silence those annoying people who go on about how boring the first movement is. Fur Elise of course....

Some rach is always good, Prelude especially, but dont limit yourself to just C#, i had a book of 12 of his preludes and they were very good.

If you really wanna show off, go with a Prelude and Fugue from Bach Well Tempered Klavier.

Oh.... and if you like chromatics... Flight Of The Bumblebee....

[Liquid Shadow]

thanks guys.. and anymore jazz standards?.. i'm just a beginner.. i've been working on solar, all blues, my foolish heart... i'm having a hard time soloing(improvising) though..


Jazz is tough so don't worry if you don't sound like Bill Evans after 2 months. It will probably take more like 2 decades.

As far as standards...shit, you shouldn't have asked that. This is going to get long:

Afro Blue
Alfie
All Blues
All of Me
All the Things you Are
Autumn Leaves
Black Orpheus
Blue Bossa
Blue Monk
Central Park West
Confirmation
Canteloupe Island
Django
Dolphin Dance
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Donna Lee
Footprints
Four on Six
Freddie the Freeloader
Giant Steps
Green Dolphin Street
Impressions
Lady Bird
Little Sunflower
Maiden Voyage
Meidtation
Midnight Mood
Mr. PC
Misty
Moment's Notice
My Favorite Things
My Funny Valentine
Naima
Night in Tunisia
Oleo
Orninthology
Recordame
'Round Midnight
So What
Someday my Prince will Come
Straight no Chaser
Take 5
Take the A Train
Well You Needn't
Watermelon MAn


And that's just to get started ;)

These are all varying difficulties, I didn't bother to separate them into styles or trickiness...I just went through my realbook and picked the big ones. Some of them, like Giant Steps, are "standards" but incredibly difficult, and if I heard anybody here able to solo well over that tune for 2 or 3 choruses at least...they would be my god. That song is almost like a rite of passage....once you can do that, you're HOT.


Anyways, check some of those out, and play what you think you can keep up with. Don't get frustrated when you can't do it all right away. I still wish I could play half the songs on that list well...and there's so much more on top of those. ;)

[Syrinx]

Great list Liquid Shadow, and if I may add a thing here, I found out this site that has a few Real (fake) Jazz books.Just go to: http://www.musiciansroom.net/eBooks/default.aspx
It's a bit slow, so be a little patient. Don't forget to click on the More books link:
http://www.musiciansroom.net/Contributions/Contributionsebooks/Default.aspx

Have fun.