Any quick ways to master many difficult songs?

Hi everybody! I want to know how to master many difficult songs more quickly. But I don't know any quick ways other than practice everyday and do warming up before practising. Do you know what is the best solution for my problem?

 

Become Tammy Wu.

Seriously, this little girl (now 8) is on youtube, playing ridiculous things. She could be legendary. Then you read that she just looked at piano for the first time when she was 6. I think the only way to become a "master" *quickly* is to be born one. Otherwise, you gotta put in your 10,000 hours like everybody else.

Best of luck,

Jim Abraham

 

Could well be Tammy Wu has put in her 10,000 hours already.... Or wait, there's probably not that many working hours in two years. Chinese piano whizkids are pushed to the extreme, I think. But yes this is amazing, and quite frustrating for us poor plodders who spend a lifetime trying to play like this. I am sure she will be snatched up by a big label very soon.

 

365 days * 3 hours/day = ~1000 hours per year. 9 hours per day is only 3000 hours a year. So about 4 years, 9 am to 5 pm *every day* to hit 10,000 hours. And I don't think the brain can retain that much that fast. You need sleep to allow the brain to do all the wiring.

So basically this little girl was just born this way. I don't feel so bad.

 

Absolutely. But apart from that, she's undoubtedly put in a LOT of hours, if not exactly 10,000. To such talent, everything else is often sacrificed.

 

To master difficult songs, one should probably sing a lot. To master them more quickly, one should probably sing quicker.

 

I've stopped watching child prodigies on YouTube playing Liszt's "Concert Etudes", etc. It makes me want to sell my piano and take up the bass drum or maybe the triangle.

David

 

Ah, but the prodigies can't produce that seasoned Rachfan sound.

 

So true ! I'll take a proficient, committed, and seasoned amateur over one of these Liszt-spewing whizkids any time.

BTW - Welcome to PS, goldentone.

 

Thanks, Chris. Good to be here.

 

Thanks for that reassurance, guys! I resolve not to sell my piano after all!

David

 

totentanz, I listen to the music I am playing allot. If I am learning several hard peices, I put them all on my ipod and listen to them as much as possible in all situations. This gives me a familiarity with the music so I know instantly if I'm making mistakes when learning them, and I also know whats coming next.

Of course, the problem with that is that you might start to follow the style of the recording unconcously. Other than that, I dont think there is any easy way to learn complex peices. Sorry :roll:

Bass

 

Nah, it's ok pal. We really need to practice really hard to master things hahaha.... of course it may took some time. but, that's what is needed, Right?

 

Haha! Yes most things in life that are worthwhile take time an patience.

I read in a book once that it might be a good idea to work on a group of music pieces that have similar problems and challenges to overcome. That way, if you solve a technical problem for one, you tend to solve it for the group. I think there is a certain amount of truth to that. I think its especially true when working on reading music at the piano instead of memorizing (but it applies in both cases I think.) That being said, it takes a long time for most people to master anything.

 

I wouldn't worry about these whizkid prodigys. They have a gift and started at a young age. A lot of virtuoso's may be able to play fast and play lots of notes, but most are terrible at playing well MUSICALLY. Look at Lang Lang for example. The kid is good and has some technical skills but he is really not that great musically, he is a showoff.

 

Well, he is suited to play highly technical songs only, one without the needs of interpretation.

 

Hi. There is no simple answer to this and your question is quite general. You haven't said what level you play at now or what you are referring to as 'hard songs', nor for that matter what you consider to be fast. There are many many levels of piano and musical mastery and each time you find your self getting better you get to see a little further over the horizon of what's possible, a new level of expertise to work for.


However, having said that there both efficient and inefficient ways to practice and learn material. If you are trying to play music that you more or less already have the technique for, there are some great ways to learn it faster than is typically done (well again this is quite subjective), however if the material requires advanced techniques that you haven't yet acquired, well things are going to take more time.

There is a book (free) called 'The fundamentals of piano practice" by Chuan C. Chang http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book You can download a pdf version as well. It's not the do all and end all of piano playing and there are some controversial ideas in there but it does have a few chapters on learning material, memorizing methods and allot on making your practice more efficient. Again I don't know how advanced you are but I would say although allot of the techniques in this book can be fantastic, they are generally more advanced ideas and I don't think they should be an excuse not to practice the basic aspects of piano playing to build a groundwork of finger strength and dexterity. I still found the book really useful though. Good luck.

 

Bit of a topic bump here, Sharma
Also, Chang's book has been lavishly discussed in these quarters.
Thanks for posting though.

 

Two words: Systematic and Exhaustive.
That's how.

 

The question was about quick ways ...
I suppose he can try quickly and systematically exhausting himself. Whether it helps, dunno :lol: