I must know it!! What are the levels? How can you know what level are you in? What pieces can I play in a N level?

Depends on who your beign tought by.

My teacher referes my level as beginner imtermmediate and advanced.

As for what you can play, it all depends on how much effort you put into practicing. For instance, I began moonlight sonata around beginner level, and alot of people say it's quite a high level song, but I managed to finish the first movement. Of course I didn't learn it overnight.

...regardless. I'd say beginners can play anything there level with a bit of grind, and a sizable chunk of intermediate with alot of grind. And, advanced would be just a bit out of reach.

Mine too.

I'm still a beginner in my teacher's eyes, coz I quit school. I just self-studied. Now I can play some songs. Although I can't play fast songs. Hey, Have you seen my 'Lost Paintings'? The one from Castlevania? I played that. The first I played last 2 year.

I'm at the lowest possible level. Then again, I'm still very new to the whole music thing, so that's understandable.

Moonlight Sonata is "high level" in technical difficulty because of the third movement :P

Anyhow, in California there is the "MTAC Certificate of Merit," which consists of standardized theory and performance exams that are divided from levels 1 to 10 (I think there may be an "advanced" level, too).

ya i have to go to that every year. th ecertificate merit thing

my sister is going through it...I never really completed the whole series, but oh well...

My first teacher had her own custom books, and she did it like school, if you passed you moved to a new level, ect. My new teacher, skipped it, and just did regular songs, along with a beginner book that is just to help my music reading, as I usually use cords in the songs she gives me.

Well in my opinion, the levels that constitutes to the piano skill and ability of a performer varies differently among other countries and also depends on the system on which your tutor, techer or mentor has to follow so that a verification of your ability and confirmation of that skill is realized and accepted by that institutionalized system.

I myself underwent 10 level system which included 9 years of my life including the preparatory levels of the basic teachings. I had to go to a hall and nervously prepare a 3 piece piano solo that I had to prepare. And when I went to college it was a yearly system. So there were 4 levels and 4 years to perform those grueling pieces...

Moonlight Sonata is "high level" in technical difficulty because of the third movement :P

You think the Third movment is that "difficult" to be considered Hard? Wow, it just takes a few spots to prefect out and then it's preety good. Even Beethoven said it was a Sonata for people if they wanted to learn a Sonata quickly. Now, that is what it's meant for, but it is quoted by him that it is for someone who wants to learn it in a short amount of time.

You think the Third movment is that "difficult" to be considered Hard? Wow, it just takes a few spots to prefect out and then it's preety good. Even Beethoven said it was a Sonata for people if they wanted to learn a Sonata quickly. Now, that is what it's meant for, but it is quoted by him that it is for someone who wants to learn it in a short amount of time.

It is a pretty difficult piece you know, it was a piece given to me when I was in grade 7. The running passages have to be smooth clear in order to be a steady performance. I had to study 3 different technical book studies because of dexterity problems I have in my left hand since it was quite an advance piece for me at that time. I nearly perfected it after 2 months and another 2 months for the whole sonata. And even the first movement, I still could'nt surpass the complexity of the emotion played in that piece by my mentor as of today. It's the once piece that you perfect as time goes by. That's also why it is considered to be one of the most beautiful and intriguing pieces ever written by beethoven.

I could say that once you finish a piece, that is the time you realize the marvel of it. Only when you yourself could hear the composer playing his work.

I disagree with giving levels to pieces because it's so subjective. Take the moonlight sonata you are on about; to some it is simple and to others more difficult, so how can you give it a set level? It also hinders learning, I think, to know the level of the piece you are playing. Also, it depends on your style; I, for example, couldnt make heads or tails of a Bach Allemande that was given to me to learn earlier this year; and it's only grade 8 standard, but I can play stuff like some of the Liszt etudes in standard with a lot less hassle, because I prefer that style. It really does depend.

Yeah...my teacher never gave me..."levels" she kinda just threw music at me and told me to play it. Well gradually building difficulty levels, sometimes random. Yeah...levels don't matter..it's Practice that makes perfect :lol:

not giving levels is the better idea, i think. i forgot to post this earlier, but im sure some people here have heard of Martha Argerlich (sp?)- basically her teacher recognised her talent at an early age, and one lesson set her Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit (a highly advanced piano suite) to learn. She came back to the lesson two weeks later and played it all the way through with hardly any mistakes. When asked about it, she just commented "i had no idea it was meant to be so difficult".

I think that proves a lot

You think the Third movment is that "difficult" to be considered Hard? Wow, it just takes a few spots to prefect out and then it's preety good. Even Beethoven said it was a Sonata for people if they wanted to learn a Sonata quickly. Now, that is what it's meant for, but it is quoted by him that it is for someone who wants to learn it in a short amount of time.

You missed the point. Someone above me was commenting on how the sonata was hard, and they based that on the first movement. If the first movement appears hard to them, the third movement will definitely be difficult for them.

I disagree with giving levels to pieces because it's so subjective. Take the moonlight sonata you are on about; to some it is simple and to others more difficult, so how can you give it a set level? It also hinders learning, I think, to know the level of the piece you are playing. Also, it depends on your style; I, for example, couldnt make heads or tails of a Bach Allemande that was given to me to learn earlier this year; and it's only grade 8 standard, but I can play stuff like some of the Liszt etudes in standard with a lot less hassle, because I prefer that style. It really does depend.

I agree with you totally, I mean my mentor, she only gave me pieces according to my level which was already situated by the system. In order for me to level up and progress into the next level she was obliged to give me pieces that are supposedly for my level. But other than that, she used to give me difficult pieces that are higher for my level. So it all depends on the teacher's mode of teaching if she/he sticks to the regulated standards of piano teaching.

The good thing about her method was back in grade 3, she gave me a hard piece for a grade 5 level I think. When the time came that I had to perform in the academy to see if I was ready for the next level of some sort, she whispered something to the judges and said that I perform Chopin's Nocturne in E Flat in which I was prepared only to play Hungarian Dance no. 2 and Tarantella. And then when I finished performing, I was astounded to see that I was already in grade 5. I did'nt even know they could do that, she gave me the certificate and said I was advanced to the next level. I was so happy that day. :lol:

Mine too.

I'm still a beginner in my teacher's eyes, coz I quit school. I just self-studied. Now I can play some songs. Although I can't play fast songs. Hey, Have you seen my 'Lost Paintings'? The one from Castlevania? I played that. The first I played last 2 year.

Hi, I am a new comer. Do you have the score of 'Lost Paintings'? Would you send me one copy? THX.

Anyone can play at any level they choose. If someone wants to play a piece that goes at tempo 250 and jumps around the high and low notes, then all they have to do is (learning notes are not included in this ) practice, practice practice. Take it slowly at first. Play it slow enough so that you can play every note. play it here for a while. Then try it a little faster. Then faster. And before you know it, you have a wonderfully performed piece of music.

Just my method, anyway.

I THINK these are the levels.

Beginner
Serious Ameteur
Intermediate
Professional
Virtuoso

Well, the levelling system used here in music schools (RCM) goes from 1-10, then the diploma. But the system isn't really well balanced, I think. For example, I self-studied for a long time then finally went in to take lessons. At the time, I expected that I was only around a level 5 or so considering how many pieces I found more difficult then what I could play, but to my surprise they told me I played at a level 8 standard after my audition. It looks like a lot of the pieces up to level 8 get harder at a steady pace then suddenly you have a big jump in the final few grades. I think it's a bit unbalanced, at least. For instance, Debussy's "La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin" is listed as a Grade 9 (!) piece. I mean, it does take skill to play that piece expressively but I didn't think it would be rated that highly.

Wow, even with all the interpretation of a girl with flaxen hair and faire skin, that seems pretty simple for myself.

Just a fun Note: I'm a good impressionest pianist, but horrible at writing it--untill the last week actually. ;)

does this apply to those who self taught?

does this apply to those who self taught?

Hmm, I don't think so.