Hi,

In your view what do you consider to be quite important pieces to learn for general technique?

In my opinion if you could pick 3 what would you choose?

These would be mine.

1. Mozart Sonata K545 - I think the all time most classic Mozart piece written for the piano. Even most non musicians would have heard it / heard of it before. Strong classical technique needed to bring off flowing quavers / semi quavers through the entire piece.

2. Chopin Nocturne in E flat Major - one of the most famous well known Chopin Pieces. Good for your first Chopin piece perhaps with an overall difficulty level which is quite high.

3. Perhaps controversial but - Scott Jopin The Entertainer (original version Difficult octaves in right hand and left hand jumps.

I think if you can play those 3 pieces pretty well, then alot of other pieces become very accessable to you.

Thoughts?

I don't think there are three.

It depends on what level a person is at and takes more than three. You chose three reasonable ones in terms of dealing with different kinds of tecnhnical problems at a certain level, but just learning those three wouldn't mean one had mastered those techniques at that level.

Every piece one learns makes the next ones easier.

1. Bach: 2- and 3-part inventions, the Well-Tempered Klavier, the French and English Suites, etc.

2. Chopin Etudes.

3. Beethoven Sonatas.

There is much more, but mastering a good portion of these three would mean that you have achieved good general technique.

Good examples, but three huge sets of pieces. In (non music) college, my teacher had me working on a new P&F, Chopin Etude, Beethoven slow movement almost every lesson.

For what level?

Scarlatti, Bach - all Anna Magdalena book to inventions to French suites to WTC - plus all the sonatina repertoire (Kuhlau, etc.) are part of providing a good grounding.

Applause Book 1 had the biggest impact on my technique.

The first big landmarks for intermediate students are Bach Inventions and the sonatina literature (Clementi, Kuhlau, Beethoven, etc...)

After that, easier romantic works like Chopin waltzes, mazurkas, and the c# minor polonaise and fantasy-impromptu.

When moving into advanced literature, you have pieces like Bach's preludes and fugues, Mozart sonatas (283, 332, 570), Beethoven sonatas (Opp. 2, 10, 13, 14, 79, 31, etc..), and core romantic literature (Schubert Impromptus, pieces from Brahms Op. 10, 79, 117, 118, etc...), and some contemporary literature (Muczynski preludes, Bartok Allegro Barbaro, Lees Fantasia, Shostakovich dances, Ginastera Argentinian Preludes, etc...)

After that, students start in with standard literature and pretty much anything goes.

I think the question is the wrong one, and here's why.

General technique is like general vocabulary - a huge group of items, any one of which you're fairly likely to find if you go looking.

But if I ask "Which three short stories should I read to improve my general vocabulary?" the answer is "Three short stories won't get you much vocabulary at all; to really improve vocabulary you'll have to read hundreds of short stories or dozens of long novels."

General technique is general only because it comes from all over the place.

Hanon Virtuoso Pianist.

But seriously, there are MANY great pieces for general technique. MANY great Mozart sonatas, MANY great Chopin waltzes, and for learning to do jumps and things like that, I actually would say that most of Scott Joplin's pieces are great. Also, Bach 2-part (and later 3-part, and later preludes/fugues and suites) are essential.

Once those cease to be a stretch technically, start on etudes. Czerny and Mosowski are good starter etudes before the more difficult ones.

Sort of off topic: Personally, I love practicing octaves. Having really good rapid octave ability opens so many doors for what your hands physically can and cannot do.

Agreed Ornage Soda, technical excerises in comination with musical etudes are the foundation of sound technique. But certain for "an appreciation of piano music" the thread selections are admirable. Do not under-estimate Mozart's K545 and certainly the version of the 3rd movement in the postumous sonata in F. Though it is ascribed "allegretto grazioso" it should be played presto quasi allegretto grazioso. The key is in the light finger work. Presto and light finger work are like oil and water for unprepared performers!!!!!!

On a side note, ensure you do not "jam" any of your rapid octaves OSK. It is also very easy to split notes at extreme speed, particularly if you attempt vivace+ double octaves. I would focus on how softly, whilst fast, you can play them. If you can manage a resonant ppp, you have reached Master status.

Crumb Macrocosmos
Ligeti Etudes
Messiaen Vingt Regard Sur L'enfant Jesus

Nothing better than the above to put you right in the mood for contemporary piano playing. And VERY hard as well. One who can perform pretty much any of the pieces above (set of pieces, ok, or individual pieces) should already be an accomplished pianist, to say the least. (I'm an advocate for contemporary music. does it tell? :P).

but I do think that technically speaking the new things introduced in these three set of pieces are very interesting and important, from every aspect, including notation (which I consider an art form on its own rights).

I am just finishing Mussorgski's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and I feel this has had a tremendous influence on my technique.