Greg!
Thank you first of all for your performance in Edmond, OK on Nov. 17! It was truly delightful. I was wondering what piece you might suggest to someone who has taken piano lessons since age 5 (and continued through the first two years of college), but has played on and off. I now teach piano to about 6 students and would like to keep my skills up. After seeing your performance last night with the Browns, I'm encouraged to throw myself back into classical music. I'm not sure what piece to start with. Any suggestions? I've played: Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven) and movement #2 of the same work, Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (Debussy), a number of Bach inventions, a number of Minuets by Mozart. Thanks again and thank you for your musically brilliant arrangements. ~Adar

Dear Adar,

Thanks for the kind words! I had fun performing in Edmond!

I think your questions would best be answered by a personal teacher who knows your strengths and weaknesses. He or she could guide you to pieces that would help you improve quickly and efficiently.

To get you started, there are some great pieces by Chopin you could consider -- nocturnes, waltzes, mazurkas, etc. Also, try learning some Mozart sonatas (K. 331, first movement, maybe?) or pieces from Bartók's "Microcosmos."

Another thing you could consider: sightreading. Sightread everyday -- find pieces that are easy enough to sightread (if that means starting with "Beginner Piano Book A," that's okay!) and as the months go by, gradually work your way up to sightreading Mozart and Beethoven sonatas. The better you are at sightreading, the quicker you'll be able to learn the pieces you intend to study in depth.

Good luck, and HAVE FUN!

- Greg