How do you know if a tune is too difficult?

[sinebar]

So I how can I tell if a tune is too difficult for my skill level and is it wise to keep trying to play it? The particular tune I'm trying to play is "Minuette from "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" by Mozart. I can stumble through it but not smoothly.

[Phineas]

Sinebar

There is no such thing as "too dificult". The only thing that makes anything difficult is you do not know it yet. Anything you practice you will eventually play. Not being only based in classical music, I can tell you there are some "very easy looking" tunes out there that are difficult just because the harmony/rhythm is not what most players are use to. Spain by Chic Corea is a good example. If the rhythm does not get you, the solo/improvization section will!

"Keep your head in the woodshed", you will get it eventually. Try playing it slower. Once you have perfected it at a low speed, speeding it up is easy.

Good luck!

Phineas

[piccolo1991]

True...you should be able to eventually handle any piece as long as you know the notes and rhythms in it...it just will take longer for some then it would for others.

[nasxxx]

For me I try to find the actual FLute performance on the net to listen to gives me a general feel for a song that I want to play, That does help alot but if I can't find the music then I just use a music program Sibelius transpose the notes select flute or piano and play them back, it gives a true note playing time and duration of the notes, but the actual harmony depth / sound and feel can only be listened to or played by a actual person if that makes sense. for example. I have learning flute books with accumpnying CD's on how the music should be played I learn the song faster this way, but if no CD then i'm kinda stumpblying along, as to how it should be played. Probably not the best way to learn but works for me untill I have keep on practicing the song.

[sinebar]

For me I try to find the actual FLute performance on the net to listen to gives me a general feel for a song that I want to play, That does help alot but if I can't find the music then I just use a music program Sibelius transpose the notes select flute or piano and play them back, it gives a true note playing time and duration of the notes, but the actual harmony depth / sound and feel can only be listened to or played by a actual person if that makes sense. for example. I have learning flute books with accumpnying CD's on how the music should be played I learn the song faster this way, but if no CD then i'm kinda stumpblying along, as to how it should be played. Probably not the best way to learn but works for me untill I have keep on practicing the song.

Fortunately the piece I'm working on is on the CD that came with the book and you're right it does help. Phineas is right too about some music looking easy until you try to play it and this piece is one of those. Especially the trill parts. I have a lot of work to do on trills.

[piccolo1991]

Try playing it thru a few times without trills and other ornamentation. Then practice each trill on its own, and slowly add the notes before and after it. Then try plugging it back into the entire piece!

[fluteguy18]

Definately take time to work out the rythms. Make sure you can play all of the notes [that it fits in your range, and if it doesnt, start working on your range]. Then just break down the rythms. Mark where the quarter beat is, then the eighth beat, etc. etc.

I am working on a piece that is completely syncopated, and the piano part is too. It is a very modern piece. The recording [played by Christina Jennings- AMAZING] sounds very lovely, but the music is horrifying to look at. But, I took time to make sure it fit comfortably in my range [found a better C#4 fingering that was more stable], then worked out the rythms [marked, quarter, and eighth note beats] and then it suddenly clicked. So, now I am just working on the musicality parts of it.