Hey all,

I just returned from a week of computer camp and, after listening to some of Rachmaninoff`s preludes in a "keyboard literature" class, have fallen in love with this composer.

Only one slight problem... I looked at the sheet music and most of it looks really difficult. I`m fourteen and have been playing for about eight years, but I`m not knock-your-socks off good or anything - about the best stuff I can play is some of Chopin`s easier nocturnes and waltzes (right now I`m working on Nocturne Op. 72 No. 1 and Waltz in A Minor, to give you an idea).

My question is, is there any Rachmaninoff that`s even remotely easy that I could play at my level? And if not, what things should I be playing to try and develop in that direction, and what should I aim for?

Thanks,

Azureye

Eeps, meant to say I returned from "piano camp", I`m stupid...

No, no not really.

BUT!, that doesn`t mean you can`t do it! Anyone can play them, playing them well is another thing entirely. I am sixteen and I have played both his Prelude in C-sharp minor and Prelude in G-minor. I worked on both of them for about a year in addition to other music in order to get them perfect. So, if your heart is really in it, you can do it. But to answer your initial question, I don`t think any are much easier than any others, they are all difficult and beautiful. The two I played are a couple of the more popular, they`re quite difficult, but gorgeous when performed.

op. 3 set are easier than other rachmaninov stuff

i agree with india...there are a couple of easy Rachmaninov pieces technically in op.3..but none musically..they all need to be musical...u can try playing his Moment Musical in D Flat major..and in the rhapsody on a theme by Pagannini, there is one variation (Cantible) i forgot the number...but i THINK it was number 14..hopefully some one can help clarify that for us