Probably getting to play a piano concerto with a smaller orchestra. But which?

Ok, so it's like this, my piano teacher has big hopes for me, so she has said that she will try to fix something up for when I go out of school, which will be next summer so she was thinking that maybe we could fix up something with the orchestra we have in town, like doing a piano concerto for graduation or something. I feel really excited about the idea, and a bit scared too because I don't really have that long time of experience playing the piano really (I started playing seriously around Mars of this year) and I haven't really performed live that much neither. Anyhow, I need a piano concerto that is at a level I can play. I can play Arabesque no 1 by Debussy by heart and I have also started on the Minute Waltz by Chopin just recently so I guess that may give you some idea of my level hopefully. Just throw some tips at me and I'll look at it. Maybe something not too hard as I'll probably be nervous as hell :P

Mars of this year eh? Are of a pagan descent by any chance?

Have you heard the second movement of Shostakovich's second concerto? It's to die for. Stunning. Find a recording.

Well, I can't say I was a total beginner by Mars, I have been doodling around on the instrument a few times now and then through the years, had a year of lessons when I was a small kid but I didn't develop much back then nor did I want to play that much, I was not very interested in music back then. But it was in Mars that I found out that I really felt that piano was my instrument and that I started playing it seriously after previously being a electric guitar player. I wouldn't say I'm that amazingly good yet though even though I can play some harder pieces as I feel myself I still have a lot to learn. And I don't know how good I can become neither because I have had some problems with the muscles in my right arm (I got a RSI injury from playing the guitar last winter and I haven't completely recovered yet) so I tend to tense up my right arm. But I'll just have to work with it so that I can overcome it. I'll check out the Shostakovich concerto and see if it'll be something for me to play.

The Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 is terrific. Saint-Saens No. 2, Grieg, Schumann, Either Chopin concerto, Rachmaninoff 2, 3, and 4. All excellent piano concerti.

To die for? Maybe to die FROM. Too sad. :(

I agree with alex, Rachmaninoff's 2 and 3 are fantastic,

I personally love the second movement of 2,

i would kill to play it (if i could play piano like that!)

Good Luck!

Check out [[Geirr Tveitt]]'s first concerto. I haven't played it, but it doesen't seem overly difficult, and it'll charm the sh*t out of anybody. (translation to geek talk: it's an ''attractive'' work) The piece is set in a slow-fast-slow scheme. (though the first movement has elements of dance)

If you're Swedish, your local music library should have a score..

Beethoven's 1st? not too hard. Shostakovich 2nd is also nice.

Also, if you think you may be nervous, go to your doctors and ask him to perscribe him 'propranalol' (I think that's how it's spelt) or 'beta-blockers' - they are the same thing. They don't make you less nervous, but they do stop other side-affects of nerves, such as fast pulse, shaking hands etc. They only come by perscription but it shouldn't be too hard to get some - my sister managed to get her GP to perscribe her some just because she wanted them, but then she is a junior doctor...

Don't forget about Rachmaninov #1. However, if you don't want something too difficult, I'd stay away from from Rachmaninov As has been suggested, Beethoven #1 isn't too bad. Some others to consider are Grieg's and Ravel's.

Seriously guys. If you started Mars? (wth is mars) this year, i suggest a Mozart Piano Concerto. If anyone dare says that they arent difficult enough, ill shoot ya lol. I think that mozart can really be interesting if shot at correctly. Hes classical so you have to really disapline yourself...but i suggest doing it because of the short period of time you have been playing. Rach will just kill your fingers, and Shostakovich...well the 2nd movment wouldnt be too bad. Just...yea, try going to the library..or even free-scores.com and look at the concertos that are on there.

and greig...hes good.

Free Sheetmusic Library An excellent site to get sheeet music from. There are 3 composers on there that have All their concertos uploaded - Brahms, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.

Mozart piano concerto no.23 - the adagio movement is really nice with a nice piano solo bit to show off at the beggining ;) I don't think it's too difficult. Normally i'd suggest chopin for any piano performances, but i dont think his orchestral stuff is so good :(

Judith Weir has a very nice piano concerto for piano and string ensemble (from as little as five to as many as a full string orchestra). Although Weir is contemporary, I think you will find her music quite enjoyable and "easy to listen", as opposed to, say, Ferneyhough.

I have a recording of it, if you'd like to give it a listen, and they played some of her pieces here a few months ago (including the concerto), so we should have the score around here. And someone there could arrange it for the ensemble you have there, if you like.