t-p, I am not a pianist at all, but those I know all view the Concord Soata as a bit of a mountain to climb. There again the very soft playing demanded by much of Feldman's work is a whole area of technique to develop.

I am playing for violin and viola exams now (RIA). I find that many of the violinsts are playing pieces that are too difficult for them. For example I had a young woman yesterday who played Kabalevsky concerto (II movement) and who I did not think should play it. The tempo was very very slow and she was struggling with fast sections.
I play with violinsts that are attempting to play Mozart concertos and Haydn and who don't have technique for that.
I can not say that it doesn't happen in piano because I struggle with students who somehow got to grade 7, 8 or even more without acquiring any sort of technique.
I have to say that this experience comes from RIA. I did not see anything like that in Associated board or anyother boards.

My question is should people attempt to play pieces that are too difficult for them or should they wait until they develop properly by playing easier pieces. I suppose one can say that playing very difficult piece can push one forward.

Some times I play with students that are playing the piece with great difficulty and only half speed (or even slower).
I had a viola student playing famous Brahms Scherzo this way. She did pass the exam. The piece is difficult on the violin.

On the whole I am too hard on the teachers, I know. String playing here is getting better. We have several new teachers and older teachers with experience. It is a good mix.
I was pleased with exams this year. One boy of 16 is playing violin and viola really well. He is emotional and has good temprement (not a sleepy performer). I enjoyed playing with him. He had two exams in one day: violin in the morning and viola in the afternoon. The next day was his piano exam. He has a good teacher. Now he wants to learn organ.

He is really talented. They accepted him on viola into Younth orchestra in Dublin.
They had controversy lately and the whole board resigned. They wanted to combine two orchestras (one where up to 16 years old are playing and one where older childen are playing).
John O'Connor wrote an open letter. The board now resigned and the orchestra is going back to the original formula with two orchestras.

The boy I am talking about learn viola in a month or so and was accepted. He is going to go to Dublin, he said. Many students are boys and in fact girls are not majority at all. It is about 50 50 ration. I am glad.

I am looking at students now who are playing many instruments now, all kind of badly. Most of my students play only one instrument, but many play at least two instruments: violin, flute, cello.
Usually one instrument is a main instrument.
To play one instrument well is a difficult task in itself. I was not allowed to play anything else because one should learn one thing in depth rather than several superficially. That was the view in my time.

All instrumental players were required to take piano in my days in music schools. But I think that piano players should now something about playing at least one more instrument. It is my handicap that I don't play anything else, but piano.

Rostropovich was a good piano player. I don't think he performed solo piano repertoire in public, but he could accompany. Cello was his main instrument. But he is an exception. Most world class players play only one instrument publically.
Is there any other performer who performed in public on their secondary instrument?

I have an experience now watching the young man of 25 -26 years old learning violin. He started young, went to local teachers (trained in Cork) then was going to Cork by bus for several years.
Two years ago I played for Diploma in Royal Irish Academy with him. He got the diploma, but he wasn't a good violinst.
Now he went to Limmerick for two years (taking his MA). Yesterday he came to rehears possible lunch time concert. What a difference one year can make!!!
He is now much better violinist. He still doesn't have as good technique, but the slow pieces are sounding good. He has a soul and I feel it is important in playing any instrument.
We also have a good viola player with the soul here. Unfortunately there is no cello.

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