Horrible in playing music by certain composers?

[pet]

Well, I'm not exactly horrible, but anyways, here is the dilemma.  I have been playing piano for about 18 years (I know, long time right?)  and I happen to LOVE music from the Baroque and Classical eras, so this is what I mostly played, and I play it very well. I have played many pieces from the Late Romantic/20th Century composers, and seem to do fine, with the exception of one composer.  Now, I seem to be struggling A LOT with the Chopin Etudes (the fast ones), and I know they are difficult pieces and many pianists have trouble with them, but then I see some people that have been playing for much less time than I have, and they just breeze through these pieces! And I'm here wondering to myself well how in the world did they do that? Now, it took me a year to play the Scherzo in Bb minor well, and that was a struggle in itself, but it worked out in the end.  Now here is my question:  Is there anything a pianist can do or study before playing these etudes, or should they just jump in and get their feet wet, and learn as they go?  Right now I am learning Op. 10 No. 1 (which is the one I have difficulty with) and No. 3 (which I have no problem).  I have been told that to play the fast Chopin Etudes well, it's really all in the wrist, so does anyone care to explain on how to get the "wrist" technique?

Thanks a bunch!

- Pet

[amelialw]

Each of the Chopin Etudes are vastly different and they teach you different ways of playing, different technique that involes your arm, wrist and fingers. If you want to play Chopin Etudes, you shoudl 1st have a excellent technique facility because all the things that are learnt are then used in his etudes. My teacher for example said that it's very important for a pianist to learn eventually all of Op.10 or Op.25 or even both. You don't get the wrist technique naturally/ right away, always work on the right/left hand 1st, in the case of Op.10 No.1 you have to be able to relax your arms so that the music can flow in the right hand.

[pet]

Thanks amelia!  Maybe I just need to be patient...

[cloches_de_geneve]

To be honest, I think you choose the wrong etude to start with. Many pianists think 10/1 is actually the most difficult of both sets, possibility only matched in difficulty by 10/2, 25/6 and 25/11. Why don't you pick some of the intermediate ones, such as 10/5, 10/7, 10/8, 10/12, 25/2, 25/5, 25/12 -- these are all pretty difficult pieces but without representing a psychphysical "shock" such as 10/1.

[mcgillcomposer]

To be honest, I think you choose the wrong etude to start with. Many pianists think 10/1 is actually the most difficult of both sets, possibility only matched in difficulty by 10/2, 25/6 and 25/11. Why don't you pick some of the intermediate ones, such as 10/5, 10/7, 10/8, 10/12, 25/2, 25/5, 25/12 -- these are all pretty difficult pieces but without representing a psychphysical "shock" such as 10/1.

I second that. 10/1 is NOT one of the easier etudes...quite the contrary.

[franzliszt2]

10/1 and 10/2 are the hardest.

[pet]

Thanks for replying everyone!  It's very much appreciated! 

Clotches:  Thanks for the intermediate etude listing.  I have played 10/5 and 25/2 in the past, actually those are the first two that I played.  I pick my pieces by the technique that I am trying to get better at, and this year, they are octaves and arpeggios, which is the reason why I picked 10/1.  And actually, I learned the first two pages two days ago, and when I wrote this the notes were just not happening, and today when I played the two pages, they were a lot better!  I was quite pleased...   So, I think I was just being impatient (as usual) and wanted to learn things quicker than I could.  So I will take it slow for the next couple of weeks and get all of the notes, then I will work on speed (probably around late July).  When I finish with 10/3, (which should be soon) I will start on one of the etudes that you have suggested.  This way I will be working on an intermediate and hard etude at the same time.

Thanks again! 

[kghayesh]

I don't know much detailed information about how to tackle Chopin Etudes, but I'll tell you what I think about playing music from different composers.

When you play music from a new composer that you didn't play anything before  by him, you should first know about that composer and listen to much of his music. That way you will build a framework in your mind that will help you in your musical interpretation of the piece. For example, if you are tackling a new Mozart sonata. Listening to a CD of the complete Mozart sonatas will be a magnificient idea to do before you start learning the piece and in the process of learning. Now, you will know and feel what is expected from you in performing such a work.

The same is applied to all music and to any style. Remember it's not just about playing the correct keys. Sound is the most important thing

[pet]

Thanks kghayesh!  Very good advice..