Scherzo in B-flat minor

[forevere2]

whats the best way to use a petal in this piece? especially with the first 2 measures, and the others just like it?

[rob47]

finger pedal maybe, legato with no pedal but the u.c? the first two measures are the pianissimo "duhduhdah, duhduhdah"s right?

[danyal]

You dont want to use pedal in the 1st 2 bars (or others like) because it'll blur the sound and the clean transparency you want to achieve. Use pedal in the main chords, for the max amount of power. In the theme of the 1st 2 bars, use the u.c then let go at the chords, to achieve the greatest difference between the 2 phrases and emotions...

[forevere2]

Great thanks. And about the arpagio parts, how long did it take you guys to get the speed to its full? As in the speed of normal recordings.

Also, anyone know a site that has a free video recording of someone playing this piece?

Thanks.

[danyal]

Dont worry about speed, that will come with time, you want to focus on clarity and cleaniness. There's no point on playing the arpeggio sections (or anything for that matter) at ungodly speeds that cant be handled yet and making them sound like you've just stepped on an exploding anthill. It might not seem so in the process, but the piece is learned MUCH faster working systematically and slowly. Take the arp section at a speed that is clean and flawless (even if its 40bpm) and then only when you're absolutely sure it is perfect many many times in a row, speed it up just a LITTLE. (like 2 metronome clicks) and work your way up to speed like this.

Good luck,
Danyal

[xvimbi]

Dont worry about speed, that will come with time, you want to focus on clarity and cleaniness. There's no point on playing the arpeggio sections (or anything for that matter) at ungodly speeds that cant be handled yet and making them sound like you've just stepped on an exploding anthill. It might not seem so in the process, but the piece is learned MUCH faster working systematically and slowly. Take the arp section at a speed that is clean and flawless (even if its 40bpm) and then only when you're absolutely sure it is perfect many many times in a row, speed it up just a LITTLE. (like 2 metronome clicks) and work your way up to speed like this.

When you do this, make sure that at slow speeds, you are using the exact same motions that are required for the final speed. Otherwise you'll end up hitting speed walls that will require you to change your technique, which means all the affort was wasted. So, instead of "slow practice", think "slow-motion practice". So, when you play arpeggios very slowly, the notes will necessarily be disconnected (unless the pedal is depressed of course). Don't reach for the next note, which is a big no-no in general.

But since you are learning advanced repertoire, I am sure you knew all this already.