Trill Question

[llamaman]

https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/8139/file01093of.jpg

The trill in the second last bar, would it start on e or f?

[xvimbi]

What sounds better to you?

Most often, trills are started on the note above, but that highly depends on the composer/era, so you should specify exactly which piece you are talking about when asking such a question. However, if the note above the principal note is the same as the preceding note, one would usually start on the principal note. Still, both versions are often acceptable, thus coming back to my original question.

[llamaman]

It's a Chopin Valse in A minor posthumous. It does not sound right to me on the f, though I've always known trills to start on the upper note.

[pseudopianist]

You should start on the E. Normally you would start on the note above but since the note before the thrill is that note you should start on the E.

[Kassaa]

My teacher told me that trills from Bach to Mozart (time period) have to be started on the upper note, and that from Chopin you have to start on the lower note.

[llamaman]

OK, thanks everyone!

[xvimbi]

My teacher told me that trills from Bach to Mozart (time period) have to be started on the upper note, and that from Chopin you have to start on the lower note.

That is clearly a too simplistic approach. One could harshly even say that it's wrong. It all depends. One sometimes finds trills starting on the principal note and others on the upper note in the same piece. Every single trill requires individual attention.