Piano Forum

1.   On what authority can you say that the Etudes are not to be used to develop technique, but rather to polish and showcase already developed technique? Many authorities, including Cortot and Whiteside, have stressed the pedagogical function of the Etudes.

You misunderstand me. I am saying, if the techniques you find in the Chopin etudes have never been attempted before in OTHER pieces, then you are simply setting yourself up for problems. If you are using the Chopin etudes to expose yourself to these techniques for the FIRST time you are trying too hard in my OPINION.

2.   You say that without the technical foundation, the piece would collapse.  Well, obviously, but this is true of any piece and does not spell disaster; rather, if the etude is selected appropriately, it should serve to pinpoint the technical problem to be solved.  It is precisely the high musical values represented in these Etudes that provides the motivation to solve these technical problems and to signal when they have been solved. 

Etudes are not used to PIN POINT or solve peoples technical problems. Being able to play one piece full of thirds will not make you a master at playing thirds, many pieces which highlight the same idea give us the experience we need to master our instrument.  The Chopin etudes are amongst the best examples to learn from because they define practically all the basic piano techinques we find, but they should be used as a final indicator to our technical capabilities IN MY OPINION. Ok if you have weak technique you see how the etudes really highlight your short comings with slow progress, and physical difficuties to produce the music. Why face slow, frustrating work if there is an easier way?

3.   Elsewhere you state that ALL the etudes should be worked on concurrently, at least to some depth.  This in itself begs for logical support, yet here you state that each etude should be memorised in 2 weeks (or even 2 days, preferably).  In other words, in your view, one should be able to memorize all 24 etudes in 2 weeks of time.  Something simply doesn't compute here.   

Don't misunderstand me again, to study the etudes in fast time is only a WAY to study (and that was what the discussion was about, a way to study all the etudes), it is a way that I have taken and many other professional musicians. Nothing what I say when I talk about music is saying THIS IS THE ONLY WAY. Because with music there is NO way there are many ways, we are simply discussing our own experiences, so don't take it too personally especially if you disagree with me, I am sure many others would stand by your side, I don't aim to have many people agree with me.

4.   Burning at the stake will not clear up the confusion you've created by your statements, so I for one would not advocate it.  I would rather you came down from your high horse and be a little more real.  Certainly it would be nice to come to the Etudes with a fully developed technique and use these masterpieces simply to polish and show off one's accomplishments, but for most of us mortals, that doesn't comport with reality.  I really wonder if it does for you.
 

High horse? Please, this is a forum for our ideas, I have no superiority complex or even compete with people here or anywhere else for that matter. You do not need fully developed technique when you face the Chopin etudes, but if you have little experience playing the piano then why on earth do you want to start at the Chopin etudes? That confuses me always, but still i wil teach to students who insist that they want to learn this piece, who am I to squash peoples desires??