Etudes?

[chopinfan_22]

I'm looking for etudes that will help me become a "freer" pianist, if that makes sense. I want to be able to move across the keys with ease, and be able to play very advanced music. Which etudes would best help with this becoming a more advanced pianist? What about Liszt's TE's, or Chopin's, Debussy's, or Rachmaninoff's?

To give you an idea of what level I'm at, here is some my repertoire:

Moonlight Sonata, 1st movement -- Beethoven
Nocturne Op. 9 Nos. 1 & 2 -- Chopin
Nocturne Op. 72 No. 1 -- Chopin
Nocturne Op. Post in C# -- Chopin
Prelude No. 1 -- Debussy
Consolation No. 3 -- Liszt

[zheer]

 Chopin Etude op10 in c major, if playd as fast as the 1st MVT of moonlight sonata
every day well help improve piano playing.

[kghayesh]

Well, I have no prior exposure to Rachmaninov or Debussy Etudes. I think Liszt Etudes are way too advanced and need so much solid technique to tackle it.

I can suggest some Chopin Etudes that might help. Maybe op.10 no.3 can be a good start. Just try to keep the melodic line clear. It is not that fast Etude but yet it is not easy to play. Or, if you want a faster Etude, try no.9.

Otherwise, if you want something virtuositic, why not try the Revolutionary Etude or op.25 no.12. They are harder of course, but can be nailed with much practice.

[thorn]

I dont think Liszt TE Nr 3 is way too advanced.

If you are feeling really ambitious, you could also try Harmonies du Soir.

[gruffalo]

start off with op.25 no.1 to free up your arms. then go to op10 no.7 to free up your wrists. i would say these are two great places to start within the Chopin Studies, but by no means on the easier end, but they should be managable for you.

[richy321]

Someone suggested Chopin Etude Opus 10/1.  I agree that, properly approached, this is an incredibly rewarding study piece.  But it's only fair to add that you need to be very careful not to make the mistake of letting muscular tension build up.  Up until a month ago, I used to enjoy playing it 5 times a day.  Then, as I ratcheted it up the final step to tempo, I got carried away with the rotations and let tension build up in the shoulder without proper release.  The result: instant tendinitus.  I have had to stop playing Chopin completely.  There is only one bright side to this experience:  The pain has forced me to slow down and play only Debussy and Bach for now, but now with 10x the awareness of what my body is doing at all times, and slowly rebuild the technique.  Ironically, it was only after this happened that I got Barbara Lister-Sink's dvd and learned what I had done wrong.  So be forewarned, people!

[gruffalo]

the ones i suggested target the fundamental key areas in developing a movement around the piano with ease.

[stagefright]

forget the concert etudes
go back to fundamentals: Bertini, Czerny, Loeschhorn
there is plenty of stuff, it is almost a neverending story
I like Loeschhorn very much

[Motrax]

I agree wholeheartedly with Zheer - Chopin's first etude (Op. 10 No. 1) can develop technique very well when played at any tempo (in your case, it'd be quite slow). It has the added bonus of beign relatively easy to memorize.

Op. 10 No. 9 is good too, but I think there's more danger of playing it badly (with tension).

Gruffalo is right about 25-1 and 10-7 (although 10-7 might be very difficult for you). Always be careful not to play with ANY tension, even if it means cutting the tempo in half. At this point, patience will serve you better than anything else.

Good luck!

[chopinfan_22]

I'll be completely honest. I'm not ready for any of chopin's etudes. they are at this point beyond my ability.

[phil13]

This is a problem, because Chopin is one of the easier sets of etudes that actually have thought-out musical meaning.

I hate to say it, but it looks like Czerny fits here.

Phil

[bernhard]

This is a problem, because Chopin is one of the easier sets of etudes that actually have thought-out musical meaning.

I hate to say it, but it looks like Czerny fits here.

Phil

Actually Scarlatti sonatas, Bach 2 & 3 voice inventions, Burgmuller (op. 100, op. 104, op. 109), Heller (several op.), Godard (op. 149) and Schumann (op. 68) fit much better (if musicality is what one is after), and they are much easier than Chopinīs (Heller actually prepares for them).

Have a look here also, for arguably the most complete list of exercises available in the forum:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11179.msg117263.html#msg117263
(Extensive list of technical exercises and studies)


Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[phil13]

Actually Scarlatti sonatas, Bach 2 & 3 voice inventions, Burgmuller (op. 100, op. 104, op. 109), Heller (several op.), Godard (op. 149) and Schumann (op. 68) fit much better (if musicality is what one is after), and they are much easier than Chopinīs (Heller actually prepares for them).

Have a look here also, for arguably the most complete list of exercises available in the forum:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11179.msg117263.html#msg117263
(Extensive list of technical exercises and studies)


Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Oh wow I completely forgot about Heller and Burgmuller!

 

Yeah, do Heller and then Chopin, with Burgmuller too if you wish (I don't like his works, but that's just me)

Phil

[chopinfan_22]

Hey, thanks, Bernhard. That list will prove very useful.

[bernhard]

You are welcome.