Etude-Tableau Op. 39, No. 5

[shatteringpulse]

How does one overcome the odd rythm (duple/triple) on the opening pages of the op. 39, No. 5 Rachmaninoff etude? I've always had a little difficulty with this technical skill in a lot of pieces, but was able to overcome it--but it's rather frustrating in this piece with the chord layers. I've played others of his etudes, but I've avoided this one because of this problem. Any practice suggestions?

[liszmaninopin]

Perhaps trying to do it slowly, really concentrating on the rythm.  Get to the point that you can really feel the pulse of this piece, if you will, as that seems really critical to express it properly in my opinion.  Once you can do that, speed it up, being careful to maintain and slowly build the energy of it with the constant rythm.

[robert_henry]

Step one: Be able to pat your legs with this Rhythm.

Step Two:  Once you have mastered Step one, pick two simple chords (like a C major triad in both hands, an octave apart) and play two against three.

Step Three:  Learn the Chopin Etude in Ab major, Opus Posthumous (one of the Trios Nouvelles Etudes)

Step Four:  Play Godowsky's transciption of this etude which is 2 against 3 against 4 against 5.  Actually, nevermind this step.  

I did the first three steps with an intermediate student of mine this semester, and she got all three things within two weeks.  But if you can't tap it, don't expect to be able to play it.  Tap first.

Robert Henry