beethoven pathetique first movement

[bjahdc]

Hi,
In the Beethoven pathetique sonata (first movement), I'm having trouble with the repeated c octaves in the left hand. My wrists stiffen and I find I'm not playing all the c's.  How should I be playing / practicing this?
Thanks!

[invictious]

You know, the good ol advice: Practice slowly with a metronome.
REMEMBER TO RELAX. Relax = speed

Use your forearm instead of your wrists. Can you reach the octave comformtably? Because if you can, it should make things much easier, simple rolloing left arm.

[nicco]

Remember to lift your fingers as little as possible when playing the tremolo, keep the hand and fingers very close to the keys and use only the absolute necessary movement.

[invictious]

Oh yes, for the sake of double posting, don't use pedal unncessarily.

In other words, use it only when your feel it's musically necessary.

[comma]

Perhaps it will help you to practice the required technique without a piano. Just bring your forearm in a horizontal position and keep your fingers as if you were holding a ball. Then start rotating your forearm from the thumb-side to the pinky-side and back without moving your fingers at all. That's the movement you have to learn.

When bringing it to the piano begin with a slow tempo (which doesn't mean you move slowly but you take enough time from one movement to the next). To play all the notes make sure you lift one side of your hand when you lower the other.

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https://www.pianistenschule.de

[bjahdc]

Thanks for the advice.
I will try rotating the forearm as opposed to the wrists.