Chopin Etudes progression

[aewanko]

I recently bought a book of Chopin's Etudes. And I'm wondering where to start. Something slow? Fast? I don't know. If I can't play these, then it would be a waste of $9.

Sheet music is rare here in our country. Very lame, no Liszt, Schubert, etc.

[dan101]

All Chopin studies have built in difficulties. After all, they were written for students building technique.

I would start with the slower op. 10. no 3 or op. 25 no. 1. Do a lot of slow practice. Have fun.

[aewanko]

All Chopin studies have built in difficulties. After all, they were written for students building technique.

I would start with the slower op. 10. no 3 or op. 25 no. 1. Do a lot of slow practice. Have fun.

I'll go with the "Aeolian Harp" and see how it goes. Maybe a "seperate hands" practice.

[michel dvorsky]

Start with the easiest ones (i.e., 10/2, 25/6, 10/4) then once you've mastered those you can start some of the harder ones.

[aewanko]

Start with the easiest ones (i.e., 10/2, 25/6, 10/4) then once you've mastered those you can start some of the harder ones.

Any tips for the speed of these? Besides, I can't really practice, you know. My piano only has 61 keys.

[michel dvorsky]

Any tips for the speed of these? Besides, I can't really practice, you know. My piano only has 61 keys.

LOL.

[pmz310]

Start with the easiest ones (i.e., 10/2, 25/6, 10/4) then once you've mastered those you can start some of the harder ones.

yo, are you mentally retarded? these are the HARDEST

[michel dvorsky]

yo, are you mentally retarded? these are the HARDEST

O OK THX.. I didn't no dat. respect 4 da correxxion.

[pmz310]

its all good bro

[aewanko]

i can't do this anymore!

[gregh87]

I think the Black Key Etude (10.5?) and Revolutionary are easier than they sound, and they are more fun to play than 10.3 and 25.1 imo.

[mike_lang]

Why not just play the one that sounds the most appealing to you?

[a-sharp]

  (the thread in general, not the post above. sorry - short attention span today.)

[aewanko]

Why not just play the one that sounds the most appealing to you?

As I said, my keyboard only has 61 keys. And my favorite is the "Winter Wind" etude.

I think the Black Key Etude (10.5?) and Revolutionary are easier than they sound, and they are more fun to play than 10.3 and 25.1 imo.

Again, keyboard issues.

See? If only I had an 88-keyed piano, I'd do these etudes with ease (exaggeration).

[mike_lang]

As I said, my keyboard only has 61 keys. And my favorite is the "Winter Wind" etude.

I understand - so find the one that is closest to that range.  The most important criteria are that you like it and are therefore motivated to practice it, and that you can play it on your instrument.

[ahkow]

op.10 no.2 one octave lower probably works?

[Nightscape]

These pieces are not to be taken lightly - if I were you I wouldn't learn any of them until you have mastered all of the basics and intermediates of playing the piano.  To play these etudes well advances you into a higher realm of piano playing.

It's just my opinion, but I think they should be learned in order, at least within the individual sets.  This might seem strange, seeing how difficult op. 10 no.1 is, but if you have tackled that etude and learned it well, the next etude seems like a logical step - and has become much easier now that you will have learned control of the weaker part of the hand.  These etudes were a radical reworking of piano technique that Chopin sought, and by learning them seriously in this manner you can realize his vision for yourself.  But only when you are ready to (and of course, only when you have access to a full length piano!  But sometimes there is nothing we can do about this.)

However, if you are interested in the etudes not for their didactic value, but for their intrinsic beauty (ideally, you would be interested in both!), the easier etudes to learn and play just for fun are the ones they don't require as much tricky technical demands.  op. 10 no. 3 (although the middle section is not easy at all), op.10 no. 6, op. 25 no. 7.  op.25 no.1 isn't too bad either, but it is really difficult to get it to sound as it really should, as intermediate pianists tend to butcher it.

But, if you don't feel confident to play them, there is no rush to!  They will always be there, tempting pianists....