Chopin Prelude op.28 no.8

[gandharba]

Hi there
After a while I seem to have the notes together on this one.
It's not easy to stay relaxed though. Especially in the final bars, the right hand is very repetitive and I find my hand cramping up.
Also, when I use the indicated pedal it gets very loud and it just sounds messy.

Any tips on keeping things quiet and relaxed?

Thanks
Gandharba

[practice]

This is my favorite prelude. But I'm too noob to play it haha. Sorry I can't be of any help.

[go12_3]

Whenever you feel your hand cramp up, which should happen at all, just stop playing and shake your hands, then open and close your hands, like a fist, a few times. This will ease the cramping.  However, you need to relax through your forearm, wrists and fingertips in order for the hand not to cramp.  You have to be relaxed mentally in order to play this piece.  Keep hands quiet by not using too much arm and wrist.  Slow down while you practice is a good way to keep relaxed.  No need to rush through this piece until you feel no cramps in your hands.  The pedaling should be used carefully.  Not all the way down.  Listen to  the notes as you pedal and lift it up whenever the notes sounds messy.  Keep working on it and you will do fine. 

best wishes.

go12_3

[gandharba]

Hi
I always play just after a stressful day at work and too many coffees so it just goes straight into the music I'm sure.
I don't think I'll stop playing after work, (I need it), but certainly I could work on relaxing / relax on relaxing, some more.
Thanks for advice

[go12_3]

Hi
I always play just after a stressful day at work and too many coffees so it just goes straight into the music I'm sure.
I don't think I'll stop playing after work, (I need it), but certainly I could work on relaxing / relax on relaxing, some more.
Thanks for advice

You are welcome   

[ramseytheii]

I think you should remember to rotate the right hand towards the thumb; stroke lightly the small notes, don't play down but stroke out; and be loose in the shoulder, so the elbow can move in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction depending on where you have to move in the music.

I would practice this first with just the notes played by the thumb, trying to achieve a complete legato melody.  Then you can practice putting the thumb notes simultaneously with their octaves on the pinky; then adding the other notes while still playing octaves; then breaking it up as written.

One just has to be creative.  I know a pianist who refuses to play the prelude or etudes in concerts, because he says, you practice for hours on hours, and then it lasts two seconds on stage.  It is just going to take a lot of work.  Don't expect any of these preludes to come easily.

Walter Ramsey