Chopin Etude (Revolutionary)

[arvhaax93]

I got a Chopin Etudes sheet music book for Christmas (both op 10 and 25) included, and I'm interested in learning one of them.  The easiest one I found to play was the Revolutionary Etude.  The left hand semiquavers I actually don't find that difficult.  I am able to play the first half of the first page.  How should I go about when learning this piece?  And is there anything I should point out before getting too far into it?  And is this a wise choice for my first Chopin Etude?

[invictious]

While there is no list that arranged the Chopin etudes in order of difficulty, I am sure many would agree that this is a good etude to start with (also consider 10/5, 10/8, 25/1).

The difficulty in the left hand really does not show up until you reach the middle of the second page, with all the half-steps. I know a piano teacher who said that the tempo of the piece will depend on how fluently you can play that section.

I can only offer generic advice. Take it slowly, relax, and really do take a few months to master it. This mainly pertains to your dynamics and phrasing. In a nutshell (perhaps someone else would expound on this), as your left hand goes up, your dyanmics increases, and vice versa.

Finally, when you feel you have mastered this etude, try beating Richter's speed record.

[gyzzzmo]

10/1 and 10/2 are good to start with too

[eminemvsrach]

Umm..... I wouldn't recommend Op. 10 Nos. 1,2 and 8 because they deal with really hard technical stuff. Number 8 is really uncomfortable to the hand playing on all white keys. I would recommend Op. 10 Nos. 5, 9, 11, Op. 25 Nos. 1, 2, 5

And of course, the slower ones are always recommended if you accept them....... 

[gyzzzmo]

Umm..... I wouldn't recommend Op. 10 Nos. 1,2 and 8 because they deal with really hard technical stuff. Number 8 is really uncomfortable to the hand playing on all white keys. I would recommend Op. 10 Nos. 5, 9, 11, Op. 25 Nos. 1, 2, 5

And of course, the slower ones are always recommended if you accept them....... 

A (good) etude is for increasing specifique technique.  The goal isnt to play something on insane speeds, so there is nothing wrong with starting to practise pieces like 10/1 and 10/2 because even at slow speed you'll start getting more control and strength in the 4th and 5th finger.

[prongated]

A (good) etude is for increasing specifique technique.  The goal isnt to play something on insane speeds, so there is nothing wrong with starting to practise pieces like 10/1 and 10/2 because even at slow speed you'll start getting more control and strength in the 4th and 5th finger.

O.o at first I thought ROFLMAO when you suggested 10/2 especially, but when you put it that way...

...anyway, personally I now find the Revolutionary one of the easiest of the more technically demanding Chopin etudes. I think how difficult it is depends on how well-developed your (LH) finger technique is - e.g. fluency, probably independence. Many people floor the pedal all the way in this piece, so a good challenge is to aim for a clear performance with articulate LH notes.