Piano Forum

Funny that this post should appear just now when I'm deep into this etude!  Good question.  I sort of have "natural" octaves - no fingerwork, just octaves  - but this etude is a female dog.  I was despairing because I could barely get it up to 69=half note and I was sure it was 80.  Very relieved when I saw it was "only" 72.  You have to start in little phrases and work them up to speed.  Then add on.  I'm now up to 4 measures.  Also, work musically!  Look where the direction of the line is going and aim for the apex and relax as you go down.  Stop after each section, let your hands drop and shake them a bit.  Work hands separately and as you work one hand, let the other hand hang limp by your side.  Get both hands by memory up to speed.  And do lots of "slow motion" work.  Slwo with expression.  Do you find that the octaves after the slow section come like a breeze and even faster?  I think that's because your hands are well rested.  The hardest measures for me are 17-19.