Liszt études d'exécution transcendante 1

[reelypiano]

Heya!

Practicing the first of Liszts Transcendental études. It's going quite well but I'm having a hard time with the arpeggios at the end (I use 1-2-4-5-1-2-5 fingering) It's getting better of course, but could anyone who has any experience with this piece suggest any practice methods on this part? The rest is coming together. Somehow.

Thanks!
V

[mike_lang]

Heya!

Practicing the first of Liszts Transcendental études. It's going quite well but I'm having a hard time with the arpeggios at the end (I use 1-2-4-5-1-2-5 fingering) It's getting better of course, but could anyone who has any experience with this piece suggest any practice methods on this part? The rest is coming together. Somehow.

Thanks!
V

Hi "V,"

Would you mind posting a short video of what you are doing in that ending segment?  I think it might be easier to see what is going well vs. not so well in your keyboard choreography.

Are you familiar with the concept of blocking?  This is a good first step in eliminating unnecessary movements. 

Also, I would make sure that you are not over-holding and of the notes in the arpeggio (let the pedal make the legato in this case).  To find this out, put your right foot under the pedal (to make sure that you don't unconsciously depress it) and play the passage completely without it.  Your wrist should help to create an even distribution of weight in the notes so that you can create his written dynamics.

One last suggestion: forget about the fortississimo in the third-to-last bar, for now.  You don't want to end up forcing sound while acquiring this new gesture.

Like I said, though, seeing a video of you practicing this passage would be the most helpful :-)

All best,
Mike