Which parts to practice first?

[beebert]

Okay, so I am working on the first movement of pathetique. I have heard people say that the biggest technical difficulty about this piece is the tremolos in the left hand. For me though, they don't seem to be that much of a problem, it's more the right hand jumps and scales on the first page of the allegro part that I seem to have most problem with... I wonder, is the piece going to get any harder then it is at the first page after the grave, or is it pretty much the same? And do you have any tips on how to manage those jumps in the right hand?

Thanks

[j_menz]

From memory, it doesn't get any much harder. If you play through to the first recap of the Grave you will have done pretty much all the challenges. There are a few added ones to what you've done already, but nothing too spectacular. Depends on your strengths.

The right hand jumps just require (quite a bit) of accurate (if slow) practice.

[jtguru]

I wonder, is the piece going to get any harder then it is at the first page after the grave, or is it pretty much the same?

Don't just wonder; look for yourself! When learning a relatively long piece, you should look through the whole thing before starting, and determine where the most difficult (for you) parts lie. And then start by learning those most difficult parts first.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I just learned it from beginning to end. 

I agree with you though, the tremolos weren't that difficult.  The hard part for me was the jumping crossovers with the right hand.  But that wasn't THAT difficult either.  I haven't started the third movement yet but I think that would be the the most difficult movement 

If anything is giving you difficulty, just play it slowly and you'll be fine!