What are some good etudes to start with?

[miamlevy]

I have to choose an etude for my Advanced Level MTAC Certificate of Merit evaluations... This will be my first etude.

I have tragically small hands, but I can play slow octaves. I like Scriabin Op. 2 No. 1, but it might not be enough of a challenge for me.

Any ideas? And would Chopin Op. 10 No. 12 (revolutionary) be to difficult? I sightread it today and it didn't seem too hard, but I want something I can really master.

[scherzo123]

Hello miamlevy. For your hands, the Revolutionary etude is still very playable (I think). There are just some tricky right hand jumps on the octaves. Even if you can't play the piece, there are other fascinating etudes I would recommmend:

Etude Op. 10 No. 6 (a slow piece that fits the hand)

Etude Op. 25 No. 2 (a fast piece that focuses on right-hand technique and polyrhythms that fits the hand)

Etude Op. 25 No. 7 ( insanely beautiful piece that focuses on controlling the left-hand melodies)

Etude Op. 25 No. 12 ( fast arpeggios that are basically BROKEN octaves)

I wouldn't start on Scriabin etudes just yet because it has VERY VERY tricky fingerings and lots of chords that span up to twelfths!

I have one question for you, miamlevy, can you reach and play slow octaves comfortably?

[49410enrique]

have a look at both sets of the Hummel etudes.

i think the Hummel etudes are brilliant and quite beautiful, though they are seldom played (they also are thought to have influenced Chopin (and others) in his composing of the famous op 10 and 25...)

maybe Op 125 No 16 in f#- ? if only specifically for the reason that you state you struggle with octaves, this could help you quite a bit without it being over the top difficult.

i wish i had the whole set my score is somewhat incomplete but luckily i had this one and we actually get a really good recording of it from the 2011 Hummel compeition.

score. i split my file to include just this etude, the whole set is rather large adn i think over the size limit for an attachement to a response.

[asuhayda]

Hey!

I think you're on the right track with the Revolutionary.. that's always a good one to start with.  The other one that is pretty common to start with is Op.10 No.3 in E major.  It is a beautiful piece.  The only thing is, you might have a problem playing it if you're hands are too small.  I'm not sure.  I don't have particularly large hands either, but I was able to play No.3. So, don't let your hands scare you away too much.  You are probably going to be the best judge of that.

I really think that all of Chopin's Etudes are extremely difficult in one way or another.  Some are harder than others, but to play even one of them with skill is an accomplishment.

Good luck to you and I hope this helps!

[scherzo123]

The only thing is, you might have a problem playing it if you're hands are too small.  I'm not sure.  I don't have particularly large hands either, but I was able to play No.3. So, don't let your hands scare you away too much.  You are probably going to be the best judge of that.

About that, how do you tackle all those sixths in measures 46-53? Do you still have to curve your fingers a lot?

[asuhayda]

@scherzo -

Hey!  Good question. That passage is killer!

The best way to make up the distance in those 6th reaches is to use your arms (swing them outward to inward).  Gotta relax everything.  Another thing to do is practice in different rhythms.  Other than that, standard slow practice will get you there..

Haha.. my teacher used to tell me to sing "fall-ing fall-ing fall-ing fall-ing fall-ing...." while I played it   

... it's sounds crazy, but it helped.

As for curved fingers, it's always good to keep a curved shape to your hands, but look at Horowitz.. he played with really flat hands and he was AWESOME!  So, it can be done without focusing all of your attention on keeping your fingers curved.

Anyway, best of luck to you and I really hope this helps you out! Let me know how it goes.

~Adam

[scherzo123]

@scherzo -

Hey!  Good question. That passage is killer!

The best way to make up the distance in those 6th reaches is to use your arms (swing them outward to inward).  Gotta relax everything.  Another thing to do is practice in different rhythms.  Other than that, standard slow practice will get you there..

Haha.. my teacher used to tell me to sing "fall-ing fall-ing fall-ing fall-ing fall-ing...." while I played it   

... it's sounds crazy, but it helped.

As for curved fingers, it's always good to keep a curved shape to your hands, but look at Horowitz.. he played with really flat hands and he was AWESOME!  So, it can be done without focusing all of your attention on keeping your fingers curved.

Anyway, best of luck to you and I really hope this helps you out! Let me know how it goes.

~Adam

Hi asuhayda. Thanks for the tips, relaxing everything works out great for me!

[miamlevy]

Thank you for the suggestions! I have started working on chopin op 25 no 2. Its very pretty but the polyrhythms are definitely a challenge. I am also practicing revolutionary, to balance out my hands if that makes any sense!!

Any thoughts on scriabins etudes? Are there any that are doable but still pose a challenge?

[scherzo123]

Thank you for the suggestions! I have started working on chopin op 25 no 2. Its very pretty but the polyrhythms are definitely a challenge. I am also practicing revolutionary, to balance out my hands if that makes any sense!!

Any thoughts on scriabins etudes? Are there any that are doable but still pose a challenge?

As I said, Scriabin's etudes consists of very awkward fingering and huge chords. But if you are really motivated to learn a Scriabin etude, the Op.8 No.12 and Op.42 No.5 sound epic.

[miamlevy]

Chopin Op 10 No 3 is beautiful, but I might not be able to play it under 5 minutes (time limit for etudes for Certificate of Merit evaluations) 

Wow! I have never heard the Hummel etudes. They are beautiful! op 125 no 16 seems challenging but very fun.

Yes, Scriabin etudes are very difficult  I love Scriabin so much though. Maybe for next year, if my hands grow?? I also LOVE Chopin op 25 no 5, but it is really not a realistic piece for me to play right now.

At least now I have some etudes I plan on playing sometime before I die!

[49410enrique]

...

Wow! I have never heard the Hummel etudes. They are beautiful! op 125 no 16 seems challenging but very fun.
...

they are challenging yes, but in a much different way than the later romantic takes on the genre.

he was a student of Mozart and withought writing a book on how Mozart is difficult, if you've ever struggled to really make one of his sonatas shine or with an Haydn or Beethoven, then you know about the control and elegence needed to make these pieces effective. as such these etudes go a long way to making the pianist more capable of managing these difficulties.

he was a pupil of mozart and a contemporary of beethoven and was probably considered the or one of the greatest pianist/virtuosos of his day (though now he is more remembered for his chamber and concerto [non piano] works).

Hummel has been often maligned as lacking inventiveness or creative imagination, he was renowned as the great pianist of the late classical period. His 24 Etudes, Op. 125, are a summation of the classical piano writing, and demonstrate a variety and delicacy that is charming. They make a perfect technical complement for students working on Mozart piano concerti, Haydn piano sonatas, and/or early Beethoven piano works. These are forgotten treasures which are useful in mastering classical piano writing (quoted someone else here)

i'm glad you liked it, i think they are a great stepping to stone to start with (that sadly most everyone skips)

[danhuyle]

Czerny Study Op299 No22 - repeated notes. If it weren't for this study, I wouldn't be able to to play the repeated notes part of La Campanella and some other pieces that require this particular technique.

Liszt Etude Op1 No4 (The cocoon of Mazeppa) - study in 3rd. It's child's play compared to Mazeppa.

I was going to say, you have a better chance of completing Scriabin's 12 etudes op8 than one set of Chopin's etudes.

Scriabin etudes - Op8 no8, 11. They're the slow ones. Op8 No12 is fantastic and was the 1st Scriabin etude I learned.

Chopin Etude Op10 No9 - a stretch of the left hand, and the 1st Chopin etude I learned on my own.