Preparatory Pieces for Ballade No.1 by Chopin

[scherzo123]

Any good preparatory pieces for Chopin's first ballade?

[qpalqpal]

I heard (don't count on me, I am a total amateur) from somewhere that scherzo's are very good to both emotionally and techniquelly prepare you. I think i also heard that it takes a lot of pianistic maturity, and this might help. The scherzo your working on will do a lot I'm assuming.

[chopin2015]

I'd say what you are currently working on is good enough, but I do recommend sight reading some Chopin valses. Also, there is a part which is 5 over 6 , so practice cross rhythms. I like fantasie impromptu as a warmup piece because it is 3 over 2 cross rhythm(not the same, but a good exercise). I play this ballade and Presto section is sometimes hard to just pull out of the bag so Id say for anything of this sort, it is important to practice this section the most, because you will have to make a big impact here(goes for any section that is difficult and needs to be super clean). Some people even say, start with this part so you are ready when it is time to put it all together and have it performance ready, sooner.  Im still having trouble fingering the ascending scales on the last page, teacher will not address this with me until i finish my etudes. So I do suggest finishing those before you get to memorizing the ballade. It is stressful to just add and add pieces you want to perform because you will need to memorize. You don't want to have a million unfinished pieces. Hope this helps! I can make videos of the ballade if you need help in the future. Hey, don't you have the second ballade memorized? 

[scherzo123]

It is stressful to just add and add pieces you want to perform because you will need to memorize. You don't want to have a million unfinished pieces. Hope this helps! I can make videos of the ballade if you need help in the future. Hey, don't you have the second ballade memorized? 

SECOND BALLADE !!!?? I don't know any ballades by Chopin! By the way, memorizing is natural and a breeze for me  . Thanks for advice, though.

P.S. Fantasie-Impromptu was already on my repertoire and is my warm-up  .