Chopin Ballade #3 Technical Hurdles

[celegorma]

I have been playing this for a year now. The only problem left is the virtuosic passages in the c# minor section between bars 173 and 183. The issue is, I can play from bars 173 to 177, or bars 177 to 183 with no problem on their own, but when I combine them I always run out of energy in my right hand towards the end and I wasn't able to hit the keys properly. Does anyone have any suggestions to how to overcome this?

[scherzo123]

I think this should go to the Student's Corner.

[kitty on the keys]

Ahhhhhh the c# minor section.....a great challange!

LH melody    makes sure that fingering is rock solid! Practice phrase by phrase then link them together

RH       you MUST keep the arms--shoulders----back relaxed! keep the thumb as light as possible or you will get slower and tense up the hand. Use lots of rotation. Dont try to play f  or ff as you learn this section. Know the harmonic progreassion and play it that way. Use different rhythms and articulations.....with and w/o pedal. Please BREATHE!!!! if you dont you will never have the stamina to get through this part.

Some hints:    On the first page.......take the octave passge with 2 hands.....it's ok

                      On the last page.......take the last passage....broken chord with 2 hands

Remember, try not to force that c# minor section.....if you do.....you will not have the stamina to play thru it. Its a great piece.....lots of work...but a joy to play!

Kittty on the Keys

[werq34ac]

Ahh I remember when I had issues with the C#m climax. I used to tense up a lot getting to the end. I mean I could get to the end fairly cleanly although my forearms were dying. Now, I have no tension 

I sort of throw my hands at the keys. It somehow helps that I don't worry about hitting the right notes, and I hit pretty much the same amount of right notes whether I worry about it or not. Wrist rotation is right, but not lots of it. You don't need a lot of wrist rotation to play notes with it.

I think you should have the same feeling (physically, not emotionally) as the section leading up to the climax when you play the climax. Think ease of motion.

I find that my arm make a circle going up and down the keys. It might help, but I do it naturally so I wouldn't recommend doing it unnaturally. The circle probably helps me group the passage into gestures rather than individual chords. I've heard that the more notes you can get into one gesture (whilst maintaining rhythmic integrity of course) the better.


And remember the passage is allegretto not quasi presto and accelerando to prestissimo like a lot of people seem to want to play.

[azanbbs]

I will not play music, but I like to enjoy, and good luck