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Topic: order of studying Chopin?  (Read 10063 times)

Offline onwan

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order of studying Chopin?
on: December 20, 2012, 12:34:38 AM
I'd like to know the best way how to learn Chopin works. I want to know the order of pieces from my level till Ballads level and how to learn it chromatically. I want the shortest way (The opposite is: You have to play all preludes, mazurkas, nocturnes and waltzes...) but not to much difficult (I mean: start with prelude no 4 after that revolutionary etude and after that the ballade).
Bach-Prelude and Fugue 2
Mozart-Sonata 545
Schubert-Klavierstucke D946 - 1, 2
Chopin-Etude 10/9, 25/12
Liszt-Un Sospiro
Rachmaninoff-Prelude 23/5, 3/2

Offline andreslr6

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Re: order of studying Chopin?
Reply #1 on: December 20, 2012, 01:09:45 AM
You can start with the preludes, which are like mini etudes. Start with 4, 2 slow ones and 2 fast, 4 of the easiest. I recommend you play between 6 and 12 at least, before leaving them. It´s good if you also play, let´s say, 2 preludes and one etude, depending on your skill and previous repertoire.

Have you studied etudes from another composer?

My teacher, and the majority I know, start by putting us etudes from Czerny, then Moszkowski and then Chopin, that is if you´re already at an intermediate level. I recommend learning a few from Czerny´s op.740 and Moszkowski op.72 at the same time you´re learning some of the preludes, and maybe 1 easy from Chopin, like the Fminor from his op.25, again, depending on your skill and level.

If you can specify what have you played you can get a far more narrowed down answer.

Offline thesuineg

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Re: order of studying Chopin?
Reply #2 on: December 20, 2012, 01:46:32 AM
You've gotta trust me on this one.
Waltz no.14 op.posth. e minor
Nocturne no.3 b major
Revolutionary
Ballade no.3


well i actually started with the ballade, but i wouldn't play the ballade in your case unless your technique is way above the level, because to reveal the structure of almost every ballade except the 2nd is horribly challenging.

Offline j_menz

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Re: order of studying Chopin?
Reply #3 on: December 20, 2012, 02:22:24 AM
You've gotta trust me on this one.

I'll pass on that, thanks.

OP: The Chopin you are doing is good for the moment. I'm assuming you have a teacher, who will guide you where to go next.

The quickest path, however, is not always the shortest. More Nocturnes, Polonaises, Waltzes and Etudes, then mauybe a Scherzo and/or Sonata will get you there in good time.  Trying to rush is only likely to lead to dosappointment, or, worse, injury.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline thesuineg

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Re: order of studying Chopin?
Reply #4 on: December 20, 2012, 02:54:57 AM


I'll pass on that, thanks.

OP: The Chopin you are doing is good for the moment. I'm assuming you have a teacher, who will guide you where to go next.

The quickest path, however, is not always the shortest. More Nocturnes, Polonaises, Waltzes and Etudes, then mauybe a Scherzo and/or Sonata will get you there in good time.  Trying to rush is only likely to lead to dosappointment, or, worse, injury.
lol as if chopin is like czerny or something and you gotta learn the "excercises in order. plzz.....all you need is one waltz one nocturne an easy etude and an easy ballade."

Offline danhuyle

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Re: order of studying Chopin?
Reply #5 on: December 20, 2012, 04:31:41 AM
In no particular order

Very first Chopin piece I played was Prelude in A major.

Waltz in A minor Op34 No2
A minor waltz (without the Opus)
Waltz Op64 No2

Nocturne Op9 No2
Nocturne in E minor Op72
Nocturne in F minor Op55 No1

Mazurka in F major (one of the easier Mazurka)

They're the easier Chopin pieces.



Perfection itself is imperfection.

Currently practicing
Albeniz Triana
Scriabin Fantaisie Op28
Scriabin All Etudes Op8

Offline blazekenny

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Re: order of studying Chopin?
Reply #6 on: December 20, 2012, 08:20:52 AM
In my opinion, Chopin stops being fun after you have played his Cantabile.
Chopin´s music is always something special. It cant stand any relaxing during the piece. You need to be very precise on what Chopin wrote in the sheets.
Many believe that waltzes and mazurkas are the easiest of Chopin. Yet Chopin´s dance forms tend to be the hardest, because of the ratio of rubato to the rytmical metrum.
My teacher always gave the students a Chopin piece like the f minor nocturne. She knew they wouldnt play it well, but they would be happy that they have Chopin.

Offline brogers70

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Re: order of studying Chopin?
Reply #7 on: December 20, 2012, 04:34:39 PM
Here, in the Temple of Chopin, I often feel like an atheist at Midnight Mass.
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