2013 Resolution: Clair de Lune, and maybe Chopin Scherzo 3?

[matthew from florida]

I’m pretty sure I’ve picked out my major goals for 2013, Clair de Lune should be pretty easy and I’ve found plenty of free advice online.

Chopin’s Scherzo No. 3 (Opus 39), not so much. This would be by far the hardest piece I’ve attempted to take on. But I really think it’s possible, even if it takes all year or longer. Does anyone have any advice for this Scherzo? I don’t have a piano teacher so I’m on my own, and there’s no online tutorials I have seen.

A few of the left hand chords are impossibly large and I assume I will have to drop the bottom note.

To sort of get my feet wet I picked out a few measures in several places and that’s going well enough- the octave section seems easy- but I’m finding the "downward flutter of notes" (arpeggios?) are going slow and the one section with the "upward flutter" is even harder. Maybe I haven’t given them enough time yet.

Also I’ve been listening a lot to Yundi Li’s performance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-RaSlyZo1o), definitely my favorite interpretation. If your favorite is different please share.

[alfrunner440]

Hi,

I can probably answer your question, but without knowing how many years you are playing the piano, and if you played any other instrument prior to the piano, it is difficult to really answer the question. Just, as important, how old are you and how much time do you have to spend practicing?

[matthew from florida]

Hi,

I can probably answer your question, but without knowing how many years you are playing the piano, and if you played any other instrument prior to the piano, it is difficult to really answer the question. Just, as important, how old are you and how much time do you have to spend practicing?

I started playing at 17, and am almost 23 now. I have plenty of time to practice, hours per day if needed. BTW, piano is my only instrument.

In case knowing my repertoire would help, the most important pieces it includes are Chopin Etudes Op. 10 Nos. 1 and 12, and Prelude Op. 28 no. 20, piano reduction of Beethoven’s 4th piano concerto (2nd movement only) and his Moonlight Sonata, to name a few, and a few Bach and Mozart pieces.

This Scherzo probably seems out of place but I can’t stop playing what I’ve already learned… so, I’m committed to giving it my best try.