Which Beethoven's Sonata and Chopin Etude should I choose?

[draganpower]

So I am preparing for my ARCT piano Performer exam in couple years (currently in university and stretching it out longer). Wanted to play Mozart K331, K333, or K457 but my piano teacher doesn't really like Mozart so I was thinking between these Beethoven's sonatas:

Op 2 no 3
Op 10 no 2
Op 10 no 3
op 31 no 2
Op 26
op 78
op 90

Leaning toward the last three (my piano teacher really likes the tempest and says it really suits my style) however I would be happy learning any of them, I do like 26's variation and Maestoso (third movement) or op 78. Would like any suggestions of difficulty for anyone who has tackled any of these pieces and compare them and take my small hands into consideration, can barely reach 9 notes (sad... I know)

Also I want to learn a Chopin etude. No to Revolutionary and no to black keys. Anything else is fair game. I was thinking

op 10 no 3 - Tristesse - ya ya I know dangerous territory, however there is a reason its overplayed
op 10 no 2 - chromaticism is my strong suit, however not my fav piece
op 10 no 4 - Really fun piece
op 10 no 7 - Also fun
op 10 no 10 - sounds fun too haha

op 25 no 9 - Butterfly - yet again an overplayed piece but love it
op 25 no 1 - Aeolian Harp - such a gorgeous piece.

Nothing really arpeggio like (one of my major weaknesses, working on it) my favourite Chopin Etude is op 10 no 1 however there is no way I could play that piece.

I Would like your guys's opinion and really appreciate you could help me

[draganpower]

1

[piano_nurse]

You may hate my advice, but I always go with the mindset of conquering ones weaknesses. With that in mind, my suggestions, based on my current knowledge of repertoire, are the Op 31 No 2 sonata, and the Op 25 No 1 étude. The sonatas movements all incorporate arpeggios in some form or another, and the étude is focused on arpeggios, and ends with them in both hands.

[quantum]

Any of the Beethoven on your short list looks good to me. 

With regard to the etude keep in mind the purpose of learning it.  If it is for the ARCT exam, choose the one you can play most convincingly.  There is a difference between learning a piece for the purposes of improving technique and choosing a piece for an adjudicated performance.  Generally for an exam you would want to show your strengths, and stay away from pieces that are too challenging for your current abilities.  Actually this would extend to your choice of the Beethoven as well.  The goal of the exam is to achieve the mark.

By all means it is good to set yourself a challenge piece, one that pushes you to that next level.  However, playing such a piece for an exam may not be the best idea. 

[j_menz]

By all means it is good to set yourself a challenge piece, one that pushes you to that next level.  However, playing such a piece for an exam may not be the best idea. 

Agreed. For an exam, pick pieces that play to your personal strengths.

That doesn't stop you from trying pieces that help your weaknesses on the side.

Also, have you considered Clementi instead of Beethoven.

[draganpower]

Sorry for the late reply. I did and my piano teacher does not like that piece so I opted out of it and I have chosen Beethoven's Opus 90. I really like this piece and I think it will strengthen my fingers since I haven't played piano in ages.

[chopin2015]

Listen to horowitz play chopin 10.4 omgggg it's sooo brutal!

[jgendron]

Hey !
The op.90 is a really good choice.
For the Chopin, I would recommand op.10 no.4 or op.10 no.10. This one in sixths is just so fun to play and to learn. It is sometimes challenging but not as much as 10-4. I remember having a hard time with the left hand sometimes in 10-4 because I don't have outrageous large hands. It may be a handicap to fast execution. 10-10 is a better choice I would say. And in a Major key (different from Beethoven's op.90.)

Good luck and keep us informed of your final decision on the repertoire

[4greatkeyboards]

Concentrate on the Chopin Etudes. V. Horowitz: "Beethoven did not know the piano as well as Chopin."

It is not for you to entertain us with them. It is for you to learn from them. Forget 'overplayed'. Yeah, we have all heard them. That's not why Chopin wrote them. They are there for you to help make you into a Lion of the piano.

[j_menz]

V. Horowitz: "Beethoven did not know the piano as well as Chopin."

Do you have a source for that?

Frankly, if Horowitz did say that, he must have been on crack at the time.

[ajspiano]

Do you have a source for that?

Poster has been busted likely misquoting horowitz without citation once already..

[chopin2015]

Do you have a source for that?

Frankly, if Horowitz did say that, he must have been on crack at the time.

Lol we want the old horowitz back!

[thepianist09]

Although it is not on your list you should try first of all the Pathetique Sonata 1st Mvt.

After that do the Op.90, it is fantastic.

On the matter of Chopin Etude have you considered Etude in G Sharp Minor - Op.25 no.2? This is beautiful and not particularly tricky, try and listen to a recording of Daniel Barenboim playing it if you can.

You could do the Butterfly Etude but it is really a piece to show off, you should try Op.10 no.3, it is not that dangerous if you put your mind to it.

If I can ask, why not the Revolutionary Etude?

[chopianologue]

You should try Pathetique.

op.10 etudes which your selected are too time-taker pieces, except tritesse.
op.25 etudes, i admit no.1. Butterfly is also a gorgeous piece, very peaceful and funny. But some places don't accept this masterpiece because its length.

[draganpower]

I have played the pathetique already for my grade 10 exam. I want to learn something new. I already started on opus 90 and I absolutely love it. Also, the pathetique is a tough one to play in the ARCT exam because everyone seems to choose it. I know an ARCT examiner and he says he is so sick of listening to the that piece. If you do not play it the way the examiner wants it, it could effect your mark. It is also nice for me to learn a new piece.

I do not like the piece opus 10 no 12. I do not like the revolutionary etude that is why I said no to it. haha. Not because it is too difficult but I do not like it.

under the syllabus any etude from opus 10 and 25 are doable for the ARCT examination so I have free reign to choose which ones I want. Right now I am leaning towards the butterly and my teacher says I should start with opus 10 no 9 because it is my style and probably learn in it in a half a month or a month....WE will see.

[drew98]

For Beethoven, I'd go with Op. 10 No. 3. One of my favorite Beethoven sonatas!

For Chopin, I'd go with Op. 10 No 8 (Not on your list but is a fun piece. Very technical but a good etude.) If your strengths are in descending chromatics, by all means choose Op. 10 No. 2. Op. 25 No. 10, 11 and 12 are all good ones. Note that Op. 25/12 is not the Revolutionary (Op. 10 No 12)

Best of luck!