Starting Schubert Impromptu Op 90 no 4

[dynamobt]

This piece was the undoing of my lessons 13 years ago. I left the teacher not the teacher dismissing me. I had a good teacher too. But try as I might,I could not learn this piece. I tortured myself day after day week after week all one summer. I just could not do more than play notes at a very slow tempo. I become discouraged. I was disappointing myself and my teacher. And I abruptly stopped taking lessons.

Fast forward 12 years. I started lessons with a new teacher last summer. This is a community based program not a University level. It suits me better. I've tackled a number of Chopin Nocturnes, Schumann Arabesque, some Bach and Scarlatti, oh and some Beethoven Bagatelles in this first year. I'm ready for a new piece right about now. And I'm thinking of taking a stab at the Schubert again. I think I'm ready. But, don't know for sure until I try. This piece has hung over my head as a failure and I want, no, I need to change that. Maybe now is not the time. But, soon.

Do any of you have any good suggestions on how to approach this piece? I've started reading through it this evening, and I'm reading the music better. But, I know there will be road bumps again as I work through the music. Any advice appreciated!!!

[iansinclair]

Dear me.  It's been years since I first learned this, and I do love it.  It is still part of my routine.  In many ways it really isn't as hard as it either looks -- or sounds -- as it contains a lot of repetition.

As I recall, I initially approached the two end sections -- really of the form A1, A2, A1a -- with two different approaches: getting the right hand positions on the keyboard synchronized with the left, as block chords, and then as a separate part of the practicing, getting the cascading arpeggios -- with the same basic hand positions -- going absolutely evenly.  Then putting the arpeggios together with the left hand.  Then getting the thing up to speed.  The two hardest bits, in my experience, were getting the broken arpeggios absolutely even, and bringing out the melodic line (the top of the left hand) clearly and independently.

The B section is really much simpler, but I have two cautions on it: first, do not be tempted to skip the repeats.  Play them.  Not only do they give you the chance to run through each section twice, but that way you won't have lingering problems with the first endings.  Second, the hardest part of the B section is getting the top melody line to sing independently from the underlying chords.  Really pay attention to that from the start.

Enjoy!

[dynamobt]

Thank you for your reply, Ian.