Jeux D'eau Technical Advice

[chopianista]

Hi! I'm an undergraduate piano performance major studying at a public university and I'm working on Ravel's Jeux D'eau this semester. It is such a lovely piece and has made me learn so much thus far!
However I've encountered a difficulty that I can't seem to conquer. The section before the glissando - the two measures that are 4 vs 3 f are just not fitting well with my hands. I don't know why, my hands are rather large - I can easily stretch from C to E the octave above and sometimes F. But every time I practice that section my right hand just cramps up.
Is there a special technique and/or way to practice it that would make it easier to play? Anybody have any good tips? I really want that section to sound convincing.
Thanks!

[andreslr6]

Is the problem playing the rhythm 3v4? or just playing the notes on the right hand that create tension?

You may want to try playing 5-2-1-1 instead of 5-3-2-1 on the arpeggios where the 2 last notes are 2nds, for example on D-G-Eb-D, E#-A#-F#-E#, etc. The problem is that I don't feel that fingering *(5-2-1-1)very helpful when you play it fast, so instead I suggest you check your elbow position, try raising it a little bit more so that your hand position gets parallel to the keyboard, specially since it's on a high register, and think of a horizontal movement instead of a vertical. If you really have trouble with flexibility and reach then just release the 5th finger to play the last notes of each 4-note group.

It would be better if we could see you playing those problematic measures to see and hear what's exactly bothering you, upload a video of you playing that part . Also, ask your teacher, he/she will give you a better advice than anything you can find here since your teacher will be there with you .

*the problem isn't playing 1-1, but rather that you would have to be changing positions constantly, from 5-3-2-1 to 5-2-1-1, whereas in the other way you just play 5-3-2-1 always, a good way to practice that is in block chords.