VIDEO: Chopin Waltz op.18 no.1

[rachmanny]

This is my humble first rendition of the Chopin Waltz op.18. After the performance I was extremely dissappointed in myself for 2 weeks, but I have finally come to terms with it and want to hear some feedback. I will continue the description as is on youtube (Just for the sake of not typing it again):

This is my first performance of this piece and I must say, it was not easy. My hands felt extremely tired that day and I didn't play it half as clear and neat as I usually can. It might have been because I overpracticed on the day of the concert, mixed with anxiety, nervousness etc, it made me less successful with the piece. After this concert, I rested for 2 days and played the piece again, it was flawless. This is a lesson that I learned as a musician, one must save energy for the performance and be very careful with practicing too much on the same day. I will post this piece again, and I am positive it will be even better.

With this said, I have had the most dispersed piano education, studying for only a few months at a time under different teachers throughout my whole life. Now I am feeling progress as I am having frequent classes under a dedicated teacher (and guide). So all in all, even with this performance, I know I have improved. Please leave comments if you have found your hands tired for a concert, I would love to hear different approaches to this.

Video:

(Update): A more recent performance of the Waltz. I believe it is slightly improved:

[awesom_o]

This is one of the most technically demanding of the waltzes. There are many positive things in your playing. Overall, however, it was a bit uncontrolled. I think you would have been better off choosing a tempo that was slightly more modest and in line with your technical abilities.

Additionally, you use the sustain pedal incorrectly quite a bit. Do you ever practice the entire piece without touching the pedal at all? I highly recommend you do this. It will really illuminate the true level of knowledge that you have of this musical work.

You are absolutely correct about saving energy for the performance on the day of!

The more powerfully developed your hands are, the less easily they will tire.
Here is an example of how a pianist with powerfully developed hands and good understanding of correct pedal technique plays this work:

You too will develop such brilliance of touch and style, if you practice it correctly, i.e. with your eyes on the music in front of you and your foot flat on the floor, without touching the pedal.

Best of luck! Remember, this is an immensely challenging work that only the finest of virtuoso pianists can render convincingly! Just because many children play it does NOT mean that it is child's play!

[rachmanny]

This is one of the most technically demanding of the waltzes. There are many positive things in your playing. Overall, however, it was a bit uncontrolled. I think you would have been better off choosing a tempo that was slightly more modest and in line with your technical abilities.

Additionally, you use the sustain pedal incorrectly quite a bit. Do you ever practice the entire piece without touching the pedal at all? I highly recommend you do this. It will really illuminate the true level of knowledge that you have of this musical work.

You are absolutely correct about saving energy for the performance on the day of!

The more powerfully developed your hands are, the less easily they will tire.
Here is an example of how a pianist with powerfully developed hands and good understanding of correct pedal technique plays this work:

You too will develop such brilliance of touch and style, if you practice it correctly, i.e. with your eyes on the music in front of you and your foot flat on the floor, without touching the pedal.

Best of luck! Remember, this is an immensely challenging work that only the finest of virtuoso pianists can render convincingly! Just because many children play it does NOT mean that it is child's play!

Thanks a lot for the great feedback. I have practiced the whole piece without pedal and in sections without pedal, the pedaling had been meticulously thought out but in the performance I believe I chose to use it in some awkward parts. That could have thrown it off.

I did not have control over my hands that day which was upsetting because I have played this waltz at that tempo in a much more controlled fashion. The repeated notes were a catastrophe in the video, but I have played them much better as well. My fingers had a certain stiffness to them and on top of that my hands were sweaty, really unfavorable conditions and I didn't know how to get out of it.

You are right about practicing with the music sheet, it is extremely important for memory. I am working on Bach's fugue no.21 and I really have to have my eyes on the sheet at all times, its a tricky piece to memorize.

Thanks again,

Manny

[ranniks]

This is one of the most technically demanding of the waltzes. There are many positive things in your playing. Overall, however, it was a bit uncontrolled. I think you would have been better off choosing a tempo that was slightly more modest and in line with your technical abilities.

Additionally, you use the sustain pedal incorrectly quite a bit. Do you ever practice the entire piece without touching the pedal at all? I highly recommend you do this. It will really illuminate the true level of knowledge that you have of this musical work.

You are absolutely correct about saving energy for the performance on the day of!

The more powerfully developed your hands are, the less easily they will tire.
Here is an example of how a pianist with powerfully developed hands and good understanding of correct pedal technique plays this work:

You too will develop such brilliance of touch and style, if you practice it correctly, i.e. with your eyes on the music in front of you and your foot flat on the floor, without touching the pedal.

Best of luck! Remember, this is an immensely challenging work that only the finest of virtuoso pianists can render convincingly! Just because many children play it does NOT mean that it is child's play!

Sir, this rendition sounds much better (to me) than the one you posted, why is that?

It sounds as if this one is holding the pedal longer which makes the piece smooth. Am I wrong? What is the difference between this rendition and the one in your video? I wish to know for my own musiciality's sake.

[awesom_o]

Does it? I think that's highly subjective. Although I admire Valentina in many ways, her Chopin has never been quite my cup of tea. I think Bozhanov's is more original and exciting. Valentina does use more pedal, but her tone somehow isn't quite as expressive.

[rachmanny]

Follow up of the Waltz Op. 18! This is my second live performance:

I am much happier with this, I feel it has improved over the first live performance. Now the next stage is to clean it up completely and make it flawless for my June recital.

Along with this Waltz, I will be playing:

Beethoven Sechs Variationen op.76
Haydn Sonata XVI hob 30
Bach Fugue and Prelude no.21
Grieg lyric piece "Puck"
Schumann Traumerie

And am considering to add Bach's Chorale Prelude in f minor and something else.

[awesom_o]

Do you ever practice the LH alone with the RH by your side, singing the melody out loud with your voice?

This should help you clean it up a bit.

Also, practice it with zero pedal! Very little is needed for this piece!

[rachmanny]

Do you ever practice the LH alone with the RH by your side, singing the melody out loud with your voice?

This should help you clean it up a bit.

Also, practice it with zero pedal! Very little is needed for this piece!

Good idea I'll try singing it out loud with the LH, and I'll practice it with no pedal. I also find that the Les Sylphides orchestral version of this Waltz helps give new ideas on voicing the melodic lines.

Thanks,

Manny