Chopin op. 25 no. 12

[brian654]

Hello all,

I have practicing this piece for a few months and am wondering what your opinion/comments are. I did make a few mistakes throughout the piece, but am I on the right track and giving enough expression? Also, I am trying to speed up this piece, but can only break the 3 minute barrier at best, even after months of practice.

Thanks,
Brian

Piano: Estonia L168 with lid halfway up
Location: Dorm lounge with tall, wide open space.
Recording device: Moto G android phone

[carl_h]

Hi,
I'd have to say that you are indeed on the right track, it was nice to listen to. Most of the time the melody was clear but needs some shaping left and right (this could also be due to the recording quality).
The intensity will increase if the tempo increases in my opinion, do you do enough hands seperate practice? Dotted rythms? Isolating the bits that slow you down?
I've had good experience with those tricks but getting a piece like this up to speed takes time unless you already played the 23 other etudes and many more

Keep practicing, maybe take a break from it for a few days and start again with refreshed spirits. It's a great piece to have in your repertoire.

Grts,
Carl

[awesom_o]

I think you are on the right track with the expression.

However, it sounds like you have been practicing with mistakes! Be careful, as mistakes can damage the expression.

Don't worry about building up the speed. Many people play this one too quickly, and it loses dramatic power.

You need to practice drawing a rich tone out of the piano throughout the entire Etude, without touching the pedal with your foot. Once you can play the entire Etude with no mistakes without using pedal, it will become much easier to play it cleanly with the regular pedaling.

Really be careful about catching mistakes in the pedal and continuing onward. Be strict with yourself in practice, and really train your body to play the correct notes with good control. If you allow yourself to make these mistakes in practice, you will allow yourself to make them in performance.

I also recommend hands separate practice and use of dotted rhythms.

Unfortunately, the only way to really and truly MASTER any difficult Chopin Etude is to master all of the others as well.

[brian654]

Thanks for the replies. Now that you mention it, I have realized that I have been practicing mostly with the pedal. When I was first learning the piece, I did hands separate/together with no pedal, then added pedal later as speed increased. Doing what I had done originally was probably why my pace increased quickly, but then progress slowed with mostly hands-together and pedal practice ! Also, are there any particular parts/sections that you think need more fine tuning or control?

Thanks,
Brian

[awesom_o]

Also, are there any particular parts/sections that you think need more fine tuning or control?

Thanks,
Brian

Yes. Look carefully at the placement of the accents in measures 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, and 28. It sounded like you have no idea what notes actually are accented.

Additionally, take a close look at measures 41 and 42. You played something of your own invention there instead of playing Chopin.

I recommend that you practice with the music in front of you so that you can give a more scholarly interpretation than what you have posted here.

Best of luck in with your continued study of this Etude. It really is extremely difficult.

[brian654]

I see, thanks. I will make sure to concentrate especially on those sections.