Chopin Op 10/4 - how to get it up to speed?

[throwawaynotreally]

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[awesom_o]

First of all, I think if you can play it extremely well, and make it sound really scary, there's nothing wrong with it being a bit slower than the 'recommended speed'. It's your interpretation, and I doubt Chopin put 176 bpm on his manuscript!

However, if you just can't stand the way you're playing it, and deep down believe that the extra 21 bpm will make all the difference, I would recommend several things.

Away from the keyboard, practice hearing the entire piece, from start to finish, at the tempo you wish, with as much musical detail as you can imagine.

At the keyboard, practice each hand separately, from beginning to end, with the metronome at 176.

Play the entire piece hands together with the metronome at 155. Play it again at 156. Play it again at 157. Play it again at 158, etc... and before you know it, you'll be right there at 176!

Can I ask you how many other Chopin Etudes have you played?

[throwawaynotreally]

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[awesom_o]

I think with Chopin Etudes, one has to choose his or her own tempi. A good artist should have his or her own ideas about tempo, which do not necessarily coincide with the status quo.

I don't think it's ever a good idea to play ludicrously slower or faster than the status quo, as that would invite criticism along the lines of 'he or she plays in a self-indulgent, overly-eccentric manner'.

There is definitely a range, though, for each given piece. Musical power, grace, clarity, and individual sense of aesthetic beauty ought to take precedence over sheer speed, however. Chopin wrote music. He didn't write weird obstacle courses to be raced through, with a prize to be awarded for the fastest performance with the fewest mistakes! That is not music.

Strive for musical quality in all Chopin Etudes, and learn as many as you can! It's better to learn all of them to a reasonable tempo than to spend lots of time on one or two, trying to play as fast as Martha Argerich!

[throwawaynotreally]

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[awesom_o]

That's a pretty beastly program in your signature... I sure hope you practice a great deal! 

[throwawaynotreally]

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[awesom_o]

Do you play any other instruments or aspire to compose?

[throwawaynotreally]

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