Felix Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso

[chauncey]

Hello everyone!

First, I hope everyone is having a great day let alone a great year thus far in terms of their musical achievements and endeavors. 2015 sure has been, for lack of a better word, an exposing year for me in music.

So as the tittle of this topic says I am currently learning Felix Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso. I was given the piece to start learning in December in preparation for my junior recital requirement sometime in September or October for my bachelor degree .. and my God.. I am glad I got this piece early.

One thing I am having a LOT of difficulty is the trill (essentially) between the (the fingering that I chose) 2nd & 4th fingers and the 3rd and 5th fingers. This concept occurs twice in the piece (hence rondo..) but it's really the first time that's killing me.. ESPECIALLY since Mendelssohn demands it to be played at presto ( I am now adding him to the "liszt" of composers that just don't give a damn about the performer playing his composition). This part is approx between mm19-21 if you find a copy on imslp.

My biggest problem is getting it up to speed WITHOUT poor technique.. pardon my language, but I don't want to f**k up my hands.. they're really starting to be my life as I get deeper into my piano performance track at my university.

So I am reaching out to you guys before my lesson next week which would be the 2nd time I play it for my teacher. Are there any tips or "tricks" you guys have on strengthening those fingers so one is able to play a trill between them at a decent (lol) presto speed? 

Much obliged.

P.S: for the hell of it I'll probably ask her to learn Chopin's Etude op. 25 no. 6 for my senior recital (need an etude on that recital) seeing that double trills are what I really need work on.

[liszt1022]

25/6 is not necessary here!
In Rondo Capriccioso the thirds are topographically set on the keyboard where you can use the easy fingering:
5 4 5 4
1 2 1 2

or

5 3 5 3
1 2 1 2

[thalbergmad]

One thing I am having a LOT of difficulty is the trill (essentially) between the (the fingering that I chose) 2nd & 4th fingers and the 3rd and 5th fingers.

I think every pianist on Earth would struggle with that fingering. 5/1 3/2 when i played it

Thal

[michael_c]

So I am reaching out to you guys before my lesson next week which would be the 2nd time I play it for my teacher. Are there any tips or "tricks" you guys have on strengthening those fingers so one is able to play a trill between them at a decent (lol) presto speed? 

Don't confuse strength and agility. You could strengthen your fingers so much that they could bend iron girders and it wouldn't be the slightest help for playing this passage. You don't need more strength here, you need better coordination and reflexes.

Some tips for practicing this:

- Choose one of the fingerings suggested by liszt1022: whichever one seems more natural to you. The essential thing is using the thumb on G: using the third finger on G is just making life harder.

- First play the passage slowly, piano and with the least effort possible. Listen for evenness and move your fingers no more than necessary: do not lift them off the keys!

- Now practice tiny chunks fast: first just two sixteenth notes B-G to A-F#. Play the two thirds leggiero, precisely and always with minimum effort. Give your hand a moment to relax and play the two thirds again.

- Do the same thing, the other way round: A-F# to B-G. Make sure that the hand relaxes immediately after you have played the second third.

- Play slightly bigger chunks: try 3 or 5 sixteenth notes in a row. Always give yourself a moment to relax before repeating the chunk.

- Be patient! A little of this regime, often, will soon show results.

[markh13]

One thing I am having a LOT of difficulty is the trill (essentially) between the (the fingering that I chose) 2nd & 4th fingers and the 3rd and 5th fingers.

As has already been stated, that fingering isn't doing you any favours!

I learnt this piece last year, and it's great fun to play (although not that satisfying musically IMHO).

From memory, I think I used 15 24 or maybe 14 23, but whichever fingering you use, I'd advise patience - it doesn't come overnight, just gradually with 'little and often' practice.

I actually created a few exercises specifically for those trills, and I'd be happy to send them to you if you want to PM me?