Chopin: Etude Opus 10 no. 12 "Revolutionary Etude" [Video]

[pianoworthy]

Any thoughts musically or things to improve? I'm self taught so it really helps. Thanks!

[pianoplayer002]

Could you record it again in the same tempo, without any pedal, and post it again?

Sometimes you curl your fingers way too much, especially in the start. You should be playing with naturally curved fingers, so that the large fleshy part of your finger, the finger pad, is always the part which makes contact with the key.

[tenk]

1) Watch your dynamics. It appears to be played forte almost the entire time.

2) Some notes jump out strangely, which may be a consequence of the electronic keyboard action.

3) The pedal is a bit heavy at times. I'm with pianoplayer -- try recording again, at close to the same tempo, and as little pedal as you can afford to do.

[pianoworthy]

Could you record it again in the same tempo, without any pedal, and post it again?

Sometimes you curl your fingers way too much, especially in the start. You should be playing with naturally curved fingers, so that the large fleshy part of your finger, the finger pad, is always the part which makes contact with the key.

Thanks for the reply. I am not using muscles to curl my fingers, I am playing with the natural curve of my fingers. I think that's pretty basic knowledge.

I will make another recording without any pedal though! 

[pianoplayer002]

I am not using muscles to curl my fingers, I am playing with the natural curve of my fingers. I think that's pretty basic knowledge.

Of course you are using muscles, otherwise you wouldn't be able to move the fingers at will. Here's a few screenshots from your video to show you what I mean. The fingers marked with an arrow are way too curled.





For reference, look at your right hand in the first picture. It is in a quite natural position, and your left hand should be more like that too (even when playing fast passages).

[pianoworthy]

Of course you are using muscles, otherwise you wouldn't be able to move the fingers at will. Here's a few screenshots from your video to show you what I mean. The fingers marked with an arrow are way too curled.





For reference, look at your right hand in the first picture. It is in a quite natural position, and your left hand should be more like that too (even when playing fast passages).

Thank you for the clarification. Even the fingers not currently playing the notes should not be curled? I watch Evegny Kissen and that seems to happen quite a bit in his playing.

[kawai_cs]

Not playing fingers may be curled. However, on all the pictures he attached you have those curled fingers actually playing.

[pianoworthy]

Ok I wasn't aware of my fingers being so curled in such a way. I'll be more cognizant of that in future practice sessions. Thanks for your honest criticism, it really helps. I'll spend some more time with this piece and upload a version of it without so much pedal in the future.