help with chopin etude op 10 no 3

[chopincat]

It's my first ever Chopin etude and I am a little overwhelmed. My teacher assigned it to me right before summer started, and I haven't had a lesson since then because of summer vacation, so I'm trying to learn as much of it as I can for when I next see her. I'm totally fine with the opening theme, and the first one and a half pages have been surprisingly not-so-bad. But starting around measure 38 I'm completely lost. There are just so many notes, I don't even know how to approach it. I know a lot of people have played this piece, and I would appreciate it so much if anyone had any tips on how to go about learning it, especially with the specific section I mentioned. It's just such a beautiful piece and I want to do it justice.

[josh93248]

I know what you mean about that section, it's kind of crazy. I haven't actually played it yet but I have fingered it and am preparing to play it. If you want I could give you some of my fingering or you could try figuring it out for yourself. First things first is always fingering though, in my opinion so see what you can work out and be creative. Also roughly how big are your hands, can you do a tenth with a moderate stretch but without strain? (That's my hand size)

[chopinlover01]

It looks like the bit you're having trouble with are the chromatic bits, along with the tritone passages.
Are you already aware of the musical pattern in this section? If not, definitely take this apart and learn the structure of this section, it becomes much easier. Paul Barton has an excellent tutorial on this, if you'd like to look at it.
As with all troubling passages, make sure your wrist is light and very free, otherwise you'll lock up and get things like carpal tunnel syndrome and the lot.
Also, what fingering does your edition use? I can't reference mine off hand, but try out fingerings from some other editions to see what they recommend (many editions are available for free off of IMSLP), you may find one that you love (happened to me with the Chopin piece I'm studying) and that really works for you.
@josh I don't know if this was just a random question, but hand size for this etude shouldn't really be an issue.
Hope at least some of this helps. Josh Wright, an excellent pianist especially for Chopin, has a masterclass available for purchase (around 5 dollars if you'd like to buy it) that would likely give a lot of insight into how to go about practicing.
Speaking of, probably the biggest issue with the outer sections of the piece is voicing. To practice this, a method that is useful is one that my teacher calls "Catch and Release" (aka staccato-legato voice practice). Essentially you practice the section slowly and play all the non-essential voices soft and staccato, and hammer out the melody as legato and as loudly as possible; high finger practice often helps. The sound will be ugly, but that's okay, as you're just learning to voice it with that exercise.
Hope some bit of this helps.

[chopincat]

Thanks so much for the replies! You've both been very very helpful already! 

@josh I have comically small hands. The most I can reach is a 9th with a bit of strain. But the main issue I encounter with having small hands is that my inner fingers have smaller spaces between them as well, so there are certain intervals I can't play while my outer fingers are already playing an octave if that makes any sense.

@chopinlover I have vague ideas of some of the patterns but I haven't really dissected them. That definitely sounds like a good idea. I hadn't thought about looking at other editions since I'm using the Paderewski, but now that you mention it I think that would also be a good idea. I often find myself using alternative fingerings since I do have such unusually small hands.

[chopinlover01]

Paderewski edition of the Chopin etudes, I'm jealous. Mine are Schirmer, and falling apart (though for that same reason I usually get my Padi editions spiral bound).
Anyways, the pattern for the first part is essentially built off a diminished chord with the 7th raised, is about the easiest way I could describe it (C#-E-F double sharp/G-B). If you'd like we can do something over a skype call, might be easier for me to actually do anything.

[josh93248]

I asked about the hand size because if I recall correctly my fingering pretty much requires my size or bigger...

I might actually suggest not doing this piece in favour of Op. 10 No. 6 which is one of my absolute favourites and is a very good study in touch and delicacy, rather like No. 3.

[chopinlover01]

Yes, but she's also done recordings in the past showcasing her touch and delicacy- methinks (though I don't know for sure obviously) that she may want something a little more challenging than the e flat minor.

[josh93248]

I'd like to see chopincat do the E major well, I'm just offering an alternative if that one section makes things too frustrating.

[krzyzowski]

Had to learn this piece awhile back and found the fastest way to get it voiced properly for me was to find a recorded version (like Iggy Padrewski who knows how it should be played) and play along with it. The notation can confuse the timing and by hearing it, you get it..