Prokofiev etude might kill me! Need alternate suggestions

[sandracb]

I have the Prokofiev etude op 2 no 4 in my ARCT program at the moment. However, I'm kind of afraid this thing is gonna kill me! It's only 2 min and 4 pages long, but all those octaves at FF is brutal. It's like the 100 meter sprint category of pieces.

I can only practice this thing maaaaybe 15-20 min a day, since it's so fatiguing for my hands/arms. Is this going to get better with time?!? Or should I be looking for another etude?

Anyone have any suggestions for an alternate etude that's no longer than 2-3 min and not to technically brutal? Something that's 'different' - the minor key here was a good contrast to the rest of my program. I've ruled out Chopin, Liszt, Rach, etc as the rest of my program has enough lyrical/romantic content. I'm also not very proficient with tonnes of running arpeggios in my left hand especially at rapid pace. I don't mind scale type passages though.

Would appreciate some pointers on how to practice this Prokofiev, or alternates. My etude is scheduled halfway through the program, so it can't be too draining.

[glennross]

Take a look at Moskowski's 'Etudes de Virtuosité", Op. 72. I think numbers 3 in G major, 7 in E-flat major, 9 in D minor (lots of triplet octaves), 11 in A-flat major and 13 in A-flat minor fall into that difficulty level as well. Just try them out.

BW,
Glenn

[sandracb]

Take a look at Moskowski's 'Etudes de Virtuosité", Op. 72. I think numbers 3 in G major, 7 in E-flat major, 9 in D minor (lots of triplet octaves), 11 in A-flat major and 13 in A-flat minor fall into that difficulty level as well. Just try them out.

BW,
Glenn

Thanks Glenn! I'll check them out today. Be nice to have alternates.

[glennross]

Thanks Glenn! I'll check them out today. Be nice to have alternates.

Any time!

BW,
Glenn

[sandracb]

Ok I picked the Morowitz Op 72 No 14 to try. I don't hate the key, and so far it doesn't seem to 'big' for my hands, pretty comfortable except for those big split 10ths in the left, I guess I'll cheat those. I think this is a good one, not exhausting like the Prokofiev.

Not sure how it'll fit in my program, but I like it. And adding to my repertoire is always a good thing.