Chopin Ballade No. 1 in G minor

[aaronj]

I want to learn Chopins Ballade No. 1 i have been taking lessons for 8 years and will start college in the fall for piano performance. I have wanted to learn this piece for very long but do not know if im good enough. is there any pieces i could learn to help me prepare for it?

[preludetr]

The technical difficulties of the hardest sections in the Ballade are similar to some of the etudes, so if you can play a few Chopin etudes than you can most likely handle it. To gain an understanding of Chopin's musical style and how it should be interpreted, you may want to study a few of his easier pieces first (Nocturnes, Waltzes, Mazurkas, and so on).

Finally, there's the length factor. The Ballade is about 10 minutes long and fairly difficult throughout, and many pianists haven't yet tried to play anything of that scope. I wouldn't try to tackle it unless you have played some other long pieces (10+ minutes) so that you know you can get through a piece that long without becoming technically or musically exhausted.

Disclaimer: I've played through this Ballade a few times and worked on it a little bit, but have never fully learned it. I feel like I have a decent understanding of it, but you might want advice from someone who has really played it.

[mjames]

if youre unable to gauge its difficulties then chances are youre still not reading. I NeVER attempt a piece if i do not understand the challenges/and not know how to overcome them.

The best way to decide if you're is for you to look over the score, try and look over the hardest sections and see if you have the ability overcome the challenges.

[aaronj]

I have played 2 Mozart concertos with no problem at all for memorization.  Also its not that i do not know the difficulty of the piece but that i want to know other pieces that could prepare me for learning it. I have heard alot of people say Etudes Op 10 No 12 for my first one so i will learn that.  Thank you for the help 

[pencilart3]

if youre unable to gauge its difficulties then chances are youre still not reading. I NeVER attempt a piece if i do not understand the challenges/and not know how to overcome them.

Everyone says that OVER and OVER and OVER. He obviously wants to play the ballade, I say go for it.

The best way to decide if you're is for you to look over the score, try and look over the hardest sections and see if you have the ability overcome the challenges.

That's more like it!

[chopinlover01]

Pieces to help?
Well, Chopin's etudes certainly wouldn't hurt.
The octave etude would help, as, in the A major section, there are quite a few in there. Though you likely may need not to study the thing in full.
10/8 would help with rapid light runs.

[pencilart3]

Good advice from chopinlover. Also you could practice the c sharp minor section of the a flat major ballade. That part is insane.

[aaronj]

I have started playing Etude op 10 no 12 and am almost done with it. I will play some other pieces recommended thank you all for the help.

[jimroof]

The section that is the deal breaker for most who give the Gm Ballade a go is the coda.  I would read through the coda first and gauge your ability to tackle that.  If you get a thumbs up on that then you have addressed what will likely be the tallest hurdle in the work.