ZLATA CHOCHIEVA: OBSERVATIONS ON PLAYING CHOPIN ETUDES

[visitor]

fyi for folks not aware, the Miami Piano Festival Academy just happned at Nova Southeastern Universtiy with some great performances by gifted domestic and int'l students and really really really good masterclasses by renowned clinicians. here is one folks might like given how much Chopin etude worship happens around here. They're  not my favorite pieces but I do like some of them given a particular fine example of playing/interpretation here and there.... but the pointers she discusses have broad applications beyond these standard pieces hence my interest in the clinic.

[toughbo]

I agree, lots of wise observations, her masterclasses on rachmaninoff were quite the eye opener as well

[visitor]

I agree, lots of wise observations, her masterclasses on rachmaninoff were quite the eye opener as well

i agree i loved her 40ish minute class his etudes tableaux . Really incredible content. Im going to take notes and or save that class for future reference.

the other clinics by other pianists are good too, especially that 1 hour plus on Brahms
and texture ideas and composition structure to aid in intrerpreting his works better since so many get it wrong.

[toughbo]

Didn't watch the Brahms one yet. I got a few ideas from Prats too, although the masterclass was somewhat painful to watch at times

[visitor]

Didn't watch the Brahms one yet. I got a few ideas from Prats too, although the masterclass was somewhat painful to watch at times

will catch that one today. The ilya itn on the Rachmaninoff elegy had some frustrating moments that shows how incredibly short sided some student's instructions is and that it is important to be able to express what to the artist your intents w the work they are helping you with.  i mean the poor girl did not have any real personal opinons on what the piece was or meant to her, so gow can she hope to convey a feeling, along w a lack of basic theory etc. He struggled to convey certain key ideas to her because.she didnt have a requisite background knolwedge ,ie she didnt have enough buy in to play a hand at that poker table.

[dogperson]

will catch that one today. The ilya itn on the Rachmaninoff elegy had some frustrating moments that shows how incredibly short sided some student's instructions is and that it is important to be able to express what to the artist your intents w the work they are helping you with.  i mean the poor girl did not have any real personal opinons on what the piece was or meant to her, so gow can she hope to convey a feeling, along w a lack of basic theory etc. He struggled to convey certain key ideas to her because.she didnt have a requisite background knolwedge ,ie she didnt have enough buy in to play a hand at that poker table.

Hi Visitor,
Would you be so kind as to post the link for the Rach elegy?   Many thanks in advance

[visitor]

Hi Visitor,
Would you be so kind as to post the link for the Rach elegy?   Many thanks in advance

it's a good discussion on part of clinician, I only wish someone with a better understanding of Rachmaninoff and this piece I think would have gotten more out of it, certainly would be more engaging. Sadly, I think this is evidence of how a lot of students mimic you tube recordings or said teacher but don't completely internalize the work or understand properly. At this level of playing and instruction, it's vital.
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about clinician
Born in Yekaterinburg, Russia, his piano studies began at the Sverdlovsk School for the Gifted with Natalia Litvinova. He went on to graduate from the Moscow Conservatory with the highest honors in 1990 working with legendary teacher Lev Naumov. Mr. Itin won his first major piano competition while at the Conservatory, taking second place in the 1990 Russian National Rachmaninov Competition. Soon after, he won top honors in the William Kapell Competition, followed by First Prize, and the Special Chopin Prize at the Casadesus Competition (Cleveland Competition), and the Best Performance of a Work of Mozart, Best Prokofiev Performance, and Third Prize at the Gina Bachauer Competition.

Ilya Itin is on the teaching faculties of the Musashino Academy in Tokyo, the Academy of the Miami International Piano Festival and the Golandsky Institute at Princeton University. He has also taught in the piano departments of the Juilliard School prep and college divisions, Peabody Conservatory, and the Graduate Program at CUNY. Ilya Itin resides in Tokyo, Japan, and New York City where he maintains a private teaching studio.