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Topic: Chopin 10 n 2 (Read 2214 times)

expressman70

Jr. Member
Posts: 97

Hi!

How should I practice the piece to get it to speed? All I can say is that it is def not as bad as people think, and very useful. I can play it at around 3/4 speed but what would you recommend practice wise. Any other practice tips would be helpful.

I currently do rythms. I do bar by bar fast with pause, 4 fast 4 slow. Any other suggestions?

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rachmaninoff_forever

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 5038

Re: Chopin 10 n 2

Reply #1 on: August 12, 2016, 03:18:14 AM

I haven't played the piece but when it comes to speed, I treat it as I would treat lifting

I'd split up the sections and do 5 sets of 5 starting at a COMFORTABLE tempo.

Then eat and sleep a lot

The next day you should be able to go a little faster

And keep repeating that until you get up there

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adodd81802

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 1114

Re: Chopin 10 n 2

Reply #2 on: August 12, 2016, 09:16:30 AM

These are my thoughts.

There are two scores you may be interested in, both available on IMSLP and I imagine other websites, freely under copyright law.

The first is Cortot's edition of the Chopin Etudes OP.10 in which he has prescribed different exercises for each etude.

It would appear that they are good and sensible exercises that do produce results, but it seems his actual fingering in the pieces themselves are questionable, so don't rely on the pieces, just the exercises.

The second is Michalowski's exercises to prepare for Chopin Etudes. I don't have much knowledge on these ones but also seem sensible, from other scores of Michalowski he appears to be a capable pianist.

Some may question the amount of use of practicing exercises of a piece rather than the piece itself, and the answer is many.

Primarily though, it's to get a better understanding of a technique required to play a certain piece or passage, that may not be easily deciphered when going up against the piece itself.

Second is really to defer you from getting sick of the piece itself! preventing you from playing it so much you end up just going through the mechanical motions while your mind ponders.

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vaniii

Full Member
Posts: 246

Re: Chopin 10 n 2

Reply #3 on: August 12, 2016, 09:24:38 AM

Quote from: expressman70 on August 11, 2016, 11:23:05 PM

Hi!

How should I practice the piece to get it to speed? All I can say is that it is def not as bad as people think, and very useful. I can play it at around 3/4 speed but what would you recommend practice wise. Any other practice tips would be helpful.

I currently do rythms. I do bar by bar fast with pause, 4 fast 4 slow. Any other suggestions?

I would strongly suggest not trying to play fast. Speed in music is an illusion; it is created by absolute confidence in what we are doing that we do not need to think between actions.

When you are ready, you will naturally play faster.

At any point -- particularly in this etude -- if you start to feel muscle strain, you need to stop. There are two types of pain: tension in the muscle, in the forearm beneath the elbow; and tendon pain, in the wrist (this type is physically damaging).

In both cases, it is a sign you need to stop.

To get this piece to 144 crotchets per minute, is no easy task and will take patience and time. Use a metronome at 80, and gradually increase the tempo when it is comfortable, before long you will reach 144 (or there abouts) in a tidy fashion.

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