Secret Keys to Unlocking Chopin Etudes

[sclive]

Each Chopin Etude has a secret key, that once unlocked makes the Etude playable. What do you think the secrets are to the Etudes you have played? Please include your hand size and span, and whether you think this hindered or helped you master the Etude.

[josh93248]

Hey, Moderator, what's that smell? It's smells like broken pottery... If only there was a shorthand way of saying that...

[xdjuicebox]

10-1: I can't completely play this, but I kind of can and it doesn't sound absolutely terrible, so...
Don't think to hold down the keys. Just make structure with your hands and roll that structure across the piano (with a little of finger action) - and it just so happens that one leg of the dome doesn't lift until the other touches down to create the legato. Really picture the shapes in your head. Don't reach with your fingers, move your entire hand.

10-2: I read through it; some wrist rotation helps.

10-3: Beginning and end: Hold down the melody notes with as little pressure as necessary. Middle: Really "settle" on each note, no matter how short the note is. Right before you play the note, everything is STRAIGHT DOWN.

10-4: HA you're on your own.

10-5: Rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation

10-6: I'm stumped

10-12: Use the fingerings listed on the page. Don't rush.

25-5: Beginning and end: Use the fingerings on the page. Middle section: Move your elbow, don't let it stay locked.

25-6: HA.

25-11: Rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation rotation

Medium size hands, can comfortably reach an octave and plays most four note chords with ease; if I really stretched I could play a 10th but let's be real I'm lazy

Hope this helps

[pianoplayer002]

Each Chopin Etude has a secret key, that once unlocked makes the Etude playable. What do you think the secrets are to the Etudes you have played? Please include your hand size and span, and whether you think this hindered or helped you master the Etude.

The secret key to each Etude is that if you can find a technical approach is exactly the same in every etude (and allows you to play them all without tension, strain or clumsiness) you've found it.

The technique to play op 10 no 1, in it's most essential, basic form, is exactly the same as the technique needed for op 10 no 2, or op 10 no 5, or op 25 no 6.

The only difference is in which order, and how many fingers you put down at the same time.

My hand span is a comfortable 9th or a stretchy 10th.

[brogers70]

Each Chopin Etude has a secret key, that once unlocked makes the Etude playable. What do you think the secrets are to the Etudes you have played? Please include your hand size and span, and whether you think this hindered or helped you master the Etude.

Given the amount of material written about the Chopin Etudes, the number of recorded performances, professional and amateur, and the wealth of tutorial videos, it does not seem likely that the "keys" to playing these Etudes are being kept secret.

[etudist]

Given the amount of material written about the Chopin Etudes, the number of recorded performances, professional and amateur, and the wealth of tutorial videos, it does not seem likely that the "keys" to playing these Etudes are being kept secret.

Good point. It made me laugh so hard:-)