Sibelius Romance Op.24 No.9

[crotchet]

I am having trouble playing those ascending octaves and cascading 32nd notes that follow.  I have really worked on this for a very long time but I trip up all over the place when I try to get it up to speed.  This part appears about 4/5 of the way through the piece.  Should I be using a very loose wrist for the octaves?  I can play it slowly but up to speed doesn't happen.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I just love this piece.

[pianowelsh]

Really make sure your fingering is the best! 90% of stumbles result from less than well thought out fingering.  Also jumps fail commonly because of poor positioning. Dont zigzag the hand in and out of the keyboard but allow it to track like a typewriter carraige.  Octaves become easier if you think of the note as a trampoline too so you spring out of it and use the momentum to take you to the next one and so on it goes..the principal is that it is much easier to navigate and manouver an object which remains in motion - everytime you stop it dead it takes effort to start it again and this builds unhelpfull tension - which either hurts or at least slows us down.  Try those two things and see if it helps - beautifull piece - good luck with it!

[quaver]

Thankyou very much pianowelsh, I will certainly give that a try.  I had lost all hope that anyone would reply so thanks again.  I am off to do some practising now.

[pianowelsh]

No problem - hope its helpfull