Etudes/Exercises for Multiple Voices in Right and/or left hand

[pogouldiwitz]

Hi Everyone,

Can someone recommend some intermediate etudes to work on carrying a melody with accompaniment in the right hand (one's for left hand are appreciated, as well)?

Thanks.

[brogers70]

Work on the first section of Chopin's Etude Opus 10 number 3. It's a beautiful tune and a real challenge to voice it along with an accompaniment figure in the right hand. The middle section of the Etude is definitely not at an intermediate level, but you could work on all the "voicing within one hand" issues you like with the first section, or even just the RH part of the first section.

[pogouldiwitz]

Thank you. I considered that and will give it a try.

Any other suggestions on the slightly more manageable side, by anyone, are still appreciated.

[dogperson]

How about repertoire instead of an Etude?
Schubert  Corrected to
G Flat Major Impromptu

Graham Fitch uses it as a teaching example in voicing

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eNGWFxnA_SQ

[pogouldiwitz]

Thanks, that's a good possibility, as well.

I guess the idea behind these kinds of studies or pieces is two-fold:

1. Technical: Finger independence
2. Musical: Polyphonic playing/hearing

Is it possible that it's better to focus on developing the technical aspect in exercises and only move on to such a piece when the requisite mechanical ability is developed. That way you are strictly focusing on the musical element. I could be wrong, so feel free to fill me in on this matter.

I have this notion that working on technique via pieces is more for advanced pianists who have mastered the foundations of technique and now just work on unique technical problems present in the pieces they're preparing.

[j_tour]

Well, the Adagio from Beethoven's Pathétique is easier than the Ch. Op. 10/3. 

One needn't play the whole thing.  Just read the first page or whatever.  Transpose it to some different keys, and then it's instantly been transformed into an exercise.

Also, Scriabin, Prélude, Op. 11 no. 4.  Not difficult, brief, but you cannot play it correctly without being able to voice correctly.  But, since this now an exercise, not music, it will teach you.

[brogers70]

Also Schumann's (yes, Schumann, and it's fine) Romance Opus 28 #2 is good for this. In the opening section you have to voice a melody played in the thumbs with accompaniment in the other fingers, and in the following minor section there's good practice for voicing the melody in the 4th and 5th fingers while playing a middle line with the other fingers of the RH.

[brogers70]

How about repertoire instead of an Etude?
Schubert B Flat Major Impromptu

Graham Fitch uses it as a teaching example in voicing

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eNGWFxnA_SQ

The Bb Flat Major Impromptu is lovely, but I bet you meant the Gb Major one - that's an ideal thing for working on voicing.

[dogperson]

The Bb Flat Major Impromptu is lovely, but I bet you meant the Gb Major one - that's an ideal thing for working on voicing.

Yes, I did intend the G flat
Thanks !

[dogperson]

Thanks, that's a good possibility, as well.

I guess the idea behind these kinds of studies or pieces is two-fold:

1. Technical: Finger independence
2. Musical: Polyphonic playing/hearing

Is it possible that it's better to focus on developing the technical aspect in exercises and only move on to such a piece when the requisite mechanical ability is developed. That way you are strictly focusing on the musical element. I could be wrong, so feel free to fill me in on this matter.

I have this notion that working on technique via pieces is more for advanced pianists who have mastered the foundations of technique and now just work on unique technical problems present in the pieces they're preparing.

I have never hunted for an Etude that addresses the specific technical problem I am working on—- I have always just used repertoire that requires the skill as the exercise.  This has been with my teachers’ blessing, but I have no idea what is standard. 

[lelle]

You could just make a simple technical exercise to sit with a couple of minutes a day. Like,
play a note, maybe G or F or E mezzo forte and hold it with either 5 or 4 or 3, while playing a pattern like C D C D with 1 and 2 softly at the same time. You can vary this infinitely. Focus on keeping a supple wrist and relaxed hand while doing this.

[pogouldiwitz]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond to my request. It's greatly appreciated.