Etudes by Chopin -> Ballades

[ed24dyt]

Hi i was wondering if i should study any of chopins etudes before i start chopin ballade 1 or if i can go straight into it with the proficient technique/skill. ?

[lelle]

I'd say it depends on what your technical foundation is. Playing the Etudes can refine the technique needed for the Ballade, but generally the Ballade is easier than many of the Etudes. If your technique is not ready for the Etudes, playing them might not be a good idea and you'll probably find the Ballade frustrating.

[nightwindsonata]

I would say that the Ballades are a smorgasbord of techniques that are found isolated to a much greater extent in the Etudes. For instance, the middle section Etude Op. 25 No. 5 is not dissimilar in figuration from the first transition in the G minor ballade, or the left-hand part of Op. 10 No. 9 is similar to that found in the climax of the A-flat ballade. I will say that, from personal experience, the Etudes are (much) less forgiving from the Ballades in performance, but they don't suffer as much from a slow and methodical approach. A good intermediate step would be a selection of 3-4 from Moszkowski's Little Etudes Op. 91 (stay far away from Op. 72), followed by a methodical and patient approach to a total of three-four Chopin Etudes, starting with one of the simpler ones (Op. 10 No. 6, 9, Op. 25 No. 1), and progressing into the more challenging ones, ending with something on the scale of Op. 10 No. 4 or Op.  25 No. 10. All this should be supervised by a teacher, of course, to prevent injury and insure that you get the most out of your studies. After that, then the Ballades will be far more accessible.

[fftransform]

You'll find more technical similarities to the Ballades in Brahms and Schumann than the Chopin Etudes, tbh.  If you're good enough to start either, then just start the one you want.  The etudes are harder to perfect, they're a much more serious commitment, especially compared to the 1st Ballade (easiest).

The Scherzos 2/3 and Polonaises will also cover much of the same techniques.  Stay away from Scherzo 4, it's extremely sophisticated from a sound and interpretive perspective and maybe his most dangerous (non-etude) piece to play live.

[jimroof]

Learn the Coda from Ballade 1.  Think of it as a little etude.  If you can get that down then you are likely good to go on what precedes it.