Chopin etude op 10 no 1 attempt

[ranjit]

[lostinidlewonder]

First two bars were good 

[frodo1]

This will be a good record of your starting point with this piece.  First 2-4 measures sound pretty good.

Here are a few thoughts that come to my mind.  You probably already know the ideas in these 3 items,  but I mention them anyway.  If your goal is to play only for fun and not earn your living as a pianist - only risk of injury in item number 3 applies.

1) Yadeehoo “wormhole” theory: Yadeehoo was a talented Pianostreet member that posted several years ago.  If I recall correctly -  He was maybe 20 years old and had only been playing piano for about 6 months when he started learning this Chopin Op 10 No 1 etude.  The first maybe 10 measures sounded pretty good for such a beginner from what I recall when he posted on Pianstreet.  Yadeehoo was convinced that in another year he would be able to play this piece nearly as good as the pros.  This was based on his very quick development of this piece that he already achieved and his mental projections of what another year of practice would do.  He was convinced that he could skip learning easy pieces and go straight to this difficult piece.  Sort of like finding that magic “wormhole” that every other pianist had missed.  I don’t think he ever posted a second attempt at this piece.  I strongly suspect that things fell apart for him – at least in regard to this piece.  MAIN POINT: You will need to be able to perform level 5-6 and much higher Czerny (and others) well and play even sounding scales and arpeggios (among many other things) before being able to competently play this piece with reliability.  There is no wormhole that allows you to bypass this.

2) Shot put: Playing this piece is NOT like throwing a shot put in competition where you psych yourself up and visualize in your mind the throw before each throw.  In your case – before playing the first 2-4 measures of this piece.  Playing this piece should feel easy and natural.  Also, unlike shot put, you don't take the best of several attempts when performing piano live.

3) Risks:  Playing pieces that are too difficult has risks associated with it - risk of developing poor technique and practice habits.  Also, injury is another risk to consider.

Having said this, the first 4 measures sound quite impressive for the amount of time you have been playing piano.

[frodo1]

New thought:  So, I did quick google search just now to see if there is a famous pianist that started at a late age.  Here is link to Albert Frantz – Started piano at age 17 (so he claims).  After 6 months he began to learn Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue.  He performed it a year later at age 18.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuUDr-bzRVQ

So, you can completely ignore my prior post if you like.  Just be careful not to injure yourself.  One thing I am pretty sure of – He could play level 5-6 Czerny well and even sounding scales at the time he played the Gershwin. 

Good luck! 

[ranjit]

Thanks for the advice!

[frodo1]

Thanks for the advice!

Advice?  My words were intended as thoughts to consider.  Here is an actual tip to consider:  Learn to play this entire piece well at 60 BPM before attempting to bump up the tempo any higher. Pretend 60 BPM  was the performance tempo given by Chopin and make it perfect at that speed.  Start at 30 BPM (120 16th notes per minute). Good luck! 

[ranjit]

I simply don't think I have the technique to play it well. It's not about slow practice or anything like that. It's because I don't understand the hand movements that will work. I see people making some kind of circles with their wrist, staying balanced on each note, the feeling of weight transfer or finger articulation, and so on.

[frodo1]

I simply don't think I have the technique to play it well. It's not about slow practice or anything like that. It's because I don't understand the hand movements that will work. I see people making some kind of circles with their wrist, staying balanced on each note, the feeling of weight transfer or finger articulation, and so on.

If you are not absolutely intent on learning this piece now, then it would be best, I feel, to work with your teacher doing the material that he suggests. 

If you feel you MUST learn this piece now:

1) I believe playing this well at 60 BPM is a great START.  Having complete control at 60 BPM and then gradually increasing speed from there will only get you so far - maybe to 80-90 BPM.  Then you will likely hit a brick wall.  Your teacher may be able to help at that point.

2) The following tutorial video suggested by Andrewuk looks VERY helpful to me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVOwx0e2xVk

[frodo1]

Still have a strong desire to play Chopin Op 10 No 1 now?  If yes -

Here is a test to see if you should be working on Chopin op 10 no 1 at this time: 

Can you learn and play Bach prelude #1 in C major from his WTC book 1?  To be played at about 60-80 BPM with proper use of sustain pedal.  The piece needs to be played musically with controlled, even sound and good dynamics.  It needs to be easy and reliable to perform. 

If you can’t accomplish this – how can you justify working on Chopin Op 10 No 1 now?  If you are able to do this – post it!    If you can’t – work with your teacher and figure out what the problem is.  Also – read chapter 3 of Murray Mclachlan’s “The Foundations of Technique” book!  It’s only 6 pages long.

If you pass the above test and still want to play the Chopin now – work to master at least the first preparatory exercise in the following link.  This is a great resource!!  You can download a PDF of the exercise on YouTube for free. Post this first preparatory exercise when you can play this reliably well at a reasonable tempo. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVOwx0e2xVk