Beginning Chopin's op 10 no 4

[tomtomthesecond]

So I have been wanting to begin playing Chopin's op 10 no 4, and I've been wondering what my chances are on playing it (both to tempo and to performance level). My repertoire over the past year has been Fantaisie Impromptu, Moonlight Sonata MK 3, Beethoven op 10 no 1 MK I & II, Bach Prelude and Fugue WTK Book 1 no 6, Khatchaturian Toccata, and Chopin op 64 no 2.

[bwl_13]

The both the Beethoven are quite technically demanding, but still aren't as challenging 10/4. I would never compare the difficulty of Bach to Chopin, entirely apples to oranges.

What other Chopin etudes have you played? Surprisingly, I find that Chopin etudes are even more difficult than they sound most of the time. It might be doable with your repertoire, but it does seem to be a step up. I'd play 1-3 fast Chopin etudes before trying this one. 10/5, 10/8, 10/12 are all great options.

However, 10/4 is different since it's constantly changing through different techniques. Are you familiar with the techniques you see in the score? Have you played passages similar or are they new techniques? It's an etude, so perhaps it can be an exposure to them, but I don't think this etude is meant to teach these techniques are rather trains switching between them rapidly and playing clearly. In fact, all Chopin etudes are meant to really force you to master a technique rather than to teach you new techniques.

[nightwindsonata]

The both the Beethoven are quite technically demanding, but still aren't as challenging 10/4. I would never compare the difficulty of Bach to Chopin, entirely apples to oranges.

What other Chopin etudes have you played? Surprisingly, I find that Chopin etudes are even more difficult than they sound most of the time. It might be doable with your repertoire, but it does seem to be a step up. I'd play 1-3 fast Chopin etudes before trying this one. 10/5, 10/8, 10/12 are all great options.

However, 10/4 is different since it's constantly changing through different techniques. Are you familiar with the techniques you see in the score? Have you played passages similar or are they new techniques? It's an etude, so perhaps it can be an exposure to them, but I don't think this etude is meant to teach these techniques are rather trains switching between them rapidly and playing clearly. In fact, all Chopin etudes are meant to really force you to master a technique rather than to teach you new techniques.

... I played the Chopin Op. 10 No. 1, 9, and 12 and I still didn't have the chops for Op. 10 No. 4. That piece is insanely hard, and anyone who says otherwise is either a prodigy or kidding themselves. It doesn't fit my hands at all. I would recommend starting with Op. 10 No. 9, which in my opinion is just a better piece too. I really didn't find much to enjoy musically in Op. 10 No. 4 (once again my opinion).

[tomtomthesecond]

The both the Beethoven are quite technically demanding, but still aren't as challenging 10/4. I would never compare the difficulty of Bach to Chopin, entirely apples to oranges.

What other Chopin etudes have you played? Surprisingly, I find that Chopin etudes are even more difficult than they sound most of the time. It might be doable with your repertoire, but it does seem to be a step up. I'd play 1-3 fast Chopin etudes before trying this one. 10/5, 10/8, 10/12 are all great options.

However, 10/4 is different since it's constantly changing through different techniques. Are you familiar with the techniques you see in the score? Have you played passages similar or are they new techniques? It's an etude, so perhaps it can be an exposure to them, but I don't think this etude is meant to teach these techniques are rather trains switching between them rapidly and playing clearly. In fact, all Chopin etudes are meant to really force you to master a technique rather than to teach you new techniques.

So to answer the first question, I have not played any other Chopin etudes previous to this, but that is also because I wanted a large step up from my current repertoire but wasn't sure if it was an appropiate jump for me.

Secondly, I am relatively familar with all of the techniques in op 10 no 4 for both the right hand and the left hand as I've played from pieces that have these and have practiced exercises containing many of these, but am currently wondering if op 10 no 12 would be a better piece for me as my left hand fingers technique (as in playing notes that are close to each other quickly) is lacking compared to my right hand currently.

[tomtomthesecond]

... I played the Chopin Op. 10 No. 1, 9, and 12 and I still didn't have the chops for Op. 10 No. 4. That piece is insanely hard, and anyone who says otherwise is either a prodigy or kidding themselves. It doesn't fit my hands at all. I would recommend starting with Op. 10 No. 9, which in my opinion is just a better piece too. I really didn't find much to enjoy musically in Op. 10 No. 4 (once again my opinion).

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into it if I don't end up playing this etude if my technique is lacking or if I simply don't have good hands for this .

[lelle]

If you want a second opinion I don't think op. 10 no. 4 is that hard compared to some of the others, so it might depend a lot on hand structure if it's convenient for you or not I guess. It's not easy by any means and I'm not saying I'm playing it like a virtuoso in Carnegie hall every saturday (I don't and never will). But I have had more trouble with many of the other etudes of Opus 10.

[tomtomthesecond]

If you want a second opinion I don't think op. 10 no. 4 is that hard compared to some of the others, so it might depend a lot on hand structure if it's convenient for you or not I guess. It's not easy by any means and I'm not saying I'm playing it like a virtuoso in Carnegie hall every saturday (I don't and never will). But I have had more trouble with many of the other etudes of Opus 10.

Ok, thanks for the feedback. So far, from playing it every now and then the piece looks pretty comfortable for my hand structure (except for larger chords that I aren't rolled) so I might be in a similar situation as you are.

[bwl_13]

Regardless of whether it's as hard as the other Op. 10 etudes, I still think it's not a great starter etude and a fair bit more challenging than any of your listed repertoire. I don't really want to dissuade you and if it's one of your favourites, who knows. If you end up moving forward with it you should definitely let us know how it went

[tomtomthesecond]

Regardless of whether it's as hard as the other Op. 10 etudes, I still think it's not a great starter etude and a fair bit more challenging than any of your listed repertoire. I don't really want to dissuade you and if it's one of your favourites, who knows. If you end up moving forward with it you should definitely let us know how it went

Ok that makes sense to me. For now, what etude do you think I should consider starting on (I'm currently thinking 10/12 if I don't play this one)?

[lelle]

Regardless of whether it's as hard as the other Op. 10 etudes, I still think it's not a great starter etude and a fair bit more challenging than any of your listed repertoire. I don't really want to dissuade you and if it's one of your favourites, who knows. If you end up moving forward with it you should definitely let us know how it went

That's fair. "Starter" etudes from Op. 10 would probably be no. 3, 5, 6, 9 and 12, maybe 8 as well.

[bwl_13]

That's fair. "Starter" etudes from Op. 10 would probably be no. 3, 5, 6, 9 and 12, maybe 8 as well.

+1

[nightwindsonata]

That's fair. "Starter" etudes from Op. 10 would probably be no. 3, 5, 6, 9 and 12, maybe 8 as well.

+1