Chopin's Polonaise op. 53

[drumstix576]

Hello, all...I was wondering if you could give me any helpful information about Chopin's "Heroic" Polonaise, op. 53 in Ab Major.  I know that it is a good bit beyond my level right now, but I guess you could say it's my 'long-term goal'--hopefully by the time I graduate from college. 

I am 16, and have been playing piano for 12 years.  Most of what I do is ragtime, but I'm getting back into classical stuff as well.  Currently, I am working on Liszt's Rakoczy March, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and Chopin's Nocturne in Eb Major, if that helps give you some idea as to my technical level.

Can anyone tell me how difficult this piece actually is?  How approachable would it be considering that, say, I learned his Polonaise op. 40 in A Major about a year ago, with relative ease?  I have seen a couple of grade charts that say his op. 40 is a grade 8, and the op. 53 is grade 9... but how do the two actually compare?  What makes this piece so difficult, beyond the sheer number of notes?  I know that left hand strength and dexterity are problems for me; I can do chords without a problem (like the fast jumps in ragtime music), but any sort of running melody--16th notes or greater--is muddy and uneven. 

Thanks for your help! 
--Kerry

[westman]

It is a difficult piece to play well. More difficult than Op. 40.
I have played it for years. It takes a while to get it up to speed. Lots of slow practice with each hand especially may be necessary depending on your skill level.

I recommend taking it slow and learning all the notes in a passage the first time, rather than dropping some notes to make it easier.

Once you get going on it, avoid the temptation to play too loud and too fast.

Good luck.