Chopin Aeolian Harp Etude opus 25 #1

Georgia1952--

Question. Ihave been at this piece for 9 months. It's completed but feel it necessary to start back on first page to clean up all the little difficult bits. It is not up to speed yet but that is the least of my problems with this piece. I can't seem to nail some of the more difficult technical passages. I am considered advanced currently taking lessons
Any advice on this beast would be appreciated. Thank you. I am also 73 years old just so you know I am not young.

Georgia

Nightowl

Georgia1952-- I'd never heard this piece before so took a quick look on YT and found this:

It's beautiful. I'm just a beginner so have no advice to offer, but maybe watching this video could help you to master this demanding piece. Good luck.

pianoloverus

It would be helpful if you explained more precisely what difficulties you were having. What do you mean by you can't nail some of the difficult passages?

Georgia1952--

pianoloverus

Basically say the first page the last stanza I constantly hesitate because there are so many changes going on with notes. I can't imagine even getting up to speed on the last stanza. It just is a very difficult passage for me technically. Any thoughts on how to approach this. I sometimes feel like this piece is way above my skill level but my teacher doesn't think so. I don't know
That's why I am going back to beginning to work out all the placed where I hesitate or play wrong notes. Hope this helps.

pianoloverus

Nightowl I agree with much of what she says on the video, but I think she makes one important error. If you watch her playing the etude, I think you'll notice she actually lifts her wrist while playing the melody note with her fifth finger. In other words, she does not lower her wrist when playing the melody as she said in verbal description.

Georgia1952--

Thanks for this video. I will give it a go.

Georgia1952--

pianoloverus

You are correct. I don't do that. How would you rate this etude in terms of difficulty. Just curious.

pianoloverus

Georgia1952-- Difficulty is relative. Although it's one of the easier Chopin Etudes my guess is it would probably be grade 10 ABRSM. What are some other recent pieces you've studied? That would give us some information to determine if this piece seems suitable at this point for you.

pianoloverus

Georgia1952-- I think you should use the same arm and wrist movements she demonstrates but but mostly ignore her verbal description or at least her technical advice for the melody notes.

twocats

Georgia1952-- are you able to take a video and upload it to YouTube to show us what exactly you're struggling with? Have you talked to your teacher about your specific issues?

You need a lot of fast lateral (horizontal) wrist flexibility in this piece. For the big right hand spans I play the top note and then my wrist is very quickly shifted to be rotated to the left to play the remaining notes.

twocats

Georgia1952-- Basically say the first page the last stanza I constantly hesitate because there are so many changes going on with notes. I can't imagine even getting up to speed on the last stanza. It just is a very difficult passage for me technically. Any thoughts on how to approach this.

You might want to try practicing in groups, where you play a long and drawn out first note, and then the rest of the figure very quickly. That long note gives your brain a chance to see what's coming next but also get some finger memory and speed into your practice.

Nightowl

pianoloverus Georgia1952-- Difficulty is relative. Although it's one of the easier Chopin Etudes my guess is it would probably be grade 10 ABRSM.

Ha, ha, ha... so it's one of Chopin's "easier" Etudes, but still grade 10?!? 😂 Talk about a contradiction in terms! That sentence might well strike true with a room of concert pianists but made me laugh out loud. 😁 Still, like you said, difficulty is relative.

@"Georgia1952--I'm glad the video is useful, anyone brave enough to attempt this piece needs all the help they can get! I'd love to see your rendition of this piece if you ever feel like uploading a video here.

Georgia1952--

pianoloverus

I play a lot of Ginestera because I love 20th century classical so the 3 Danza Argentina for example, Beethovens Pathatique Sonata just an example.

Georgia1952--

twocats

Great advice thanks.

twocats

Georgia1952-- good luck, let us know how it goes!

For what it's worth, I played it much better after putting it away for some time, but that's usually true for any pieces that I struggle with.

pianoloverus

Georgia1952-- Based on that rep, I think the Chopin etude is perfectly reasonable. OTOH since you've spent so much time on it already without a lot of success, it might also be reasonable to put it on hold for a while. See what your teacher thinks.

Georgia1952--

pianoloverus
I know but I've put so much time into it already I want to continue it but at my own pace. I've completed it however it's just bringing it up to speed and ironing out the technical spots that is impeding my finishing of this. My teacher agrees. So it's a new week and I am ready to work on it. I am very tenacious as a person. I don't quit easily.

Georgia1952--

Hum. Could be good advice. I will give it 2 months. If it goes nowhere I will drop and revisit layer. Thanks for good advice.