Group 4

Unlocking A deeper Understanding of Chopin's Music!

Together we will work on four etudes which can transform your approach to Chopin’s music as well as expand your concept of piano playing! In the first Etude from Op. 10 I will give exercises for tackling the right hand arpeggios, which will develop your ability to hear sonorities build upon one another across the entire keyboard. Through a discussion of Chopin’s use of the pedal and exploitation of the piano’s natural overtones, you will learn to pace yourself through this famously difficult work and achieve unity of sound within one harmony.

I will then focus on the Second Etude of Op. 25 where the lens will zoom in on Chopin’s use of polyrhythm and how this is integral to the fundamental “problem” of this Etude.

The discussion of the third Etude of Op. 25 will talk about the use of the thumb versus fingers 2-5 and how to achieve lightness and speed in this charming work.

Finally, we will revisit my lesson on Op. 10 No. 2 and dive even deeper into the secrets to being able to play this famously difficult work!

Improve your Chopin Etudes in Two Weeks with Henry Kramer!

• Sign-Up : September 14, 10 am PST
• Course Period: September 19 - 30
• Class Size: 4 Groups á 10 Participants
• Optional check-In via Zoom: tba
• Livestream: September 20th, 11am PST

FIRST TASK: SAY HELLO TO EVERYBODY!

Assignments:

Watch Henry's first of four assignment videos!

Download Cortot’s edition of Chopin etudes at: 

http://vmirror.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/7/71/IMSLP367492-PMLP01969-Chopin_Etudes_op.10_-_Cortot_(french).pdf

1. Choose 3-5 arpeggios in this Etude (eg c major, augmented 6th, a major etc)
2. For each arpeggio show at least two octaves of playing each note of the arpeggio where you bring the thumb to the first finger joint of fingers 2-5 immediately after striking the key.  For the thumb notes you should just play staccato
3. Choose 2 of the Cortot exercises on pages 4 and 5 and apply them to your 3-5 arpeggio choices
4. Share a video of you performing these exercices!

Watch Henry's second assignment video!

Watch Henry's THIRD assignment video!