Week 1 Goal “Pick Your Piece!”

🎹 Week 1: Pick Your Piece!
(Starting September 15th!)

This week is all about choosing your Chopin repertoire. Whether you’re stepping into Chopin’s world for the very first time or you’ve played his music before, the goal is to select a piece that inspires you—and challenges you just enough.

We’ve curated a list to help guide your choice:


🎹 Beginner-Friendly Selections (Level 1–3)

Perfect for players new to Chopin. These works focus on melody, expression, and clarity of touch.

  • Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No. 4

  • Waltz in A minor, B. 150 (Posthumous)

  • Prelude in B minor, Op. 28 No. 6


🎼 Intermediate Selections (Level 4–6)

For players ready to explore deeper expression, voicing, and rubato.

  • Nocturne in C♯ minor, Op. Posth.

  • Mazurka in A minor, Op. 67 No. 4

  • Waltz in C♯ minor, Op. 64 No. 2

  • Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15 “Raindrop”


🎶 Advanced Selections (Level 7–8+)

For seasoned players seeking to embrace Chopin’s full virtuosity and emotional range.

  • Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23

  • Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31

  • Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 “Heroic”

  • Nocturne in D-flat major, Op. 27 No. 2


✅ Your Week 1 Task:

  • Pick your piece

  • Comment below with what you’ve chosen (and why, if you’d like!)

  • If you’re unsure, ask for recommendations—we’re here to help!

This week is all about inspiration and intention—no pressure to start practicing yet. Next week, we’ll dive into analysis and interpretation with Eloise Kim.

Let the journey into Chopin’s world begin!

103 replies

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    • Luis_Garcia
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    I will prepare the Etude op 10 No. 12. I studied it during the pandemic but never reached a level that satisfied me. I think this will be a good way to encourage me to work on it in depth.

    • Aoife_Fahey
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi, I’ve been revising Chopin Nocturne in C# minor, from a previous exam. I really like the Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31. I’ll give it a try. 

    • Theory Instructor
    • Sherre_Waggoner
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Etude in E, Opus 10, No. 3.  Fell in love with the melody when my guy friends and barbershop choir in St Louis, the Ambassadors of Harmony, sang the popular version -- No Other Love. 
     

    I've wanted for over a year to make myself learn the highly chromatic chords in both hands.  With this opportunity I'm formally challenged.  
     

    • Sam.14
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    I recently started working on the Fantaisie in F minor, op. 49, for my master's recital. Love this idea of a Chopin community and would love to share the piece with y'all. 

    • Lyn_Hoeft
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    My teacher assigned me Valse c#- Op64#2.  It will be fun to study and learn carefully. 

    • Conrad_Winn
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Raindrop.  So many chances to express yourself  

      • Randi
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

      ooh - can't wait to hear your Raindrop! 

    • Shin_Tan
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everyone! I will be signing up too. Waltz in C# minor Op 69 no 2. I tried this piece 30 years ago and I would like to revisit and polish it 

    • Carlodiminico
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi all,

    I am going to attempt the Mazurka in A minor, Op. 67 No. 4. We'll see...

    • Adena_Franz
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Nocturne in C#m, posth, me.

      • Stephanie_Reuer
      • 17 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

      - Hi Adena! I hope you are well…miss you!

      • Adena_Franz
      • 16 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

       Hi! I’m well thanks. Trying to integrate everything I learned at Adamant: “What about that pinky in the air while trilling? Hmmm, what did Robert Durso say about it?” And so it goes these days…all is well. Looking forward to hearing you play, dressed in your tux!

      • Stephanie_Reuer
      • 16 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

       - Ha ha! The crimson tux was special for camp! I will now always associate it with that day and all of you absolutely fantastic friends. Although when I wear it, I will feel all wrapped up in those memories which will be such a comfort when performing…

      Glad you are well! 

    • Ching_Lee_Goh
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Have been away from Tonebase for a while  Will try to get back  with Nocturne in D flat major. I have practiced this several years but always stumble at the final filligree passage. Hope to be able to fix it this time!

    • Stephanie_Reuer
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    I’m starting the Revolutionary Etude and the B Major Nocturne with my new teacher. And I have a personal project to relearn the F Major Ballade. No possible way those will be ready to play for anyone in a month. I’d love to do the harmonic analysis on the Nocturne, that would be very helpful. Could I offer to play Mazurka #25 in B Major and do the harmonic analysis using the Nocturne?

      • Randi
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Hello Stephanie! I'm creating a playlist of many of the pieces people are taking about here so i can become familiar with them. I found Mazurka #25 in b minor. Is that a different one? I'm looking forward to hearing you play, regardless of what it is. 😊 Thanks! 

      • Stephanie_Reuer
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       hi! It is Mazurka no. 25 (Op 33, no. 4) in b minor (sorry I mistyped!) I particularly like Jared Dunn’s and Bruce Liu’s recordings. Both of them really lean into the singing line of the first theme.

      • Pediatrician
      • a_weymann
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Jarred Dunn’s entire album of the complete Mazurkas (“Chopin’s Diary”) is spectacular and well worth listening to. Sorry for the “sales pitch”, and yes, I am biased 😉, but do trust me on this one. 

      • Stephanie_Reuer
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      - I’ll always trust your recommendations! For this one, I am already a BIG fan of Dunn’s recording…

      • Randi
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      i can't wait to hear you play it! 

      • Randi
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       thanks for the recommendation! 

      • Stephanie_Reuer
      • 17 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

        - Thanks! I hope I can arrange to be near a piano when we are supposed to play. These events are usually at 2 pm EDT and I am at work. Just another reason to retire!

      • PViseskul
      • 8 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

       for these challenges, each of us post a recording in the final week ... so won't be playing live. The recordings will then be played in the watch party.

    • Fernando_Vago_Santana
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    My pick will be the Nocturne op. 62 no 2. I played the first one and would like to learn the second as well. 

    • Concertist in the making
    • Adriana_Lopez
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello!!

    I like to present a little or one of the movements of the Sonata op.35 no.2 of Chopin.

    Why did I chose it? Because I love the inherent poetism that exists in each of the movements and especially the mysticism behind this piece... The well-known "Funeral March"... The first 2 movements that intertwine quite well... the last movement that is chaos...

Content aside

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