Week 1 Goal “Pick Your Piece!”

Dominic_Cheli
updated 10 days ago
144replies

🎹 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!

- PViseskul
- 9 days ago
- Reported - view
In the spirit of participation, I would like to get Etude op 10 no 4 to a somewhat consistent delivery state at a decent tempo (i.e. going through the piece without stopping, though not aiming for anywhere near the 20s per page!).

I have been working on it for 4 months now, slowly slowly cranking up the tempo. Though I would admit the effort put on it has not been consistent, so I would like to use the opportunity to motivate me to sort out my practise routine and at least able to record the piece without major hiccups.
- Kerstin
  
  7 days ago
  
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  Wow, it’s really a master piece. 👍
- PViseskul
  
  6 days ago
  
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  It is - the question is whether I can master it!!! 🙈 It feels really quite a tall mountain to climb 😆
- Kerstin
  
  6 days ago
  
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  It takes time. I have played the op 10/5 2 times and couldn‘t get it in the tempo. Maybe if I try it again… 😅 But the good thing about Chopin is, that you can play fast pieces in a slower tempo and it still sounds good. 😄
- Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
  
  Gail_Starr
  
  22 hrs ago
  
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  And at Chet's you were already sounding lovely, Priya!
- PViseskul
  
  21 hrs ago
  
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  Thank you - you are too kind, even though I was very much stumbling through the piece at so many points! 😆
  
  I have started to memorise in sections last week as I find looking at the score while trying to up the speed is beginning to get in the way. Trying to be discipline practising with the tips Adam gave (which really helps).
- Tu_Quyen_Quyen_Hoang_Tra
- 9 days ago
- Reported - view
I would like to play Chopin Ballade N.1 in G minor. Op.23. After watching the movie « The Pianist » I am very emotional with the character, feel empathy and love Ballade deeply. The challenge is to memorize, polish the piece and learn how to record it.
- In love with medicine, airplanes, tango and piano
  
  Aleksandra_Bogomaz
  
  9 days ago
  
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  have you perhaps heard that this Ballade which was in the movie isn't the actual piece Szpilman played that faithful day to Hosenfield? He instead played the Nocturne in C Sharp Minor, No. 20, op. posth. as written in his biography after which the movie was made (the name of the book - "The Pianist" by Wladyslaw Szpilman). But the movie makers thought that the Ballade would be more effective for the movie, so they changed the facts.
  
  Here you can hear original Szpilman's performance of the Nocturne https://youtu.be/n9oQEa-d5rU?si=fooW2-B4--4-VfTZ
- Dolores_Bacon
  
  9 days ago
  
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  thank you for posting, one of the most elegant and pristine performances of this piece I have heard in a long time.
- Kakie_Roberts
  
  7 days ago
  
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  I always wondered how he could possibly have played the Ballade with frozen fingers and no practice for months(?) Thanks for sharing this.
- Sachi
- 9 days ago
- Reported - view
I’m going for the Prelude in F# major op.28-13. I adore the piece, it touches me, evokes mixture of emotions. Starting from sightreading, so I’m aiming to learn as much as possible during the challenge.
- vbashyam
  
  9 days ago
  
  Reported - view
  Great choice! Love that one.
- In love with medicine, airplanes, tango and piano
- Aleksandra_Bogomaz
- 9 days ago
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I'll go with the Nocturne Op. 15 No. 2 in F sharp Major as the main piece (I'm already working on it for some time), and push through the Etude Op. 25 No. 1 in A Flat Major ("Aeolian Harp") to get it to some level as I will need it for the exam in June next year anyway, so this challenge seems like a good excuse to start working on it earlier. When we add the Prelude Op. 28 No. 4, it's really going to be Chopin month for me.
- Randi
  
  7 days ago
  
  Reported - view
  I'm looking forward to hearing you play again! You're playing a lot of Chopin for someone who doesn't play Chopin. ;)
- In love with medicine, airplanes, tango and piano
  
  Aleksandra_Bogomaz
  
  7 days ago
  
  Reported - view
  I’m one of those strange creatures who don’t like to play Chopin, but sometimes the girl has to do what she doesn’t like to do - get out of the comfort zone. 😂.
- Dolores_Bacon
  
  7 days ago
  
  Reported - view
  yep, I am seeing that halo starting to glow over your head. good job getting out of the comfort zone, you are virtuous indeed (seriously, I admire your work ethic). since we are also in the Chopin study group (I see randy's post above) it will be very wonderful for all of us to share our interpretations of Chopin's great e minor lament.
- Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
  
  Gail_Starr
  
  22 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  I've been struggling with 25/1 for a while and have temporarily "given up"...but not forever...
- In love with medicine, airplanes, tango and piano
  
  Aleksandra_Bogomaz
  
  19 hrs ago
  
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  ha ha I feel your pain totally. I’m working through the cadence in the end of the second sentence of the first period (so page 2/5 😂), it goes soooo slow. It will take much more than 4 weeks to get this done, but at least my goal is to read this through in a “wounded snail’ tempo by the end of week 4. I use the challenge for structuring my practice time on the Etude, and I will go with posting the Nocturne definitely.
- rebecca_LAM
- 9 days ago
- Reported - view
I am currently working on nocturne Op9 no.1 in B flat minor. I would like to continue to work on it and get some feedback.
- Pediatrician
  
  a_weymann
  
  9 days ago
  
  Reported - view
  I am looking forward to hearing you play this! An absolutely heavenly piece of music. The beginning alone is otherworldly in its beauty.
- rebecca_LAM
  
  9 days ago
  
  Reported - view
  I agree. The beginning was what drew me to it. Melody is so beautiful and knowing that he wrote this piece when he was only a teen added so much wonder to me. How was he able to compose something with so much depth and soul at that age is beyond me.
  
  I am having more trouble with the middle section to make it equally interesting. I will share soon so I can get some feedback on how to make it better.
- rebecca_LAM
  
  3 days ago
  
  Reported - view
  here is my recording. Please give me feedback on what I can improve on. thanks.
  https://youtu.be/BI5CjIsmT-0?si=Fdz_pDD_EIXHj7vQ
- Mary_Manuel
- 8 days ago
- Reported - view
I have been studying and enjoying Nocturne Op.37 No.2. My teacher thought it would be a good challenge for me - she wasn't kidding!! Such a lovely opening duet in the right hand and a dreamy contrasting middle section.
- Kerstin
- 8 days ago
- Reported - view
Hi everyone, I would like to send a recording of op 28/3. Should only take a minute. 😄
- PViseskul
  
  6 days ago
  
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  wonderfully lovely piece that passes by so quickly! to me, this piece sounds like a happy dancing in the rain :)
- Helen_Lee
- 8 days ago
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Hi all.

I am just starting to learn Prelude Op. 28, No. 9 in E major. I haven't played many pieces with chords and would like to learn to express the changes in emotions and building of tension along with the harmonic progression throughout the piece. I'm also hoping to work on my ability make sure the LH line doesn't get lost. So far, I find the left hand rhythm/trills of bars 2-3 to be challenging.