Week 2 - pedaling, octaves, double notes, and legato

Welcome to the second week of TWI!

 

This week, we’ll explore four more  elements of proficient piano technique: pedaling, octaves, double notes, and playing legato.

 

As with last week, the aim isn’t to master everything right away. These are broad topics that can take years to refine. I’m sharing strategies and examples that work for me personally, so you can start applying them to your own playing and continue developing from many angles.

 

Your task: For each element, find at least one example from a piece you know, have played before, or are curious to learn. The goal is to connect these techniques to music that already feels familiar and accessible. Write down your questions and submit your video excerpts so I can help you refine your approach!

 

Examples I’ll show in the video:

 

  • Legato – Schumann Kinderszenen, “Träumerei”

  • Pedaling – Ravel Sonatine, 1st movement (quarter-pedal clarity)

  • Double notes – Chopin Prelude No. 24, m. 55 (descending chromatic double thirds)

  • Octaves – Chopin Étude Op. 25 No. 10

 

After watching the video, take some time to identify where similar challenges appear in your own repertoire. Practice them using the concepts we’ve covered.

 

Thanks for joining this little challenge. Enjoy the process, and have fun 😊 

 

https://youtu.be/ZH2knaZCOLY?si=J84UuXvjLyapZu_R

30 replies

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    • claudiadm73
    • 4 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Thanks so much for your suggestions, Piotr. They're really valuable, and I'll try to put them into practice. I'm really sorry the video went missing... but I know that I have a big problem about my hand position😓😖 This is the video.😓

      • Piotr_Kozlowski
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you, Claudia. It is really beautiful playing. Your hand position doesn’t look bad at all, and I can tell that you are relaxed, which is excellent. Sometimes just make sure you don’t cave in the middle of the palm. The pedaling makes sense and sounds good; the only thing I would pay closer attention to is rubato, especially rallentando at the end of measures, which often sound exactly the same. Try going on without slowing down that much sometimes, or keep the momentum going instead of always softening in the same way. It will only make your interpretation more interesting—but it is already very beautiful!

      • claudiadm73
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you very much Piotr, your observations are very important to me and stimulate me to improve and have more confidence in myself. I will immediately commit to putting them into practice. You were invaluable.🥰 I hug you.

    • Naomi.1
    • 4 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Piotr, thank you for the next challenge and video introduction! Here are my recording clips, very happy with any advice!

    Legato: Clara Schumann Adagio from Sonata in G minor. I’m finding it tricky to make this passage both smooth and quiet…

    https://youtu.be/KZ4H7xf9jvE?si=xhaQqtpMWjCqSTZ1

     

    Double notes: Chopin Impromptu in Gb. Really tricky to make it smooth, I think my pedalling needs adjusting too! 

    https://youtu.be/FurqJ6T5z4k?si=HxMBmo7GjnV_i2zz

    Octaves: Beethoven Sonata in Fm third movement:

    https://youtu.be/7Zhw2za1g4M?si=pyfaeIG2zs4IBY1_
     

    Pedal: Ravel Pavane pour une infante defunte. I think it’s maybe too slow, still processing it:

    https://youtu.be/dASKL00HY5M?si=1Rr27aeBkNchdKGC

      • Piotr_Kozlowski
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Naomi, in Clara Schumann, try treating the running passages as if they were clouds, and the melody is the sun that appears in between, a little brighter and the clouds a little darker. This will also help with keeping it softer. You can try lifting your wrist a little to achieve a lighter touch.

      Chopin Impromptus (this one is one of my favorites ever!), the pedaling needs to stay very nuanced, and only to help with legato. I wouldn’t add too much. But when you can't connect something with fingers, I’d cheat and pedal it. It is a tricky passage, try practicing a lot hands separately and starting phrases after the downbeats, a little like in Bach. Phrase with the upper note, light lower note. Also, analyze the most efficient movement transitions, this often means going in closer to the black keys.

      In Beethoven, make sure to differentiate more between octaves legato and separate. They need to be much crisper :) left hand as well :)

      Ravel is pretty good! I agree maybe a little more forward, but pedals are good! I like the little aura you leave around the notes, it is exactly what I was talking about!

      Thank you Naomi for such good work these last 2 weeks! So proud of your submissions, you took it exactly where I was hoping.

      • Naomi.1
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you Piotr for such helpful feedback, I will work on your suggestions! I particularly like the Gb impromptu too :). I enjoyed the challenge and focussing on these different aspects of technique in my chosen passages, and it was fun choosing them, thanks for your encouragement!

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