Week 4 – Play Through & Share

Dustin Anderson truly lovely sound, and I like how free your movements are - you made the octave passage seems so easy.

Priya Viseskul Thanks Priya! 

Dustin Anderson Hi Dustin, it's been very instructive to observe how carefully you have worked out these sections to the point where they now sound very spontaneous and free.  I'd love to hear the whole Nocturne when you've got it ready.

Astrida Astrida, bravo!  Wonderful!  Very impressive.  I enjoyed this very much.

Now just between me and you, what's the secret?  How do you play the f to c in the LH with 5-4 fingering?  And you do it looking very relaxed as if it's nothing?  This is a bit of a struggle for me.  I can comfortably do an f to b in the LH with 5-4 fingering but f to c is so tough.  And then to do it for nearly four pages.

Doug Weiss Thank you Doug! 
I think I rotate the LH, but there is some stretch that needs getting used to as well.

Astrida I totally agree with Doug here on your 4-5 LH ... it looks so relaxed and fluid, and I'm mesmerised by both your movement and the sound of the music!

Astrida Well done Astrida. Great sighing figure in the LH thumb and clean trill figures and octaves. Has a driving, agitated tempo. Great to listen to! Thanks for sharing =)

Priya Viseskul Thank you Priya! My teacher said he has never seen anyone play this with 5-4 in LH, but I somehow like the feeling of freedom and agility this fingering offers.

Dustin Anderson Thank you Dustin!

Astrida Great playing, Astrida! It's a real challenge, which you've met with a moving, solid interpretation. 

Juan Carlos Olite Thank you very much Juan Carlos!

Astrida beautiful! 

Astrida this is really great already Astrida.  It seems like this Etude is all about rotation and you've certainly got that covered,, showing us what good rotation looks like.  And I'm so envious of those beautiful long fingers and the relaxed (seemingly?) manner in which you navigate those rotations throughout.

David H. A. Fitch thank you! Yours is as well! 

Peter Golemme Thank you! I must say that my left hand actually gets tired after practicing. I have normally devoted one hour for this piece, but also not every single day to give my hands a chance to recuperate physically. Once details are done, I can generally play it through three to four times and then need to stop.

Astrida this is beautiful! Your LH is so relaxed and the tone really even on those endless low Fs, I really enjoyed listening to it. Thank you!

Astrida It's easy to see how this piece could tire out your left hand.  But now having learned it so well, it becomes the perfect piece for practicing and improving your rotation technique -- however one does that!  you can use it to focus on methods of relaxation and other physical mechanisms, without having to figure out the notes and the expression while you're at it, because you've already got those so well learned and under control, playing it very beautifully. Leave it to Chopin  -- even when he's trying to teach us technique he can't help but make beautiful music at the same time.

Astrida I love your playing, and your fingering! I think Taubman would approve.

Priya Viseskul Very beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

Priya Viseskul So much impressive work here Priya. Beyond your calm and very secure playing you have a a firm grasp on your tempo and the changing textures. Your parallel sixths are always well voiced and smoothly executed. The LH is well balanced whether it is playing the nebulous arpeggios or the melody. Your octave / chord passage work is very strong and of course your powerful finish.  You are at that wonderful place where you now know you can perform it honourably and get to concentrate on performing it as much as possible and fuss about tiny nuances rather than mechanical processes. It takes so much careful work to get there so Bravo! This was an excellent listen.

Astrida Thank you for listening, and Dustin Anderson thank you for the wonderful feedback! I will continue to work on this gorgeous piece for a while yet, which definitely needs more work to really secure the notes down so not to be a nervous wreck every time I am running through the piece 😅