How can you play fast Piano Etudes?

Questions on learning to play the piano, and piano music.

Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano

Post Reply
sunan
New Member
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 May 2010, 06:57
Contact:

How can you play fast Piano Etudes?

Post by sunan »

I have this Liszt Etude but my fingers just go before the end and I can't play it in tempo.Does anyone know any technics? or useful tips perhaps I'm playing into the piano to much or I'm
not lifting my fingers. If anyone knows any finger exercises to make my fingers stronger it would be great.
User avatar
MarkGoodwinPianos
Senior Poster
Senior Poster
Posts: 644
Joined: 04 Nov 2006, 05:28

Re: How can you play fast Piano Etudes?

Post by MarkGoodwinPianos »

Play with a metronome at a very steady pace. When you can play perfectly every time speed up a bit. Don't speed up until you can play it perfectly

Do you have a piano teacher?
Yamaha Pianos for sale (usually 50+ in stock)
email markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com with any Yamaha, Kawai, Bechstein or Steinway questions :)
User avatar
Colin Nicholson
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1704
Joined: 04 Jul 2010, 19:15
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland
Contact:

Re: How can you play fast Piano Etudes?

Post by Colin Nicholson »

To play any Liszt or Chopin etude, I would assume that you have surpassed Grade 8 piano?? These of course require great dexterity and alot of patience. You must also stick exactly to the composer's finger system. For example, Chopin marked his own fingering in italic to differentiate from an editor's fingering methods - and sometimes there are two sets of fingering, one on top of the other like this:-

2
2

So finger number '2' at bottom would be Chopin's own fingering. Very much needed when playing the Revolutionary Study - Op 10 No 12.

Personally, leave the metronome for now (sorry Mark) unless you have learnt the notes backwards.... and remember that "fast music is slow music speeded up" ! Take each note at a very steady pace - around half-speed to start with. Developing your finger strength should have already been encountered with 4 octave scales.... major & both sets of minors/ chromatics/ arpeggios/ dom & dim 7ths etc etc.....

Also to develop good finger strength, if the rhythms are 'scalic' in pattern, and evenly performed (say as semiquavers), then turn each pair into a dotted rhythm.... this helps muscle memory in your fingers..... try it.
AA Piano Tuners UK

Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
Piano tuning & repairs. Full UK restoration service
http://www.aatuners.com
Tuition ~ Accompaniment ~ Weddings
http://www.pianotime1964.com
Member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen
markymark
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1434
Joined: 04 Apr 2005, 18:50
Location: UK

Re: How can you play fast Piano Etudes?

Post by markymark »

Colin Nicholson wrote:
and remember that "fast music is slow music speeded up" ! Take each note at a very steady pace - around half-speed to start with. Developing your finger strength should have already been encountered with 4 octave scales.... major & both sets of minors/ chromatics/ arpeggios/ dom & dim 7ths etc etc.....

Also to develop good finger strength, if the rhythms are 'scalic' in pattern, and evenly performed (say as semiquavers), then turn each pair into a dotted rhythm.... this helps muscle memory in your fingers..... try it.
Yes! This is the run-of-the-mill approach for any fast-paced piece of music. What I'm trying to say is to be patient and realise that these 'types' of music are not something you'd encounter as part of your sight-reading test. Don't be discouraged but look at small phrases in the music to help get a literal feel for the music (Colin called it "muscle memory" in his post); this is very important in fast and flowing pieces. There simply isn't time to read the music and perform.
NewAge
Persistent Poster
Persistent Poster
Posts: 425
Joined: 07 Nov 2007, 18:29

Re: How can you play fast Piano Etudes?

Post by NewAge »

sunan wrote:I have this Liszt Etude but my fingers just go before the end and I can't play it in tempo.Does anyone know any technics? or useful tips perhaps I'm playing into the piano to much or I'm
not lifting my fingers. If anyone knows any finger exercises to make my fingers stronger it would be great.
I think the other replies here have summed it up well.
For what it's worth, my son has always sworn by the Hannon finger excercises (although many swear at Hannon for their own personal reasons).
Here's my son warming up on a Czerny etude. I'm happy with my own modest playing but would give anything to be able to play as well as 'junior' NewAge.
http://www.box.net/shared/h8bve32hdr
I was playing the piano in a zoo, when the elephant burst into tears. I said, "Don't you recognize the tune?" He replied, "No, I recognize the ivories!"
Post Reply