Hmmmm ya, I`ve tried several of Chopin`s etudes, and I was wondering how much practice one would take...I usually try a piece, play half of it then drop it because I dont think I`m getting anywhere. Take the Study in Thirds in G# minor, how the hell can you play thirds that fast, or does that one technique take weeks on it`s own, I tried on night then just gave up, not accepting the fingering given on the song. If you have comments or help that`d be greatly appreciated thx.

Usually I`ll recommend that u don`t mess with the fingering. They`re there to facilitate movement, so stick to em, no matter how awkard it seems( of course, unless they don`t make sense).
And u mention about not getting the piece. It has to lie with your execution or technique rather, as each of his etudes work on a particular technique.
Do u have a piano teacher? Your teacher will very much know the root of the problem, but if more than anything else, I suspect it`s your level of playing. Chopin etudes are advanced pieces, what`s your level now?
It`s good to try technically challenging pieces sometimes( to attain a higher order of execution ), but be careful to use the correct techniques and don`t push yrself too hard, if not you`ll end up hurting yourself( wrists ) in
particular.
What I suggest is that u just work on one single `unit` of the main execution pattern in whatever etude u want. On esingle unit as in just 1 or 2 bars(depending on phrase length), and I`m referring to the hand that the etude was intended for.
If u tried for 10 mins and still can`t get it, then it`ll require more than just practice.
Actually, if u just look at the score or tried for 10 seconds u will know whether a certain piece is within your capacity.
Happy learning

Well I`m doing my Grade 10 at Royal Conservatory of Music. The next level up, performers requirs a concert etude, and any of the op 10, 25 etudes are in that category. I can play his etude in F minor, with the leaps in the left hand, and am learning the Black key etude, and I can play the fantasie impromptu, I think that I am at a high enough level to begin learning his other etudes, it`s just that that one etude the technique I just couldn`t even get the jist of it, I play it like twice as slow, and I keep trying...My music teacher can play it, but she said that technique is what she found the most difficult to learn...

Ok, let me share a few methods with u... though I myself ain`t very good with thirds also.
First, u must understand why thirds are difficult to play. Because, partly co-ordination wise, and it tightens the forearm muscles pretty much just like a trill. But most importantly, the tension is there as the execution involves fingers of different length.
There are teachers who got students to practice thirds just like trills.
top layer first, then bottom, then alternately, 2 notes with one and so on, until the tension is eased out. Now, if u were to practice it like a trill, then remember that u have to open your elbow consistently and rotate the wrist slightly to ease out the tension.
Another method is to practice it as staccato thirds first, then changing into legato, legato, staccato, staccato. The staccatos at the end is for the hand to release the tension. And then changing into lega, legato, legato, staccato.
Then, finally, joining all 4 togather.
Now,have u tried the whole of this etude? If u have, you`ll discovered iot`s not as difficult as it seems, caz the trick is in getting that first 3 bars, and similar patterns which are often much easier as compared to the opening, as the fingerings later on are combinations like 1,3 2,5 or 3,2 1,4 which is quite easy to put together.
And u realise only stagnant trills in thirds are difficult, and provided they require this combination of 13, 24. The sequential thirds that move up and down are easy, as tension is released through movements like chromatic thirds.
What about u? U have any other methods?
Which Royal Conservertory are u in?
U mean the Royal College?
I used to be a student there.

It`s a private academy, but the Syllabus is from Royal Conservatory of Music, I`m in grade 10 in high school, and am half a year through grade ten in RCM. For the performer`s diploma, a level higher than grade ten you need:

A) A work by JS Bach, there are certain works listed, most of which are his harder preludes and fugues.

B) A classical sonata, harder ones too some of which are the Hammerklavier, Tempest, Appassionata

C) Romantic piece, like Mephisto Waltz, Fantasie Impromptu, a selection of Chopin Preludes, various others

D) Impressionist repertoire, like the Gaspard de la Nuit, Some of Debussy`s preludes, any of his images, etc.

E) Modern piece,

F) Concert etudes, op 10 or 25, Liszt transcendantal etudes or concert etudes, Debussy`s various etudes, etc.



That`s for performers.


For grade ten I`m doing

A) Prelude and Fugue in D major by Bach
B) Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven
C) Liebestraum 3 by Liszt
D) Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum from Children`s corner by Debussy
E) March for the Love of Three Oranges by Prokofiev

And two studies, one of Moschkowski`s virtuoso Etudes in Cmajor, and a Prelude by Stephen Heller.

As you may see, grade 10 requires some difficult pieces, but performers is much harder..

Who is your teacher at RCM?
Is it Alexander or Barstow? U go there on saturdays for lesson?
They are running a series of piano master classes now... worth checking out.
So what methods are u sing for the study in thirds?

BTW, do u mean to say
Moritz Moszkowski etudes?
Typal error

I would want to pursue trinity ATCL diploma.
RCM require you to take so many theory course that cost a lot

Ya Moszkowski, that`s it, sry, and I go on Wednesday at a private academy in Ottawa, not the actual RCM though...And ya for study in thirds, I`m trying what you said like make it comfortable in every combonation breaking it up, don`t yet know if it`s working. What about the preludes, anyone played the set or a few of Chopin`s preludes? Commments?

The thing strange about Chopin`s prelude is that they are really, really short... and thus leaves u a rather incomplete feeling. Nobody knows the real intention of Chopin`s preludes...since they are really preludes to nothing, unlike Debussy`s which are much longer and complete in its entirety.
And I think it`s good to find out about other preludes when you`re doing Chopin preludes... it doesn`t affect the playing, but some background study will be interesting. Bach, Debussy, Shostakovich, Chopin, Rachmaninoff. It`s interesting how one`s in semitonal cycle, and the other`s missing keys, and is in a way , incomplete if we were to view it as a set.
Well, anyway, Chopin preludes are nice to play. They are enjoyable. I think the hardest is the one in E minor... it looks the easiest to play. But the trick lies in getting a good pianistic tone out of this `simple` work.

I think it`s the one in Eb major, the Bb minor I find does not have leaps it just takes practice going up and down, but the Eb major one it`s all like broken crazy chord thingies it`s the hardest I think...

hardest one is prelude no. 24 hands down - tried to learn it after i learned the one in E minor and I wasn`t successful. I tried when I was too young. However the E minor one IS pretty hard! They`re all lovely but difficult. I would recommend:

No. 3 and 24 for Left hand studies
No. 16 for a study in velocity and sounds impressive
No. 17 and 19 are very beautiful
No. 2 for something dark
No. 13 for something serene

The Posthumous Prelude and the one op. 45 are also beautiful works