Hey guys,

I'm more of a mozart and a beethoven person, and have recently confined myself to their sonatas! However, my piano teacher loves Chopin and I haven't seen my teacher for a while. I've NEVER learnt a Chopin piece

So, I'm asking all you more experienced Chopin players what piece I should learn. I passed grade 8 two years (I know, you're asking yourselves how on earth I've never played a Chopin piece, after playing piano for 12 years.... )

I dont want a difficult piece, just a grade 8 (possibly grade 7) Chopin piece to start looking at that I can surprise my piano teacher with when i see him over the holidays. Perhaps a well known one.

Whichever piece gets recommended the most over the next few days I will learn.

Many thanks!

Jenny

(Please please do not recommend fantasie impromptu, I've spent many sleepless nights trying to work out how to fit each note in...... )

Have a look at some of these:

Nocturnes: The famous one in E flat, Op. 9 No. 2, or the one in C sharp minor, Op. post (in The Pianist).
Preludes: No 4 in E minor, No 6 in B minor, No 15 in D flat (Raindrop), No 20 in C minor (all Op. 28).
Waltzes: Waltz In A Minor, Op. 34 No. 2, some of the posthumous ones are lovely.

Yes, the Nocturnes are lovely, and quite playable.

If you can, read these threads:
http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/t...9.html
http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,2147.0.html

Definitely Nocturne in C sharp minor, it's one of my favourite pieces to play.

Lisa xxx

I lose Nocturne in Bb minor. It's a beautiful tragic song-like music piece.

Yes , a lovely nocturne would be the perfect thing to play to surprise your teacher...

The nocturne in F minor Op.55 No.1 is grade 8 standard...(I think it is in the syllabus)

Ballade in G Minor, if you can manage it. Totally captivating and music to lose yourself in. Took me the best part of the last 6 months to play through hitting all the right notes. I have now memorised the piece and I am working more on phrasing, dynamics and expression. I am grade 8 so you should be able to do it. Just keep at it.

mucha suerte!

My favourite pieces by Chopin are Waltz in C Sharp minor and Prelude Opus. 28 No. 24 in D minor.
Or, if you are feeling brave, you could try some of the Etudes or Prelude No.16 (B flat minor). lol. (when you,ve heard it, you will know what im talking about!)

Some of the Polonaises are really good- and have great big loud sections too!- C minor is on the grade 8 list

I'm working on Op. 72 right now. It's a lovely nocturne, you can go wild with the expression on that one.

I've got a lovely book of Chopin Waltzes that I've been teaching myself recently - tomorrow at some point I'll have a look and tell you what my favourites are. Quite frankly, at the moment, I can't be bothered to go downstairs and look! (I don't even have an excuse for being this tired... I just am )

Chopin's Etudes are amazing. It's not that hard if you just sit down and learn them. I played the revolutionary etude last year in a concert. The audience love it.

Try listening to the soundtrack from The Pianist if you can - lots of Chopin pieces and they're all beautiful, it might help you choose a piece you like.

Nocturne in C# minor
The Nocturne in Eb is nice too (I think its number 2)
Theres a Chopin polonaise on the Grade 8 Syllabus for this year, its Polonaise in C minor op. 40 no2. It's really nice, the melody is in the left hand and the right hand is the accompaniment. I hope to do it for my grade 8 this year!!

xx

the c minor is just the best piece to play.

Although its not too demanding technically, I found it has taken a long time to get the piece to sound together - it can be very bitty in places - lots of mini sections.

If you play this piece i recommend u listen to i think it is Rubensteins recording of it - absolutely brilliant

Also the heroic polonaise is a lovely piece, although a bit harder!

The nocturne in E flat is my favourite Chopin piece - it's lovely!