at the moment i am learning the 1st movement of the pathetique sonata and i cant seem to speed up the chromatic bits... Any tips?

I think all you need to do is keep practising. Pratise chromatic scales every day so that you can do them without thinking, and work at speeding them up as you get better at them. Also, I've heard that getting something like a firm foam ball the size of a tennis ball and squeezing it with each of your fingers to strengthen finger muscles helps. Im not sure if it works, because i havent tried, but apparently it does.

I'm learning this piece at the minute too! The chromatic scale on the first page is ok for me, but i struggle when your hands cross over eachother on the 3rd page (3rd page if you have the ABRSM published version), with the mordents all over the place!

Jacob.

I wouldn't do the tennis ball thing that jacobflutepianoorgan mentioned. Seems to me that you'd probably just tire your hand out and if it somehow did offer results, they would probably take a long time to manifest.

Practicing chromatic scales would be great, but make sure you practice them properly (ask your teacher for the proper technique).

Besides that, you can try alternating rhythms. Say the scale starts on an A then goes down chromatically to G sharp, you play the A as a dotted eighth note then quickly play the G sharp as a sixteenth note then play the next note (G) as a dotted eighth note and so on. You can do other rhythms as well, like reversing the previous exercise, playing two notes quickly then pausing slightly on the third etc. Be creative. I personally like using these to help me become familiar with quick sections and I see good results. Maybe someone could explain it a little clearer, I'm sure how to explain it better.

Something counter-intuitive that really works is simply practicing for control instead of speed. Memorize that short segment (be able to play it note for note in your mind, I assume it's a fairly short segment) and play it as carefully and evenly as you possibly can. Speed can come automatically after you have a segment mastered and completely under control. You can up the speed as you do this but it would probably be better if you simply play at a speed you feel comfortable with and stick to it for awhile.

Exactly why I haven't tried it!
I think the only way to strengthen your fingers without injuring them is just by playing more, and it will happen naturally. Using a tennis ball might give you RSI as well, which means not playing for ages!

I use the changing rhythms thing that snatchingthepiano mentioned, and it is very useful. You change the rhythm to a dotted one, and try lots variations, and then when you go back to the original rhythm, it is usually easier.

Good luck with the chromatics!

Jacob.

a problem I have myself is doing the tremolo at speed. Beethoven wrote minim 132 I think; on a good day I can just about pull 116 off at concert standard (a oxymoron? seeing as it is no where near the written speed). Suggestions?

I'm starting the pathetique sonata but there is no metronome marking on my score. is there perhaps insecurity in either hand. try playing maybe with a metronome slowly increasing the speed.

The problem i've had so far with the chromatics is the irregular time divisions but my piano tutor gave me a jazz piece with lots f them and scale runs up and down the piano and lots of syncopation.

I can't remember, but minim 126 (give or take a few) sounds about right seeing as it is Allegro con brio (missed a few words but you know, the idea is there)

Hehe, looks like it's just me, I just can't tremolo fast enough with splodging all over the place. grrr

You can get around tremolos by avoiding practice for speed. Practice for relaxation and control. That's what hampers most pianists with those tremolos.