Hello,

I have chosen this piece for examination in December and am finding the tempo quite daunting. A minim = 96 means crotchet = 192?!? This is unbelievably fast, so much so I fear I am doomed to failure this time around.

What is the minimum tempo candidates can acceptably play this piece in the exam? I am self taught and don't have a tutor to answer these sort of questions so apologies if being dumb.

Thanks

I have just checked my three recordings and they are indeed all at about crotchet 192. Also its about my speed. You could get away with maybe 180 but no slower. !

Just keep practicing at what to you is a steady and comfortable speed, and in a couple of months time (when your fingers know exactly where they are going) you'll probably find that minim = 96 (NOT crotchet = 192 - that has a different feel to it) is not so fast after all.

I'd agree with Mad Tom on this. Once you have REALLY learnt the notes, either well enough to play without the score, or at least well enough to have the score just as a comfort blanket, you will find that you speed up automatically. However, beware of trying to go too fast too soon by forcing the pace - this will lead to unevenness in both rhythm and tone when what you should be aiming for is for the notes to just flow, apparently of their own accord.

One of the challenges of grade 8 is to be able to play at speeds approaching that of the professionals. However, the current trend is for professionals to play faster and faster, IMO sometimes to the detriment of the music, so don't feel you always have to follow that trend. I'm sure any examiner would prefer to hear a controlled, musical performance at 3/4 professional speed rather than a rushed, far from perfect rendering. Speed certainly isn't everything at grade 8 level.

Very best of luck with your exam. I'm sure that in three months time you'll be wondering why you thought professional speeds were so far out of your reach.

Of course its managing the triplets thats the problem, if you start too fast the triplet can be frenzied.
Yes I would agree with Tom that its best to set metronome to a minim beat rather than crotchet.

Hi,

Bear in mind that Beethoven didn't specify a metronome marking when he wrote this piece. He specified "Allegro." So you've got a bit of wriggle room as to your interpretation of how fast is fast. But it has to be fast, mind.

So to get there (echoing a lot of the wise suggestions so far):

- decide on a workable fingering early on.
- learn it slowly, so that you're completely secure.
- if you use a metronome, make sure the beat is a minim, and not a crochet. The time signature is alla breve, and as MT correctly notes, if your rhythm is based on crochets, you'll give the piece the wrong feel.
- while making sure that you maintain complete security in the notes, gradually speed up as the weeks go by.
- pay attention to the phrasing that Beethoven has written in. Breaks between phrases give you the chance to catch your breath at speed. And pay attention to the ends of phrases too. When you're going fast, particularly the triplets can become blurred and inarticulated.

Good luck, and enjoy. It's a marvellous piece!!

Thanks so much for all your wise responses. You have given me confidence that I can manage this piece.

Particular thanks to making me aware of the metronome speed as per crotchet/ minim. This I was unaware of but now totally understand its importance.

Thanks again

Seconded, and one further note of warning: If you try to go too fast too soon you can injure yourself. I did (though not with this piece). I strained tendons in both wrists.