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This measure is one of the most difficult in all Chopin so I understand! It took quite a bit of practice for me to get it ready for the video lesson! Thank you for watching

@@OlympiaPiano I went through all of the videos. They are so comprehensive. Your instruction include theory. I really do appreciate your instructions. I intend to send you a donation as well.

@@OlympiaPiano I apologize I am from Richmond Tx.

@@f9883h Thank you! Yes I include the theory because I have such a wide variety of viewers--some are learning the piece the first time, and others are revisiting it, I find that it is helpful to include the theory once a person is ready for it!

@@f9883h wonderful! I lived in Houston for a year when I was playing piano for Houston Grand Opera--beautiful country!

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I hope it helps you on this gorgeous piece!

Thank you for taking the time out to let me know!

No, sorry just the video. Thank you for watching!

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I hope this helps you out. I do have several videos on chords and chord progressions so hopefully they can help you!

Thanks for the comment--I was exhausted putting this one together--hard key!!!

Thank you!

I am not sure where you live but you might consider taking basic music theory at a local community college or community center. In my community (roughly 100,000 people) we have both options and people seem to like it. Also, Berklee online has all sorts of classes that my friends and colleagues seem to like. It is the kind of thing that you can start with the basics and then dig in deeper as you go. I include it in these videos because lots of times people are re-visiting the piece and I find that understanding the harmony helps make choices about pacing, dynamics etc. Hope this helps and I hope you are taking your time on the videos--best wishes

Yes- great question. The grace notes are the tiny little notes that are about 1/4 the size of the regular notes. I am not sure how your score is numbered but in measure 2 or 3 there are two grace notes after the F# trill at the beginning of the piece that are at the very end of the measure. They are not part of the "regular" rhythm and you have to take a bit of time to figure out how they fit in.

Yes good observation--In my hand (and for many people), the finger 4 is extremely weak, so I am not able to get the power on finger 4 for that moment. I prefer to use finger 3 for the D# because that helps me get the "con forza" feel. Like I always say, however, please do the fingering that works for your hand and if 2-1-3-4 works well for you, play it that way.

Thank you for taking part in the series. Your comments were great. I put the harmonic analysis in there because the videos will be there like you said over time, sometimes they also help people who already know the piece and are revisiting it. Plus music theory is fun!

Thank you very much! I love all your thoughtful questions

Great thoughts. I love the fact that you are reacting to the music and questioning the possibilities. With regards to the G# on the second half of the beat--yes it sounds wrong to me because I have played this piece for over 30 years, but it doesn't sound "bad" it simply creates a different chord harmony that is a little less dark than the D# diminished with the F#. With regards to the G# tie in the RH, the G# is the 5th note of the scale which has a really important function in that it resolves to the main note of the scale - in this case C#, so in my opinion Chopin is holding this G# with the tension underneath (and clashing with the second half of m. 59 and 60) as he allows the music to fade away and resolve. When I play this piece I do choose to play the E in measures 59-60 so the E# is a relief and release in m 61. Hope this helps.

Thank you.

Yes, the "big scale" is generally played slower--I am sure there are pianists that can do it at tempo so to speak but in my opinion it is nice to slow down here and allow this big scale to be a final, beautiful flourish. Some of the most famous concert pianists take it quite slowly. It is best if the piece has a lot of give and take throughout so it feels more poetic.

Thank you. I had made a mistake in my comment: I was actually talking about the LH (not RH) becoming slower than its normal tempo during the big scale.

They both get slower! So no problem.

hope it goes well for you--I think B minor is very difficult!

Hi Gabriel--thank you for your comment and thank you for watching! I think you have a very good point and I will try to see what I can come up with in terms of videos on that topic. Best wishes!

Thank you for watching!

Thanks! Hope it helps you with this beautiful piece!

You are welcome--hope to visit Western Switzerland again some day! Thank you for watching.

Thanks for watching!

Thank you for watching!

Thank you for watching!

Thank you for taking the time to explain this more fully to my viewers and I!!!! As I haven't recorded the final video yet, I am going to share this in the final wrap up as I think it is a perfect way to end the series. Many thanks for viewing!

Thank you so much! I appreciate it!

Thank you! I hope you will let me know how things go for you!

Very happy to hear! Best wishes

Thank you for your wonderful comment. How exciting for you! I have known many adults who started piano around 60 years of age and played for 20-25 years, getting quite accomplished. Please keep me posted on your journey! Best wishes!

You are most welcome!

Very happy to hear!

You are very welcome, thank you for watching. Let me know how it goes for you!

I am so happy to hear you are working on Chopin. It is my dream to come to South Korea!!!!!!! I have so many Korean friends both those who play piano and don't Best wishes and let me know how it goes

Thank you for your kind comment and thank you for subscribing! I hope this piece goes well for you.

You are most welcome--once you get the hang of this, it is a game changer!

I hope this works for you

I absolutely adore formula pattern scales because they force our brain to create new pathways and really lock in the fingering

You are welcome. I think how you described your learning process is great!

Thank you very much!

Thank you so much! The videos will be here so just go at your own pace. Please let me know your progress and if you have any questions. Best wishes!

@OlympiaPiano Thanks 😊

Thank you for such a thoughtful question. As long as you hold the pedal until beat 2 measure 2 this can work.

Great question! Every piano teacher has their own style. What I am showing you is how I have been taught, played and taught my students for 30+ years. My suggestion would be to see which method feels the most natural to your hand and do it that way.

Thank you and glad to see what you are studying! The best exercises out there. Once you get the notes down, do not read them on the page, but rather look at your hands and make sure you are doing the motion that the exercise is calling for. Let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you for your kind comment. I am glad to hear you are recovering from an accident. Music can help you! With regards to reading sheet music well I would say to focus on the intervals and see if you can feel them with your fingers. If your left hand is rusty, just start small---2nds and 3rds--learn to see and feel the difference between them (thirds look the same line-line or space-space whereas 2nds look different line-space, space-line). Baby steps are ok--just glad you are back with us. And most importantly remember we are PLAYING the piano (so it is supposed to be fun!) Best wishes!

Very happy to hear that the videos helped you with Dozen a Day (one of the best groups of exercises out there!) Thank you for watching

I am putting a dot on my map for you right now!

Thank you for watching!

Yes--there are so many elements, I'm glad that viewer asked the question--many composers in the romantic era used the pedal as a major tool for sustain.

Thank you very much for watching!

I'm not sure I understand the question--but if you are referring to the Solfege Do Re Mi, I don't use the English words C-D-E because the goal is to transpose into 12 keys. Do-Re-Mi remains constant throughout 12 keys (with movable solfege) but transposing you would have to change the letter names. I hope I answered your question correctly thank you for watching

@@OlympiaPiano Thanks for answer. Is nice listen latin notes, in my country we use it.

I think the Solfege is the best. We don't use it here in the USA enough in piano, but I think it is really important!!! You didn't let me know your country--I am putting dots on my world map for my viewers. Please let me know

You are most welcome. Thank you for subscribing and I would love to know how the piece goes for you!