A perfect quote about Chopin's music I just had to share.

Have you listened to op 17 no 4? A lovely mazurka, about the same level as the pieces you're currently playing. I'd say that you should go ahead and try out op 55 no 1. Playing Bach is great, however to get better at playing Chopin, there's little better than playing Chopin pieces. Bach's style involves a different technique. Chopin really figured out how to use the hands best on a piano, and ushered in a new era of using the wrist and arm in piano playing (along with Liszt). I think with diligent practice there's nothing stopping you from succeeding at op 55 no 1.

I've played a fair bit of Chopin in the past, highlights being the étude op 10 no 5, Scherzo no 1 and the Barcarolle. I'm currently working on Ballade no 1 (the coda is a real nightmare to get up to tempo). If I manage to get that piece up to a good standard by the next few months I think my next Chopin project would be the vastly underrated Polonaise Fantasie op 61.

If you were up to a couple of months of focused practice for a 2 min piece, the études are really great to bring your playing to the next level. The one I played (op 10 no 5) is a good first one to learn. Expect to spend a lot of hours of slow practice and multiple months of learning to get up to scratch.

/r/piano Thread Parent