So overall, I would say this is Intermediate. But the mainly scalar melody is hard because of the speed. The bass is relatively simple with this etude. And this Etude definitely fits with the definition of toccata.

A toccata is a piece composed basically to show off the player's talent on a given instrument, typically a keyboard instrument. I can see how it got its nickname the Toccata Etude. The bass and melody switch hands in the B section of this Etude.

It is definitely easier than the previous two etudes. This is I would say is an intermediate in Chopin etude difficulty. This is one of few etudes by Chopin that don't have nicknames. As you can probably tell from the name, it uses mostly the black keys. This is another difficult etude, once again due to fast notes and octaves. All those fast notes and octaves makes the entire piece difficult. Hardest part is the wide leaps in the left hand.Īfter 3 relatively easy etudes comes one that is very difficult. In fact, I would say that it is about as easy as a Chopin Nocturne. This is arguably easier than the previous two etudes. This Chopin Etude reminds me a bit of Flight of the Bumblebee because of the constant chromatic motion by sixteenth notes and the tonic of A. Again the right hand is mostly scales but you also have to play part of the bass line with the right hand which makes it a bit harder than the Waterfall Etude. What makes this even easier is the key being C major. The right hand is also relatively easy because it is basically scales but embellished. The bass line in the left hand is very easy, just simple octaves. I will go in compositional order here in my assessment of each of the Op. If you're not confident that you are ready for Chopin, than stick with Mozart and Beethoven for a while(I learned that the hard way, trying to learn Grande Valse Brilliante 2 years into my piano playing) But some Chopin etudes are easier than others. For easy Chopin, look at his Preludes, Nocturnes, and Mazurkas. For easy Etudes, look at Czerny's Studies. A number of studies have been transposed into other keys.None of Chopin's Etudes are easy. In the first exercises, the right hand part in the original has been divided between both hands for pedagogic reasons, without altering the melodic line of the original. He himself must decide if his tone corresponds to his musical intentions, which accustoms him from the start to listen critically to his own playing. Attention should also be paid to dynamics first awaken a sense of the contrast between loud and soft tones by practical illustration, which the student should then imitate on the instrument. In this way, the student is gradually introduced to the chromatic signs, tonally and technically, which makes it possible to use other keys than C major much earlier than usual, as is suggested in the present work. Short verses of folk or children's songs within a range of five tones can also be played in the same way so that the transposition of the first exercises into other keys will no longer offer any great difficulties for an ordinary musical ear. Ear training is given practical application by singing the triad to the syllables la or do mi sol (or bi gu la), and then playing it in different positions. Proceeding from the triad, the student is afforded to the opportunity of combining these exercises with his other musical studies. The majority of the studies in the first volume have been chosen purposely in the triad form, along with those in diatonic scales.

The more gradually the technical difficulties are introduced, the more will be gained from these studies from the purely musical side. Studies are also useful in developing a musical sense, if played with taste and charm and not practiced in a dull and mechanical manner. In the compilation of this collection of studies, the author was moved principally by the desire to produce a work which would introduce the student gradually to all the problems of the piano technique, give him confidence and technical facilities, develop his pianistic gifts, and thus provide him with the technical and musical background to enable him to master the purely musical material without too great an effort.

Czerny etudes by difficulty