Nocturne

For my friend, Frank. This tutorial looks a later version of Chopin’s well known Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2, titled “Later Version with Authentic Variants”. The score is only available in the Polish National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin. The fioritura variants I selected from the original score are featured in this video. This tutorial concentrates on fingering suggestions for these fioritura variants. Performance Notes The original score can be downloaded from this link, starting on page 11 of this PDF Download my practice score featured in this video (free) Download my fioritura fingering suggestions featured in this video (free) »

In this viewer requested tutorial, we look together at Chopin Nocturne Op. 48, No. 1. Today, the work is one of Chopin’s best known nocturnes. It’s popular with piano students and is known to be technically challenging, almost listed in places. The work is firmly in the key of C minor in 4-4 time and there are no surprising harmonies or key changes. The work reminds us of contemporary descriptions of Chopin’s amazing skill at improvisation. »

Claude Debussy said, “Music is the space between the notes.” And that’s what this tutorial is mainly about. The other week, a friend sent me a beautiful recording he’d made playing Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2. He told me, listening back, he thought his left hand was a little out in places and he also wanted to improve his feel for rubato. So, this video is for my friend and anyone else that feels the same way about these two particular things. »