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Fr�d�ric Chopin (composer)
Piano Performance
Learning Piano
Pianos
Is it possible to master chopin's ballade in g minor with only 6 years experience
of piano?
6 Answers
Andy Bentley
Andy Bentley, M.Mus Musicology & Franz Liszt, University of Cape Town (1995)
Answered Sep 19, 2015
Amongst the pianists I work with there are two schools of thought regarding this
sort of thing.

One is the belief that anybody can play anything . It just depends on how hard they
work, the rigour of their practice routine and the determination to overcome
technical obstacles.

Secondly there are those who argue that no matter how hard one works, if one can't
handle the technical requirements it is unlikely that you would continue to work on
a piece whilst sending perhaps months developing the muscular and other
coordination facilities that just aren't there to start with.

So after six years it depends on how your technique is, what you find easy and what
you think can be mastered with the right amount of work.
I think the above arguments only determine likelihood and that possibility always
exists.

(I once told a Grade4 piano pupil of mine that if she could learn Op10 no12 within
a year I would buy her an iPad. After 8 months of determination she only had 2
pages to go. Luckily for me she emigrated!)
1k Views � 1 Upvote
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Tom Rose
Tom Rose, studied at King's College London
Answered Sep 23, 2015
I suspect that the real question was "I have been learning to play piano for six
years. Is it possible for me to now learn Chopin's first ballade?"

And that is impossible to answer, because after six years you could be well on your
way to being a world-class concert pianist, or you might still be a relative
beginner.

Piano playing skill and potential are not measured in "years of experience"
1k Views � 4 Upvotes
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Kirsten Corbett
Kirsten Corbett
Answered Feb 22, 2017
Definitely depends on your experience. One could be still a beginner after six
years or they could be on their way to becoming an absolute artist (take Lucas
Debargue for example, 4th in XV Tchaikovsky Competition in 2015, with only four
years of professional training at the time)

I am 17 years old and I, too, have only been playing piano for six years. I am able
to play most of the nocturnes by Chopin. I can play half of the first ballade. The
coda is nasty and takes a lot of slow practice. I can play half the 3rd ballade in
Ab major. (I know, not ideal to abandon a work halfway through, but so far 3rd
ballade is more up my street and it�s only been a few days)

I have not started studying music at third level, nor do I consider myself to know
a lot about classical music in general. But Chopin�s ballades not only require
perfect technique but also emotional maturity, then a person can execute them well.

That answer went off topic. Do you think you can? Does your teacher think you can?
There are more factors than years of playing.

548 Views � 2 Upvotes

Gary Allen
Gary Allen, Wood and steel at their best.
Answered Sep 16, 2015
That's about how long I had studied when I began work on it, although I didn't
perform it for another two years or so. My holdback was not having sufficiently
advanced teaching to address the real difficulties of the piece. These include
playing precise runs and chromatic scales with both hands, stretched hand positions
and confident leaps in register.
1.1k Views
Cory Hall
Cory Hall, works at YouTube
Answered Sep 19, 2015
No, this is impossible, at least the way the question is worded. One can certainly
learn the basics like notes and rhythms in six years experience, but to "master"
this large work in this short amount of time is not possible. The only possible
exception to this is in the case of a true child prodigy.
1.1k Views
In�s de Erausquin
In�s de Erausquin, Musician
Answered Sep 15, 2015
As a pianist, I'd say yes; it really depends on the player - and how hard they
practice! These would also affect how quickly the piece is mastered, but I think
this Ballade should be doable after six years of good work.
647 Views � 1 Upvote
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Related Questions
What skills are needed to play Chopin's Ballade No.1?
Pianists: how long did it take you to learn Chopin's first ballade?
How long do I have to practise Chopin's Ballade in G Minor to perform it in another
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