Chopin Nocturne in C# minor: Scales at the End--DETAILED tutorial to help you master them! (Video3)

Chopin's Nocturne in C# minor is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written. The scales at the end are particularly tricky due to the complicated rhythms. With this video, I hope to help you gain more confidence in how to practice and play these scales, whether you are a beginner or a more advanced pianist.
This detailed video goes through each of the 4 scales at the end of this piece, starting in my measure 55. Because there are multiple editions of this piece, yours might start on a different measure, but the information will represent the same scales.
After a short introduction, the video will cover each of the 4 scales chronologically--giving practical, hands on tips on ways to get these scales under your fingers. Feel free to skip through the timestamps to find each scale.
An important thing to be aware of is that there are MANY different versions of this piece, and many different interpretations. I learned it from the Henle edition, 20a: KK IVa Nr. 16 but there are many authentic scholarly editions and there may be small things that might be different. That said, when playing this piece, pianists really take artistic liberties and make it deeply personal--so that is my goal for you.
Thank you for watching!
Timestamps below:
00:00 Intro
00:44 A few tips on rhythm and finger technique
03:16 Scale 1
08:40 Scale 2
14:52 Scale 3
18:54 Scale 4
23:33 All 4 scales in a row
Please subscribe for more videos on piano teaching, piano literature and quick piano tips.
As always, thanks for watching!
www.olympiapiano.com
www.jenniferbowmanmusic.com
If you found this video helped you, please consider a contribution of any amount to help grow this channel.
Graciously accepted at PayPal.
[e-mail]

[@jerrydavid8884]

Your lesson is the world's best. When I listen these scales sound, I can feel the sad heart of the composer, Chopin. In all of nocturne pieces, scale and chromatic scale are the spacific part. Scale is the most difficult part for me due to thumb finger control. The countless parctices are much important, I think and your Kindly Systematic Practice routines are the great help and powerful solution for my skill in playing this piece. Thank you very much.🎉❤😊

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for your kindness. Today's video #26 gives many new tips on practicing the scales so hopefully it will help you also

[@abdurrahmanayaz8767]

Perhaps thanks to you, we have entered a new era in the technical and theoretical analysis of piano works👏👏👏Thank you very much for presenting this romantic confusion to us with an expression at the peak of simplicity🙏

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for your kind comment. I actually think these scales are some of the most complicated moments in Chopin and have spent countless hours trying to get them good. Best wishes to you!

[@enricoschiavo7629]

Best set of lessons on this piece I've seen so far. Looking forward to your lessons on other pieces.

[@OlympiaPiano]

You are very kind. Glad you found it helpful and hope some of the others help you as well. I'm doing a lot of Chopin these days! Best wishes with this piece

[@elizabetherickson6073]

This is one of the best videos I’ve seen for breaking things down!!!! Thank you,

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for your very kind comment--please feel free to share with anyone who might benefit from this type of instruction. Best wishes with this piece!

[@carandkarts9558]

Thank you so much for this video. I have not watched the first two parts, but your part 3 came up as a feed (probably due to my other searches). This is exactly the part I need to work through, as I am trying to re-pick up piano after 30 years of sporadic playing. Really appreciate your video.

[@OlympiaPiano]

I am very glad the video popped up for you and that you took the time to watch it. I know it is long. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and best wishes as you re-work this piece. I am always thrilled to hear about people coming back to the piano!

[@carandkarts9558]

@@OlympiaPiano Thank you, I'm still working on the 18 vs 2 scale which probably is the easiest of the 4!

[@devinwhite8553]

Thank you so much! I’ve loved watching every part to this series. With this I can hopefully buckle down and commit to learning this piece in full. Much appreciation from Long Island New York.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. I hope you find the learning process enjoyable--this is a great piece to spend a lot of time with. Long Island is great! We were just in the city this past weekend and enjoyed The Edge, Citibikes, Chelsea Golf and NYC pizza! Best wishes

[@KlausDave]

Very detailed and useful Tipps for this tricky part of that piece.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you! I hope it helped you and thank you for taking the time to comment. Best wishes with this piece!

[@schmolzen]

This tutorial is so great! Thank you! 😊

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for watching--best wishes on this piece!

[@chanhnguyen2215]

Wonderful lesson, specially scale. Thank you so much. I am also interested about Nocturne in C minor Op. posthumous.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for your kind comment--glad the scale lesson helped you! Best wishes

[@chtcheung5794]

Thank you very much, can’t find a better tutorial that could explain better the techniques of the runs. Of course plus very helpful tips too. ❤❤

[@OlympiaPiano]

I am glad you liked this video and thank you for taking the time to comment to let me know! The runs are very tricky so stick with them and let me know what happens! Best wishes!

[@chtcheung5794]

Thanks for spending time responding, forgot to mention, as requested, here is an adult learner from Bristol UK, and am still working hard on the last part of the run after 3 weeks 😅😅 Would love to have your professional tips on Nocturne Op.9 No.1 too, if your time so allowed. Thanks a lot.

[@jenniferbowmanmusic1817]

@@chtcheung5794 I have worked on the runs for over 30 years. So hang in there! Yes Op. 9 nocturne is wonderful. There are a few other Chopin in line before OP. 9 no 1 but I will get there! Best to you

[@josevila-verde5346]

Another excellent video, made with great care, even the presentation text. Great attention to detail. I really appreciate your patience. Thank you. If all teachers were like you...

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you very much for your kind comments. This is definitely one of the more difficult parts of the piece. Hope this helps you learn this piece! Please let me know!

[@mabdub]

This video is excellent, thank you. Over the years I have found that the stumbling block for most students trying to learn this piece is how well they can play the scales without the left hand accompaniment. It's playing the scales fast and even that presents the actual sticking point. It's imperative that students learn how the hand and arm have to glide in order to play fast and even. Obviously, you can play scales well at a fast tempo so if you posted a video of how to play the E major scales in the piece just by themselves the video would likely benefit many students. Playing scales very fast requires a light touch or tension will build in the right hand and arm and the thumb is likely to accent the the notes it plays. Once students can play the right hand scales lightly and evenly by themselves then matching them to the left hand rhythm will become a breeze or at least far less challenging.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for your message and you have a great point. I am about to embark on a 30-day overview of this piece (2 measures/day) starting on May 1. I will include your suggestion as part of this series--great idea!

[@mabdub]

@@OlympiaPiano It's so great that you are taking the time to use your gifts and expertise to help other musicians. The people you help will go on to help others and your teaching will likely influence generations of musicians in the future, perhaps even how to play this same exquisite Nocturne. Your teachings help keep the beauty alive and accessible.

[@jenniferbowmanmusic1817]

@@mabdub Thank you, you are very kind. Trying my best to pass on what I learned from my amazing teachers.

[@mabdub]

@@OlympiaPiano Hi, Many students find the measure containing the 35 note scale to be quite worrisome but they shouldn't. Of course, the problem is playing the 35 notes to match the four left hand notes which theoretically should be played in strict time. What students should be aware of is that even some of the foremost pianists in the world do not play the four eighth notes in strict time while they are playing the 35 notes in the right hand. There is a KZbin video of Lang Lang playing this Nocturne from his home and when he plays the 35 notes he barely touches the notes in the left hand and in fact, he lifts his hand off the keyboard until his right hand completes the scale run and it sounds exquisite. Similarly, Bruce Liu, the Canadian pianist who won first place in the Warsaw, Chopin piano competition also posted a KZbin video showing his hands while he plays the same passage and if one looks closely at how he plays the four notes in the left hand while playing the scale it becomes very clear that as soon as he begins the scale he slows his left hand down to accommodate his right hand voice. It's great if students can play this challenging scale run in strict time but obviously it is not essential, in fact, I have rarely ever heard this particular scale run played in strict time by anybody. This leads me to speculate that perhaps even Chopin didn't play this scale in strict time but, I do understand why he wrote it in strict time; it's okay to slow the rhythm down a bit but not so much that the flowing grace of the 35 notes sounds like it's had an accident. To be fair, when I listened to Lang Lang play this Nocturne on his album he does play the 35 note scale to match strict time in the left hand but of course, album recordings are subject to rigorous critical reviews by people who will not tolerate even the slightest deviation from the written music. The most important thing about this scale passage is that it sounds elegant and graceful and it doesn't have to be played super fast in strict time to achieve that result.

[@OlympiaPiano]

@@mabdub absolutely!

[@zergnub7426]

That scale 2 is where I crumble. So hard. Thanks for the amazing lesson.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Scale 2 is very difficult. Just keep at it and play it in an artistic way that works for where you are at. Thank you for watching!

[@zergnub7426]

@@OlympiaPiano I'm self-taught. Been playing for a year now. It's highly likely my technique is appalling, which is why i struggle to get up and down the keyboard at speed without hitting the wrong notes. I notice when you play that scale, your hand is almost tilted a little to the right, and then pivots a little to the left as you come down. Are you using your wrist? When I play, I am flat on, as in , always directly above the keyboard. Perhaps this is why I find it hard. It's like your hand is an agile spider quickly scurrying up the keyboard, and mine is a flat footed gorilla. If you see what I mean!

[@OlympiaPiano]

Wow--self taught is amazing! I did not give technique tips in this particular video but check out video #26 in the 30 day overview and there are some tips on actually how to play these scales. Check them out and see if they might help you out. You definitely want to work on playing on the tips for the scale. And be patient, these things take time!

[@zergnub7426]

@@OlympiaPiano will do. Thanks a lot. It's not talent. I have none of that. Just sheer bloody-mindedness and a refusal to be beaten! Which, I suspect, is a rather useful trait when it comes to learning a musical instrument! Thanks again

[@OlympiaPiano]

Absolutely--many of my most successful students have a decent amount of talent but are willing to work. And that is where you find success at piano! Keep at it. May I suggest to you that you check out the Boris Berlin Essential Daily Exercises. I discovered them after I was at conservatory and they literally filled in the gaps! Keep at it. I'm sure you have more talent than you suggest.

[@Anas.Sharif]

Very informative video! Im gonna give myself a month at these scales before I attempt learning this piece.

[@OlympiaPiano]

That sounds like a really great idea--thank you for watching!

[@billrogers5219]

Thank you. This is great, makes those fioriture with complicated polyrhythms totally approachable. Nothing like breaking one big difficult problem into lots of easy ones. The best, most helpful explanation of this issue I've seen.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you very much for your message. Much appreciated. I hope this can help many people play this piece. Best wishes!

[@dkbbass403]

Thanks so much for taking the time to make this invaluable tutorial, fantastic work, I look forward to seeing more.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Glad it helped you. Best wishes on this piece. More Chopin tutorials are in the works!

[@francogravante4225]

Sei bravissima grazie di tutto ❤️

[@OlympiaPiano]

This is the hardest part. I hope it helps you!

[@krasko78]

Thank you!

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. Please let me know how this piece turns out for you!

[@condos7]

Can you present a tutorial on Lecuona's Malagueña?

[@OlympiaPiano]

I do love that piece--I have quite a bit ahead in the queue but will add that certainly.

[@hakansen1555]

Thanks mam

[@OlympiaPiano]

You are welcome--enjoy this piece!

[@marekm6172]

Brawo

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for watching and commenting! Best wishes as you learn this beautiful piece

[@Zhyrok]

🎉🎉

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thank you for watching--let me know how it goes for you!

[@jabwbjajans]

i seriously just cant do scale two, its impossible for me to

[@OlympiaPiano]

I believe in you!! Try this SUPER SLOWLY and let me know how it goes: With the first LH note in scale 2 play 8 notes exactly Ab to Ab, with the second LH note play 9 notes Bb to C, with the 3rd LH note play 9 notes Db to C and with the last LH notes 9 notes Bb to G. Don't worry about speed, just worry about placing the notes in that way.

[@stella_studio]

In some other tutorials, they've suggested 9+9+9+8 for the second scale

[@OlympiaPiano]

Any combo can work if you are working it out. I like 8 + 9 (or 9 +8) for the first half so the top note of the scale fits exactly with LH note #3. But as I always say in my tutorials--use YOUR artistic vision

[@zhalehhajipouranbenam6849]

🙏🙏🙏

[@OlympiaPiano]

thank you for watching! Work hard on this section it is worth it! : )

[@zhalehhajipouranbenam6849]

appreciate from turkey❤

[@OlympiaPiano]

@@zhalehhajipouranbenam6849 I hope to visit Turkey some day!

[@zhalehhajipouranbenam6849]

Hi🙏, why this piece is terminated in C #major acord while it is writen in C #minor scale? @@OlympiaPiano

[@OlympiaPiano]

@@zhalehhajipouranbenam6849 great question! I am not sure why. There are many versions of this. I like to think that he wants to end with hope but that is just my opinion

[@condos7]

😅

[@OlympiaPiano]

Thanks for watching! Best wishes.

[@peterfennema3112]

The scales need to be completely independent of the steady accompaniment. Anything else, including trying to mathematically correlate the left and right hands, is just pedantic and not at all in the expressive spirit of Chopin.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Your opinion is respectfully noted. And wow, you are quite the pianist (and it looks like quite the organist as well). Just listened to your Rachmaninoff Etude Tableaux! Wow! Please consider that these videos are meant to be starting points for people who are self-taught or live in places that do not have access to a teacher for this type of music--many of my viewers are from areas that don't receive Western music training, much less formal classical training. After years of playing and teaching this piece I have found that the semi-mathematical approach has worked well to get the scales in the ballpark for a large percentage of people. Am I encouraging people to play robotically? Absolutely not! But, as you know, it does take years of practice and coaching to develop the type of independence of the hands that you are discussing--I would love to know if you have any specific tips for my viewers on how to play these scales.

[@peterfennema3112]

@@OlympiaPiano Thank for your gracious response. This nocturne is deceptively difficult throughout, and the scales at the end are a poetic challenge. I do not at all question your advice or experience teaching this piece - you know what has worked for your students! I would just say that I feel the left and right hands should meet at the bottom and top of each phrase with everything in-between working independently.

[@OlympiaPiano]

Yes that is magical when that sort of phrasing happens--for me it is only about 50% of the time though I have played those scales literally thousands of times. Probably more about getting in the zone/flow than where exactly each finger and hand play. But every bit of time I invest in this piece is worth it!