Chopin Prelude No.16 - Tutorial - Paul Barton, piano

A tutorial to encourage those who don't already play this piece but would like to have a go.
Prelude 16 in tutorial-speed performance in video reply or: • Chopin Prelude No.16 -...
Prelude 16 at performance speed: • Chopin Prelude No.16 -...

[@rxboy]

It's funny how some people argue about the specifics of this tutorial. As a self taught pianist, I'm grateful for individuals like Mr. Barton. Not many people take the time to selflessly help others by making FREE and HELPFUL tutorials like this. Thanks a lot. :-)

[@npelletier89]

I think he's helping people who are already at a competent level to try it...I doubt someone who only plays pop music would ever learn a piece like this. It's implied that whoever attempting this has taken theory, or else the VERY first scale would already throw them off. This is a great video by the way; I like the way you subdivided the sections!

[@donnytello1544]

This guy has such perfect flow, I really enjoy hearing him play

[@michaelwisse9284]

Unbelievable how good this little piano sounds

[@josantonioalcantara]

It’s not the piano, it’s what the pianist can do with the instrument.

[@fiscalcpiano]

​@@josantonioalcantara no, sometimes it really is the piano too.

[@Lot2learn]

A truly amazing display of virtuosity. Not only in your technique and total command of your playing, but also your thorough knowledge and incredibly clear method of presentation in this tutorial. I am in awe of your great facility as you go through this piece at varying tempos to show your suggestions for practicing. I love all the great video transitions and titling too! Fantastic in every respect!

[@pennyjane9906]

You play really effortlessly… thank you for this Tutorial.

[@fiscalcpiano]

That's the first thing I noticed too, he just lets it rip totally relaxed. His first bar did NOT prepare me for how smooth the 2nd bar was (and onward)

[@nomoreupdate4988]

10years. now. wow. Amazing.

[@JamesIdentity]

I watched this so many times.

[@reubenjames3651]

Im working on it now. Im probably about 16 hours into it and 3/4 of the first page at about 2/3 speed. Its a beast. There is some repeating so there is only about 3 pages so that helps. Im estimating about 125 to 150 hours to performance for me. I have bigger hands so some of the tighter fingerings takes me longer to work out the technique. The 24 preludes is some my favorite stuff ever. So many great songs in in there.

[@SpontaneityJD]

pieces* ❤

[@physikphilosoph]

Thank you Paul for all these well made tutorials, your stuff is well organized and comprehensive, your style is decent, a little modest though...you probably have more music in your blood than some "pianists" around the globe... P. S. In your score, second bar r. h. the first c and e flat are "swapped"

[@jordanthukkaram]

Chopin often published multiple versions of the same piece with small differences. This could be why your scores differ.

[@Steele8924]

I doubt it. Your tutorials are fantastic Paul. What he most likely does not realise too, is that many (probably most) people viewing this tutorial have been playing the piano for many years (like myself), and as such already have a very strong background. I have always been interested in this piece, but have never attempted it! Thanks for the tutorial again!

[@PlayBetterJazz]

another great tutorial! Kudos Paul you are a true inspiration!

[@jxjun33]

Your tutorial video made my son start to practice this piece that he always wanted to play. Thank you very much!

[@tuanrizan2276]

You made it easy Paul!!! Thank you very much!!

[@DerekAdamPiano]

Wow! I loved your video - specifically how you broke down each phrase and demonstrated with practice techniques. I am adding this prelude to my practice list.

[@vulkanosaure]

you rock mister Barton ! solid technic and you seem very humble. thanks !

[@karldavid3127]

Is it true that this is nicknamed by musicians as "Hades"?

[@ThnputMd]

Karl Ledesma Ye Boss

[@evr551]

Yes, by bülow, who is now dead.

[@ayhamshaheed7740]

Karl Ledesma yah

[@yodamvpplayer]

You are a fantastic pianist and teacher, thank you

[@brownnakaia]

I owe you my life for this. thanks thank you for making this vid. im now at 30 %

[@vulkanosaure]

hi ! did you ever make it till 100% ? i'm currently working on it, i doubt i will ever master it at that tempo but i'll try anyway :)

[@FFChopin1810]

Great tips, great work. Inspirational. Thanks!

[@gerardbedecarter]

Thanks, Paul, for yet another of your most interesting tutorials. btw the imagine of the mad, wicked, shrieking witch is gorgeous !!!!!

[@philphil8388]

Professional pianist and I never saw that rhythm change! The problems of recognizing a pattern haha. Ty.

[@MusicalMissCapri]

Whew! Thanks for this video. I'm going to have to learn this in baby steps.

[@sinchris8888]

Good evening Mr. Barton, where can I find the colored printed version from the score? i see no link for this in the info. thank you :)

[@wholemilky]

Did you ever come across these colored printed scores good sir?

[@yuujoupop]

I don't really know idk young lad but I could make one for you guys if you give me a little bit

[@wholemilky]

@@yuujoupop good sir. I would appreciate that immensely

[@finnstyles]

B. Karlsen haha I really really like your profile pic

[@mattovarius]

I'm so glad I found this video! Thank you for posting this and keep up the good work!

[@CyrilleV26]

Hi Paul and thanks for this wonderful tutorial. This will help for starting to work it, for sure... Now, see you next year when I finish the 1st page ! lool !! Greetings.

[@leozingy]

Amazing! Hope you make a living doing this, truly professional! Thank you very much!

[@Martel211996]

the character of this piece reminds me of a mad and wicked witch. yes this may seem weird. But i can just imagine hearing her shriek and laugh while playing this piece. This of course is out of my ability to perform. However the video, is a great way to get started on such a tricky piece as such, but its a great piece for show. Fast,Loud, and and a lot of hand movement, like this piece,can convince the audience that you are a god! bravo well done!

[@LUISIVANSANCHEZDELACRUZ]

El minuto 7:00 es la melodía escondida dentro de la partitura, es el alma misma de Chopin!

[@SmeagolTheBeagle]

Excellent player, excellent tutorial!

[@davidjones7429]

Thank you so much for this video!!

[@unclespeedy]

love how you just crank up to warp speed on demand.

[@Ihi92]

2:50 at the last beat we have first A-natural but denn A flat!!

[@NoahJohnson1810]

How did you get such good audio quality with that upright piano?

[@dcunited710]

I have the same piano as him, and it so good. It sounds even better than many brands of grand pianos!

[@iliatsiklauri3868]

I have PETROF upright and its sounds also very cool

[@thanos4677]

Eddie Younis yeah sometimes a good quality upright can be better than a cheap grand. Expensive grands always sound amazing though

[@charlesfernandez201]

@@dcunited710 whats the piano?

[@dcunited710]

Charles Fernandez it’s a YAMAHA upright piano B1 model

[@florbo73]

Great, very helpful! :) Thanks!

[@JukeboxOddities]

Very Helpfull indeed!!! Keep it up!

[@paolalibera701]

thanks to YOU!!!

[@teftae]

Good job. However I don't agree with accenting the first note during actual performance, especially the part in 2:57. The nice thing about that part is the interlocking of top and bottom layers without conforming to the 4 semiquaver structure. In a fast and clean performance if you accent every 4 notes that would destroy the beauty in that particular section.

[@BlackWWidow]

Awesome !!!

[@user-xn4ny9xf8v]

Thank you

[@bobdawson2779]

Mr. Barton, you are fantastic! Thank you very much for your thorough help. Bob Dawson, nyc

[@sarahheger5612]

You play VERY well!

[@tatiana2898]

so helpful!!!

[@피아니스트이의정]

wow

[@robfryderykchopin8505]

Fantastic Paul!!! U are a concert pianist for sure!!! I play also but not quite like you. Your technique is perfect.How do u avoid even the smallest of mistakes. cheers!!! Did u ever perform? where did u study.

[@bengibson9396]

Thank you, Chopin, for having mercy on us mere mortals and writing this in B flat minor. Actually, ... no, nvm

[@dynamo116]

Do you have a different version of this piece?? On my sheet music, the 2nd measure - the first 4 sixteenth notes are F, C, Eb, Db but yours has F, Eb, C, Db. Also in measure 18 the right hand repeats and begins with F, C, Eb, Db, hmmm, logically doesn't it make sense that the beginning should also be F, C, Eb, Db? ?_?

[@benjaminbeam5273]

Is this harder that Chopin's ballade no 2?

[@peterberger3928]

No. Coz the figures are always the same.

[@Mignuke]

Nope. If you’ve finished ballade 2 then this shouldn’t be too bad

[@Giampierremountain]

For me yes, I've played both of them, and the prelude is harder... trust me

[@lucassola5921]

Hey Paul! Love the videos and they help me a lot. Do you think you could make a video about reading/sight reading in difficult key signatures? It would help me and a lot of other people greatly.

[@atlantargh]

Paul, may I ask what edition you use? Most of the editions have a slightly different version of the first bar of 16th R.H. notes in the 1st bar, viz, F-C-Eflat-Dflat-F, but I see you play it as: F-Eflat-C-Dflat-F. I welcome your thoughts (wonderful playing!)

[@ytyt3922]

Those left hand octave leaps are my undoing with this one. The rest of the piece is doable.

[@pianoforte17xx48]

Preparing position is the key, and no tension at all

[@edwardtroiano6894]

play the octave Bb's with pinky and thumb, and then jump up with the chord

[@songwang1043]

Thanks

[@tito619ramirez]

Wow , Steve from Blues Clues got old

[@judithmeerwein8593]

where are the sheets?

[@johnnypg]

Hi Paul, Where is the link of the colored printed version???

[@gylacryl6625]

of corse we are watching, your welcome :D and thank you

[@anthonyrosato6052]

Thanks for the tutorial. Could you add some help with practicing the left-hand to minimize tension when trying to increase the tempo?

[@caseysheehan8437]

Paul Barton, Could you share the link to download the tutorial pdf with the highlighted section? I tried typing in the web page at the end of the video, but it took me to iCloud. Thank you for all of the work you put in to help people like me learn Classical Music on the Piano. I appreciate you! :)

[@sjmil2]

WOW

[@cmnaveenmusic]

Please give tips regarding pedaling

[@ludwig720]

The fingers you use (legato figure) for the left hand is not what is written

[@robertogonzalez1494]

Mr. B looks like 'he just got a letter.'

[@user-uq9lx3sv9b]

basically, "if you can play slow, you can play fast" LOL

[@carlosazambujayt]

I'm a little confused by the last notes and accidentals in bar 7 (A natural? A flat?), but thank you for a very nice performance and tutorial.

[@claudioxpena]

Carlos, en realidad Paul toca dos veces A natural(error), pero está indicado primeramente A natural, y luego A bemol. Personalmente te recomiendo la versión editada y revisada de Alfred Cortot(donde figuran las dos A en bemol). se puede conseguir por internet.

[@ytyt3922]

Carlos Azambuja it’s A-natural for the entire final run up the piano. The score is clear.

[@SugarJesus]

dose anyone know how to get the sheet music? the only version of this song i can find is 3 pages not 4?

[@dasduo2577]

Thanks! What microphone did you use to record your Piano? Thank you again!

[@titifaskiri707]

thaks paul nice tutorial

[@Martel211996]

@Snackay Prove it.

[@brianbernstein3826]

should the fingerings be altered in anyway? I have the urtext... thanks

[@aas-fj2xv]

you and playing Beethoven Opus 49 nr 2 at Tage 4, huh???

[@eumolpusdaducos]

my score says the Ab in the 4th sq M6 RH... which edition are you using?

[@annhu8994]

Thank you for your uploading, but Your music sheet have some problem

[@Barba4zul]

Hi paul, can you tell me the edition of the sheets you are using? Thanks for the tutorial!

[@michaelwisse9284]

Paul what model Yamaha is this please anwser

[@freeelectron52]

Great tutorial! Impressive performance as always. But I spotted a typo in your score. The last 4th note of section 3 should be A flat instead of A. I checked this in the Urtext.

[@modernmuso]

I was just about to comment the same. Sounds so odd repeating that a natural! :D

[@lyrianmusic]

A-flat also in the autograph. A great no-nonsense tutorial nonetheless.

[@swingawayde]

Wrong note in Section 3

[@deterdinghenry3592]

Thanks, Paul, but I have to be sincere: this is useless to me, because my problem is not about separate the piece in sections, but learn how to improve accuracy and speed. Greetings

[@kutah8523]

Is that piece much harder than Chopins Winter Wind? I really adore it but am not sure if I should try.

[@ytyt3922]

Kutah just the opposite. Winter Wind is definitely harder than this.

[@michelhadad569]

Yt Yt not true, it’s not much harder, it’s only a bit harder as this speed is extremely hard to reach and be super accurate while winter wind gives u the advantage to be accurate

[@princetonjohnson5826]

Michel Hadad winter wind is wayyy harder trust me, demands way more stamina, this piece is over rather quickly and fairly straight forward to memorize, whilst winter wind is way more mentally and physically draining to perform the whole piece

[@Snackay]

@Martel211996 There is no such thing as a witch.

[@edwardtroiano6894]

are you playing an a natural instead of a flat at 2:28?

[@valgoldthorpe1377]

I think you're right - I actually spotted that, which amazed me. Since I will not be able to play this piece even remotely as well as Paul does, it is mischievously reassuring to spot an error. It is probably just that he was trying to teach and play at the same time.

[@rawkstaarr]

Good video, and excellent playing! However, I think if someone was capable of playing this piece, they would not be a "beginner" and definitely would not need a tutorial. If they do, they definitely should not attempt this piece. The practicing techniques (accenting first beats, etc.) you mentioned are useful, but taught to students at very early stages of their education - old news. A tutorial for this piece just doesn't work/isn't necessary for pianists capable of playing this virtuosic piece.

[@yuujoupop]

Stuart Law it’s still helpful

[@JSBach-pd4yg]

Steve from scoobe doo

[@saamspam6127]

Thank god chopin was a righty or I would not be able to play this

[@OwlyEagles]

I THINK I SEE A CLUE!!!

[@rachm06]

sometime very strange fingering for the left hand, not what chopin wrote

[@rachm06]

that's true, i didn't explain well. I mean that Chopin wrote on the left hand a particular legato (slur? sorry but i'm italian), and in order to obtain the correct musical phrasing you must observe a precise fingering.

[@chris_w1292]

Nice video, but I'm afraid you misread the score, 2:45~2:46. Although you played the last part of the bar as A,B flat, A, G, notes of that particular part are A, B flat, A "flat" and G.

[@wholemilky]

You sure that is the correct part? I've checked on many videos and scores and that part varies, I've always played it as "A flat, B flat, A flat and then G" Since that is easier than the others. I never really heard the difference anyways so I don't think it matters much.

[@josevilaplanaherruzo]

Paderewsky edition: F C Eb Db F...

[@alexDLeow]

The piano is shaking....

[@fabionichetti3079]

your spartito wrong( i'm italian) the first beat is wrong!!!

[@claudioxpena]

What a bad version! so many strange notes. (in my opinion)

[@Ale-rm2zk]

you are stupid?

[@claudioxpena]

sometimes...

[@johnnypg]

Hi Claudio, do you know which version is correct? I detected a wrong note in the begining, the fisrt "E flat" played, after introduction. In some versions I founded "C". So, what note is correct? Thank You.

[@claudioxpena]

It seems that only in the first editions appears E flat, but I play C in this case, as in the most modern editions, for example the version of Alfred Cortot

[@aas-fj2xv]

where are the sheets?