Frederic Chiu Teaches Chopin's "Revolutionary" Étude

"I think the least interesting thing one can say about this is that it is a study in velocity for the left hand. That would be a very simplistic way to characterize this. It's obviously extremely challenging for the left hand, but it's really not about strength and speed and power in the left hand as it is about strength and power in the rhetoric of the musical message." - Frederic Chiu on Chopin's Étude in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 12
Watch Chiu's full lesson on the "Revolutionary" and other Chopin Études below!
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[@stephenjablonsky1941]

A long time ago my family lived at 610 West End Avenue in Manhattan. On the floor above us was an elderly Russian lady by the name of Madame Moshke. She was a piano teacher from the old school. Living with her was a young woman who took lessons from her. Her bedroom was above mine so I could hear her practicing. For years she tried to learn this magic piece. At first it was very painful but over time it got better and better. She never got it to Carnegie standards but I did get to memorize the piece.

[@GarySchmidtPianist]

He is actually one of my favorite pianists. I heard him live once and was blown away. Both his virtuosity and musicality were outstanding. His videos and recordings are well worth checking out.

[@Octavio12341000]

I thought you were talking about Chopin LOL

[@timothycollinsguitar9450]

Indeed!

[@DrdaantjeGaming]

@@Octavio12341000 same HAHA

[@ichdiewurst6153]

Mr. Chiu plays with such a character in piano playing. State of the art Pianist!

[@nandoflorestan]

The editor of the video wrote “Frederic Chiu - instructor”… Evidently they don’t know who Chiu is. You wouldn’t write “Vladimir Horowitz - instructor”, would you? Chiu’s recordings of Prokofiev are legendary. Give him the proper respect ;D

[@leoribic1691]

His recordings of Chopin's Études are beautiful, too! I love his Aeolian Harp interpretation :) He definitely is a great performer in his own right, and a great teacher, too. He made another video about the Liszt transcription of Beethoven's 7th on here that's really interesting.

[@TomTom53421]

He is instructing, therefore in this video he’s an instructor.

[@WilliamDurrant-ll8xy]

It's not saying Chiu is primarily an instructor. It's indicating who is instructing us in the video.

[@nancyanneberg403]

Thank you. For making it clearer to hear. Do play forever.

[@VitraAdaraAmpornpisit]

This is awesome one of the best videos I’ve ever watched on KZbin thank you so much. All very well said. He is probably one of my favorite pianists.

[@MrStanRod]

God bless you. I express my gratitude for the lessons, for the enrichment, for these open windows…” Thank you with my heart. Stanisław

[@Mini_Min_]

Have been a fan of Frederic Chiu ever since his Prokofiev - Works for Piano. It would be great to have him talk about interpreting this composer's work as well.

[@RolandHuettmann]

Strong lesson. It makes me be alert. Well taught !!!

[@mateusquasetuga]

Thank you for this video. I’m just starting to learn this and it’s very useful.

[@izabellamardo1074]

Ótima aula, excelente interpretação amei. Muito obrigada.

[@daniarsenio]

Muy interesante e instructivo. La calidad de estos vídeos es excelente .

[@christianjimenez2551]

I don't understand the accents on the black keys on the main left hand motion of the beginning of the piece, Chopin marked the accent on the finger. Yet I recognize you need massive force to cruise those passages. I'll have to try this.

[@samanthav563]

Describing it like running up stairs is interesting, that is what this song sounds like

[@jimbrady3538]

It is great to work through the technique of playing. But my experience with Chopin is that if you get the music (line/phrase) correct then the technique happens on its own. That is beauty of Chopin.

[@10reubenl]

I like how he's also called Frederick

[@mr.hashundredsofprivatepla3711]

The first two letters of his surname too!

[@bisbillelatuile7057]

What a beast

[@tastenfee123]

very useful, thank you so much!

[@arew234]

All well said Mr. Chiu thank you!

[@bassoonistdonggue1639]

This video does not give Chiu his well-deserved title - pianist. He is an amazing pianist and analyst.

[@gabewaller3999]

This was the first etude i learned i am still learning watch my youtube i recently released on my performance of revalutionary etude

[@timothycollinsguitar9450]

Sir you are absolutely fantastic. I wish you were my piano teacher.

[@steves.5342]

He was a couple years behind me at our grade school and even then as a child he was an amazing pianist. HIs brother Cornelius teaches violin and I think plays in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I don't recall seeing him play at school but I'm sure he's also musically gifted.

[@jvaughanrealtor444]

Wow

[@jarripotas2805]

I am atonish. I am a profesional violin teacher and I can't barely remember 11minutes more interesting on music, harmony and rethoric. May be on more space, but not clearer.

[@HitsKeys]

Great video and I love how it looks like Frederic is sitting at one of a seemingly endless line of grand pianos - does anyone know where this was recorded?

[@FredericChiu]

This was recorded in a great space in New York City, the Yamaha Artists Services showroom. It's like the famed Steinway basement, except it's on the 3rd floor!

[@partituravid]

Great.... love how you think and speak (and play, DUH). But the A flat (1st note in the left hand) is not functionally dissonant- melodicallt passing through to the written accent of the F...) love love love the idea of rhetoric. We all must be reminded, often.

[@charlesperforms]

an expert!

[@rodterrell304]

Isn’t the piece designed to develop finger strength and arm movements?

[@laurenth7187]

What about Chopin's 3rd Prelude ? (Chopin, Prelude No.3 in G Major Op.28). imvho, it's even more difficult than this etude.

[@kennytran2860]

Idk tried it its not that difficult as this etude

[@ThePainist]

It's shorter so definitely not as challenging to the stamina

[@mikelmao.]

When you have the same first name as the composer:

[@klebertcintra]

Interesting... "we have to have a little bit of an impulse on each of those 16th notes" does not match what is written in the sheet music. I've been playing that one for a long time, went with a microscope on it, and I don't see much of a written reference for the phrasing, the emphasis, and the mechanics to a few parts explained there. Also, considered the biomechanics and the accents, plus the plethora of recordings by countless interpreters, I can't see much support for playing that way shown in the video. Clearly the reputation of the instructor is to be taken into account, and that's what clashes with all other evidence I can find.

[@rrg6625]

I don't hear the accents in the left hand. Much too fast.

[@DavitMinasyan-rn3fv]

Frederick Chiupin?🤔🤔🤔

[@nnpietro]

So nobody thought "ouch" watching this, huh?

[@jdiwkall]

i'm like 20 year younger than Mr Chiu and I've got more white hair than he does. premature white hair-ing is what can happen to you when you were stuck in a sh*tty relationship for too long. anyways, that aside, i enjoyed this video

[@billligon4005]

But it is in my favorite key E flat/C minor? But WHY, WHY, WHY is this piece so easy to memorize?

[@j.p.westwater2334]

My favorite key as well. High enough that you can play blocky chords low in the register without mud, but not too bright.

[@bluebus15]

You make it sound like it's a bad thing! :-) I think it's easy to memorize because a lot of the left hand can be thought of as scales and arpeggios, it repeats a lot and, in order to learn to play it, it forces lots of repetitions on you thus you memorize it before you even realize.

[@wuwupiano]

Stamina is an issue with performing this piece for the rest of us poor humans. That's why I wrote my Happy Birthday/Revolutionary Etude Mash up. Much shorter AND appropriate to play at birthday parties. 😂kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpfaaZyngtqJhtk

[@nanthilrodriguez]

Pro tip: Never say "We're going to talk about...", just talk about it.

[@WEEBLLOM]

And how do you introduce what you're gonna do

[@nanthilrodriguez]

@@WEEBLLOM By talking about it :O

[@WEEBLLOM]

@@nanthilrodriguez so in an introductory video to a masterclass you should not introduce the masterclass but do the actual masterclass

[@nanthilrodriguez]

@@WEEBLLOM Instead of saying "we're going to talk about why this is is important", so "this is important and here's why" It's not that complicated.

[@WEEBLLOM]

@@nanthilrodriguez this is an introductory video. It is meant to introduct.

[@PabloGonzalez-oq8xf]

Because Chopin was left handed....i keep saying this. But no one listens to Pablo.

[@Ha7yde]

Damn I wish I didn't have to say this but no one else is, this instructor is pretty boring, i'm not trying to fall asleep during a piano lesson

[@kuchiruchicharuchicharunie]

Sleep in my arms, sweetie monkey beans 🫘🙈♥️

[@tekraynak]

The remarks on arm vibration are kinda ridiculous. Guy is certainly gifted at piano playing but is incapable of teaching technique to others.

[@novellmusicmedia6895]

Too slow

[@aerohydra3849]

It's clear that he plays it slow to showcase the details of the piece in this lesson. His actual performances of the etudes are absolutely amazing and you should listen to them.

[@duckisfaction]

🤮🤮🤮🥵

[@ackamack101]

Why are you sick? lol

[@duckisfaction]

@@ackamack101 because the stupid playing and talking.

[@fink7968]

@Ria Torras What do you dislike about his playing? Have you heard him actually perform the piece? As opposed to demonstrate excerpts at slow tempi with less pedal? As fellow pianist, I would hope you understand that we do not teach pieces the same way we perform them... Frankly, I think many performances of this piece sound identical because performers are trying to satisfy people like you, who just want to hear a piece they like again, exactly how they like it. I'm ready for some variety, because it would be a shame to get bored of this piece. By the way, listen carefully to what he says about half steps, understanding this is essential to understanding pieces like the B minor Scherzo and F minor Ballade.

[@tekraynak]

Terrible pedagogy. Just because he can play the piece, doesn't mean he can teach it to others. Cheap video, look elsewhere

[@ryanallgaier1986]

could you teach it to me then? I would love to learn.