Scriabin Étude in D-sharp minor, Op.8 No.12 Tutorial

[@BabyHoolighan]

It was 1968. I had no idea who Scriabin was and my interview with my new piano coach required a sight reading performance. The professor placed the etude in D# minor before me. I was so moved by the beauty of the piece that the artistry took over and masked my deficiencies. He accepted me as his student. Today, I would love very much to feel those feelings of my first moments with Alexander Nikolayevich.

[@zenjaya101]

I always respect anyone who play scriabins, even more when someone teaches how to play it, massive respect! Thank you!

[@bloba6969]

Sultanov's recording is absolutely perfect

[@EastValleyChorale]

I recently signed up for you pro practice class, and I’m greatly enjoying it. Thanks for all the helpful instructions.

[@joshwrightpiano]

I’m so happy to hear that. Wishing you all the best in your continued piano studies

[@alexanderforever]

This was my first Etude….. bossed it 😎

[@ruchirrawat8804]

Task failed successfuly

[@OrganDanai]

Thanks, Josh, this is by far my favourite étude to perform when I've got friends over for a matinee or dinner. It's always hard to review a piece you think you've mastered, play it slowly and build up again. I will listen to your full ProPractice to relearn this piece. One can never have too much Scriabin. Cheers!

[@infinitewisdom9619]

Thank you so much for all these free, top-quality tutorials!

[@isaiahadamsvlogs5309]

This etude is so beautiful!

[@ojcksn]

Amazingly perfect timing I just started learning this piece !

[@joshwrightpiano]

I wish you all the best with the piece!

[@mariapap8962]

Same goes for me😊. This a one of the best tutorials, showing the pedalling and the fingering simultaneously.

[@rodericwalter2862]

Are you finished with it? Is it ready for an audience?

[@rodericwalter2862]

I have performed this, and yes - it is difficult. What gave me the most difficulty was the exact timing and shaping of the melody so that it sings (when you are working on this étude, you will know what I am talking about). But every single minute of practice on this was worth it to me.

[@AdomasLengvelisPianist]

Hey, henle have recently released scriabin op 8 études, with hand distributions on the 12th by Boris Giltburg

[@pianoweighttouchbrianking809]

Beautifully done tutorial on this most difficult etude Josh thanks so much for showing the inside world to making it come across convincingly. All the best, Brian

[@ryancheung9408]

Longing for this since 2 years ago. So happy that you made this tutorial, Josh :)

[@joshwrightpiano]

Thanks Ryan! A lot of people have requested it. Feels good to finally have it published!

[@Evony_Insider]

This video is just FANTASTIC. Everything makes PERFECT sense and the all around cameras help tremendously. Yes yes yes... Amazing breakdown.

[@BehzadKh]

Thank you! another day of learning with Josh

[@harmoniamusicschool8610]

Wow the right hand is so beautifull and clear. And thanks for the pedaling. ❤

[@aiyer917]

Recently started this work at ucla herb alpert, looking forward to playing it

[@dontforgettologout160]

I absolutely love this piece! Thanks for making a tutorial on it. It’s still a few years ahead of me but when I’m ready to attempt it I know where to come for help:)

[@eliotnorman3133]

JOSH Great advice on not rushing sixtheenths on 1st page and on dynamics. I love idea of coming in mp and then building. Will watch rest on VIP masterclass. I am relearning to perform this as part of a young romantics program in May 2025. Scriabin was 22. Great contrast with his #11 and Rach’s Elegie, written when he was 19.

[@eterenaljasonx]

Thank you so much for these tips as I’m learning it right now. Henle just released 12 etudes in Op.8 on its app very recently. They had some new releases planned including these and Rach 3.

[@joshwrightpiano]

Awesome! Thanks for the info Jason :)

[@aidanm.1683]

Hah! You made this right after i performed this piece in my first in person recital after covid!

[@fitphile]

Just starting to learn this piece, and yes, Henle now has this! One volume with all of Op. 8, and a standalone score for this etude. Thanks for the great content, so glad I can watch the rest of the video on your ProPlatform :)

[@jpm3616]

Great tutorial - can't believe Scriabin (with his nine key span) wrote this knuckle-buster, but what a beautiful piece!

[@jimkost2002]

Hey Josh, Henle just published the complete op 8 Etudes!

[@captivator13]

Thx brother Josh :) have a blessed weekend,,, Sam 🎵

[@joshwrightpiano]

Thanks for your friendship Sam!

[@ATaadp23]

Hey, Josh! Love your ProPractice series, followed in full for the Ballade in G Minor and a few of the Chopin Etudes while I was learning those. At this moment I'm working on Chopin's 3rd Sonata, in B minor, and I was wondering if you've considered doing a tutorial on that piece. I would certainly appreciate some insights into practicing some of the techniques Chopin asks us to use in that sonata!

[@joshwrightpiano]

I definitely need to do that! I competed with it 6 or 7 years ago and would love to revisit it. Working my way through a long list of requests :)

[@ATaadp23]

@@joshwrightpiano Thanks for the speedy reply! Looking forward to it, when you get the chance!

[@yourtransformationgenie]

There is a really great recording of Scriabin himself playing this on youtube - have you ever listened to it? This composition does build - I agree with you: I think it is a mistake to crash one's way through it. There are levels of drama here... and this can be brought out by playing the piece in waves.... some pianists forget that if you do this, you bring tremendous colour out of the score. Young pianists in particular are guilty of failing to do this. There is a temptation to want to impress with velocity, virtuosity and speed. The space between the notes becomes forgotten - and that is the breathing which music is all about. If you do not let the piece breathe - if there is no breathing - there is no voice to hear. Another piece I love is Etude C sharp minor, No2 Opus1 - what a gloriously restrained piece, all about grieving and loss I think.

[@jakewatson668]

I found Henle edition of these etudes online, but I am from the UK so it may not be available from the same supplier in the US

[@RobertPSmith336]

man have i needed help from you on this. Its a hard etude.

[@Anzhela.Piano-Life]

Thank you, Josh for the video!! I Agree with Babayan’s thoughts on redistribution and your demonstration! 🎶👏

[@Кайфик-т9ч]

just checked a week ago is there a scriabin video on your channel and there was nothing great work

[@joshpark2501]

9:15

[@iamwhatiam6281]

rach op 32 no 13 took me 1 year. than I start to like his music and I’ve learned op 23 no 2 (not so hard) and now I’m struggling a bit with his etude op 39 no 5 (but it’s more easy than the prelude monster op 13 above) but the next etude I will learn is this. the left hand seems to be the part to master well to let the singing right notes to go. sight reading this piece seems not as hard as certain pieces that requires hours and hours of practice just to learn it technically (I mean…chopin op 10 no 2 or his op 25 no 11 are much much more frustrating…. just as example..). thanks so much for this lesson ❤️

[@DanielDugovic]

7:16 Your teacher was correct... but if Cliburn taught us anything, dynamic & rhythmic variation in this piece goes a very, very long way. 15:45 I do envy that piano a touch...

[@et1908]

Thank you very much!

[@AlotusNine]

Omg Josh my favorite Etude!!!! I can only get to end of page one! Hopefully at the end of this tutorial I can do the whole thing. Btw Josh can you also post the alternative version? Later Scriabin wrote an alternative version that’s much much more intense and has false endings. I like both❤️🙏

[@joshwrightpiano]

I’ll have to take a look :)

[@OrganDanai]

Yes please! The alternative version is very rarely played, but equally beautiful IMHO.

[@topianissimo2606]

Glad to see some Scriabin, and wonderfully taught! Are you considering a video on his sonatas like 4 or 5?

[@iamwhatiam6281]

why in the 3 ascending figures (6:32) all the pianists in the second bar miss the 4 against 3 (on the right scriabin wants 123/ ) and they play it like a 5 against 3 ( 123// ) ?

[@juanlorences4091]

Thank you so much!!!

[@JevgenijSege]

In 1998 i was in Scriabin's apartment-museum, there i saw his hand cast and actually his hand was super small, close to small boy hands. Its hard to belive how he was managing to play all these pieces with that small hands....

[@user-xf5fr7xn9b]

good selection😅😅👍

[@lucid_2701]

Hey Josh, great tutorial, this helped me a lot as I have hands that are barely able to play a ninth. I'm currently learning Rachmaninoff etude op.33 no.2, could you maybe take a look at that one?

[@joshwrightpiano]

I haven’t played it, but if I learn it, I’ll make a tutorial on it :)

[@alexandercarroll9707]

Henle does print this piece, it’s what I’m learning from now

[@JayHrabosky1]

Josh, do you ever do performances at Hill auditorium. I’d love to see you play.

[@vadimorlov4986]

Thank you for your video Josh! Can you please do the video about Scriabin’s Sonata 2: II. Presto? I can’t deal with that in tempo for a year already 🥲 Tension-tension-tension. There’re some places, which are really specific in the right hand and I can’t deal with all of them in the real tempo. I’m just self-taught, that’s why I’m asking. By the way, it’s a beautiful sonata to learn :)

[@SCRIABINIST]

Can you do one on his Sonatas? Especially 7 or 8

[@OrganDanai]

Oh yes, especially the gloomy eight sonata!

[@rhys8878]

Hi, Josh. Thank for doing this piece I've just been tidying it up after recently finishing it. This was my first etude ever and you're probably right in saying It shouldn't have been my go-to, but by miracle, it worked out. I was wondering if you would be able to do rachmaninoff's Liebefreud. I notice you did Liebeslied but normally people overlook Liebesfreud, which can arguably be more beautiful. Thanks for these very helpful tutorials.

[@pseudotonal]

It sounds to me that your 16th notes are too fast. They seem to be nearly twice as fast as the 8th note triplets. And your first 8th note of the triplet seems to be held to almost an 8th note duration followed by two 16th notes.

[@elegachi]

I can play D#G# without pedal trick