Piano Tutorial | Chopin Nocturne in E Flat Major | Op. 9 No. 2

This video is a full, in depth tutorial on Chopin’s Nocturne in E Flat Major (Op. 9, No. 2). It is incredibly popular both with pianists and non-pianists alike and an excellent piece to play for family and friends.
As well as how to manage the technical issues within this piece, the tutorial looks a lot at how Chopin uses very subtle changes in phrasing to take this from something that could so easily sound very 'sameish' to something exceptionally beautiful.
Henle rates this as a 6 - top end of 'medium'. This makes it reasonably accessible as far as Chopin's music is concerned. Here's a link to my video on the Henle system and how to use it:
• How to know how diffic...
I also included a video I made for my Facebook page of myself playing this Nocturne. If you'd like to learn more about how to take your recordings of your piano playing to the next level, check out my playlist on recording your piano (you'll also find links to a free eBook with step by step guidance).
• Record Your Piano
EQUIPMENT:
Fully details of all equipment used are available on my blog at the address below:
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Filmed on an iPhone 8+ - using the Filmic Pro app
Audio captured on an iPhone 6S using a Shure MV88 Microphone
Vocals captured on a Rode SmartLav microphone plugged into an iPhone 4S
Video editing done using Lumafusion
Audio editing done using Garageband
SOCIAL MEDIA:
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WEBSITE:
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[@yoyo4everful]

I have just finished learning the notes for this piece, but I can already notice the difference in my playing after following some of your tips and advice. The piece is starting to feel more alive and it sounds much more intricate than it did before. I’m very grateful for your help! Much love!

[@TommysPianoCorner]

It truly is a magical piece to learn and I’m really pleased you have found the video helps you get deeper into it. It has so many possibilities limited only by our own imaginations :-)

[@merlinspot]

Muchas gracias.

[@TommysPianoCorner]

De Nada

[@wheretheislandsgo]

Excellent! This is just what I needed. Great tips and insight as always.

[@TommysPianoCorner]

Andrew Malone thanks. Best of luck with it :-)

[@stevenbeer6005]

Excellent tips, ad strategy! Cheers!

[@TommysPianoCorner]

Pleased you like it! I hope the tips work well for you :-)

[@feryay9939]

It's very helpful and clear, thank you

[@TommysPianoCorner]

That’s great to know. Good luck with it :-)

[@alphamail434]

Great tutorial ! No crap !

[@TommysPianoCorner]

Thanks!

[@andrews7993]

Fantastic video, I’ve watched a few on this piece but this was the most helpful. Thank you One thing is the octaves are bars 30-31 not 29-30 and trill in the 4th repeat of melody “a” is bar 21 not 22 At 10:23 you identify a staccato marking at bar 14 on the first note, G. However my copy does not have this staccato. I’ve got a Dover classics edited by carl mikuli. Just interesting.

[@TommysPianoCorner]

Thanks for letting me know :-) I have discovered that in fact there are often very different versions of many of Chopin’s works. These can range from different markings (such as the staccato example) to completely different notes.

[@Joules3.14]

This Tutorial is very helpful and informative Your videos really deserve more attention ! You've got a new subscriber from Germany 😉

[@TommysPianoCorner]

Thanks for your kind words. I’m very pleased you find the videos helpful. The more people that comment and like the more likely my videos will show up as people search so thanks for taking the time :-)

[@zeroossi5967]

could you please make a video on Chopin ocean etüde ? your videos are so helpful

[@TommysPianoCorner]

I haven’t learned this piece yet. Let me take a look and see for you.

[@atiana27]

I won’t Rest In Peace till I play this piece!&

[@TommysPianoCorner]

I know what you mean - it is fabulously beautiful. Good luck with it!

[@ashtyrzgar8641]

This is a great video, thanks alot! Can you as well give us the link to the sheet music you're using since it has the finger numbers in it!

[@TommysPianoCorner]

I download almost all my sheet music from imslp.org. This site is completely free and you can then keep the scores in whichever app you prefer. With finger numbers, these were very rarely given by the composer and always added by others later. This is why there is no ‘correct’ finger to use and you will find different fingering in different versions. A good place to start is to download a few different versions which have the fingering included and experiment. Strangely, you might find that the most ‘obvious’ fingers aren’t actually the best ones to use and this is where looking at a few different versions can be helpful. I played a lot around the fingering to use for the fioritura in this piece and still experiment with others even now. I hope that helps.

[@krasko78]

Thanks for the tutorial, Tommy. At 3:40 why is the fingering 3-1(change to 2 and slide the hand in)-1 and not simply 3-2-1?

[@TommysPianoCorner]

I often find that I will substitute fingers almost without thinking especially in slower music. Often, it's simply because my finger is comfortably 'over' a given note rather than me needing to stretch to get there. In this case, 3 on E Flat comfortably puts 1 on C without any stretch and as it is nice and slow substituting then to 2 feels natural for me. Sliding in just then gets 1 over the B flat. You might well find that for your hands the fingering you suggest feels much more natural - in which case you should definitely use what feels right for you. With fingering, it is perhaps rarer than we might think to have a generic 'right or wrong' choice.

[@krasko78]

Thanks, Tommy. As a beginner, I was wondering if there was another reasoning behind your fingering other than comfort/personal preference. Especially because the 3-2 stretch is not big and is much less finger work than what you are doing.

[@davidweinstein2620]

Hi Tommy. I have been learning this Nocturne via an Internet app, Piano Marvel. It taught me the fingering and I think I have it under control now, albeit at a slower tempo. The challenge I am facing now is the Ornaments. This is something I have not learned and have not found exercises for on the Internet. My score writes up the notes to most ornaments except the Trills. Can you suggest a way to learn how to work them in? Thank you very much for this wonderful video.

[@TommysPianoCorner]

I would initially start with measured trills. So, decide how many times you intend to trill and play it in time. The trill doesn’t necessarily need to be fast. You can gradually increase the number of note changes but keep with the measured idea so that you play in time. Try out a few different fingering options - at slower speeds most combinations of fingers work and there is nothing wrong with practicing 2or 3 different options regularly. Once this feels really easy to do, stop measuring or counting and just allow your fingers to do it freely. You can speed up and slow down within the same trill and this adds to the musicality - but get the measured trill working first.

[@davidweinstein2620]

Thank you very much, Tommy. That is exactly the advice I need.

[@TommysPianoCorner]

@@davidweinstein2620 my pleasure. Let me know how you get on :-)

[@Jimyblues]

Wonderfully done- you covered it all in a minimum amount of time- Just sayin, I’m listening on an iPhone- the voice is overbalanced over the piano- nice to hear a lil more piano

[@TommysPianoCorner]

Pleased you enjoyed it. Thanks for the feedback of the voice balancing. I think you’re right that I put the piano to far into the background. I’ll give this more attention when I edit in the future. Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to re-edit once uploaded.