Garrick Ohlsson Teaches You the Coda from Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 in G Minor

Watch Garrick Ohlsson's full 80-minute lesson:
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Chopin’s G Minor Ballade was a “revolution in its time,” according to Garrick Ohlsson.
The coda of the work, feared by so many pianists, is the focus of this segment from Ohlsson's in-depth lesson on the whole Ballade. He breaks down the right hand's technical obstacles into its simplest elements, and offers practice advice for building the passage up slowly and comfortably.
Free PDF: Tips from Master Pianists - Scales & Arpeggios
Ever wished you could learn how to play scales from Chopin or Rachmaninoff? Now you can.
In this free PDF, we explore scales and arpeggios - the backbone of a pianist's technical training - from the perspectives of master pianists including Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Chopin, and Brahms.
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[@WesCoastPiano]

"Chopin is the greatest of them all, for with the piano alone he discovered everything." - Claude Debussy

[@stevenyourke7901]

Debussy studied piano with a professor who had been a student of Chopin.

[@laurenth7187]

You have Chopin already in Mozart's 27th piano concerto. (As Poulenc in his 17th and Brahms in the 23, and Beethoven else where), so the greatest is Mozart. What is romantic music, it's made with sorrow, half to Chopin's pieces are sad... While Beethoven is classic, so he's worse, for example his first sonata is made from a them from Mozart, but emphased to the end.. well, maybe one could play all that music less romantic and more joyful; my sorrow feelings are gone. I cannot activate inside myself, any romantic mode anymore... and shed tears, Also Nietzsche is sharing my thoughts.. : The "good old" days are gone. In Mozart they sang themselves out. (Nietzsche) One should be suspicious with romantic music... I agree with that.

[@burakcoskunyurek]

kzbin.infocTCTo5qNx38?feature=share

[@zteaxon7787]

If your audience becomes weary... Grab them by Debussy.

[@Powerslider]

Thank you for this quote. It underlines the privilege i experience, every time i listen to F. Chopin.

[@pbasswil]

Love this guy's tone & attitude. Classical music is in _desperate_ need of this level of down-to-earth.

[@Great_PatBingsoo]

Technically romantic music, not classical, but classical, yes, to the lay person.

[@NafthaliHananja]

@@Great_PatBingsoo very down-to-earth comment 🥱😬

[@izzyjamm4]

Yeah not really a culture known for encouraging humility and open-mindedness. Unless it’s blindly worshipping classical figures with an open mind. There’s plenty of that

[@kalyan9857]

@@Great_PatBingsoo🤓

[@a360pilot]

I guess it depends on the culture you practice. People like Beethoven were not down to earth, and while no one today can compare themselves to that level of musical mastery, maybe music history and musicology studies are what sometimes drive big performers into arrogance. Nonetheless, many great performers are actually so unbelievably humble, with the arrogance increasing as the level of music decreases.

[@daqianzuo936]

I can’t believe this! Two days ago my professor was talking about my coda not being wild enough and today I got to see this video from one of the greatest American pianist. Such a fortune! Thank you tonebase you made my day

[@SunyataCipher]

@esp ele prove what ?

[@hiradhsk]

Ay same here

[@armybirds]

@esp ele ???

[@armybirds]

@esp ele why'd u say prove it bro he made very reasonable claims lol

[@telor_mateng]

@esp ele what is there to be proved when nothing needs proof here . . .

[@cecik5578]

I don’t know about any other professional pianists here, but I for one was darned relieved (and shocked) to hear him so humbly confess that He thinks these codas are difficult. When he said, “this is the worst for me” - it just made chuckle so much! This is Garrick Ohlssohn!

[@MusicalBasics]

Absolutely tremendously edited video with solid instruction from the master

[@Ind0nesiannationalteamgoated]

Wow its musical basics

[@noriskky]

I have never heard you play the Ballade or am I wrong

[@noriskky]

nvm

[@fredericchopin8779]

Yoo

[@Justinpianoimprov]

Bro fell off hard

[@kathleena4038]

So excited to have this pop up! I’m learning this without a teacher so this is incredibly valuable to me….also it helps to hear him talk about how hard it is….so I feel like maybe I’m doing ok with it, esp. at age 66 and newly returned to the piano since I stopped taking lessons at age 16. I will def. watch the 80 minute class. I’m giving myself a full year to learn it. It’s just a personal goal, because I love the piece. I doubt I’ll ever get it good enuf to play it for anyone, except my dog, but that’s ok.

[@jihhwood]

I commend your persistence and willingness to do what it takes to learn a piece just for the joy of playing! I have eleven years on you, and I may not be "going strong", but I'm still "going"! -- -- P.S. My bet is that you also compose.

[@karenfellows7957]

Have you read Alan Rusbridger's 'Play It Again'? All about his project of learning the G minor Ballade as a serious, but definitely amateur, adult player. It's very good. Your story is not unlike mine: I resumed serious practicing in early 2020 at age 63, having given up lessons at age 17 and not playing at all for 40+ years. After two years of work I think I'm back to where I was then, and hope to progress further. It's been by far the best thing I've done for myself in recent years. Best wishes to you for a joyful and rewarding experience with the Ballade, and with your re-discovery of piano generally!

[@jpdj2715]

Do not doubt. Your story resonates - similar age, but an even larger gap, not playing. To get to Mr. Ohlsson's level, a person needs 10,000 hours of practice and research indicates - in absence of handicaps - that the only thing a human needs is persistence. Not getting frustrated by mistakes. Becoming predictably good starts above 9,950 and the road to perfection is littered with mistakes. To learn just this piece, no doubt, needs a lot less hours. But still, persistence. There's a German very advanced piano student's YT channel "Heart of the keys" and in her videos she has discussed "fingering". Often printed in sheet music, indicating which finger should play which note, she has a natural logic that frequently comes to different fingering - making pianistic life easier. As you love this piece, let's go back to its "ballade" title that sends mixed messages. The word, in its base meaning, references "dance", but then it also became to mean "epic poem" and as good poems have meter and rhyme, they can easily be set to music, so a ballad may also be a song. As to Chopin's #1, some people say it musically tells Mickiewicz's epic story of Konrad (or Conrad) Wallenrod in which a 14th century hero rebels against an occupation force - clearly as a metaphor for the Polish fate, being occupied alternating by Prussians/Germans and Russians and each time torn apart in different pieces. I guess the challenge in playing this piece is to (a) make it sing, (b) keep it "dance-able" and (c) tell the epic story - and this is more about your imagination than about deep music theory. If you have 12 months for this piece, I'd say you need an adult version of the Suzuki method, create your own that is, that only uses this piece. Extremely serious discussions of that method generally leave the pivotal concept of the method out: to have fun with it. Maybe you can ask an advanced piano student to extract a simplified version of the piece that leaves embellishments out, but retains melody and rhythm, only using notes (in proper sequence) that are in the original piece. Then rehearse this for, say, 6 months, then for months 7~9 add complexity, repeat. In the end it boils down to "just effing doin' it" - watching YT videos only takes time away from that.

[@kathleena4038]

@@jpdj2715 You are so kind to leave me such a detailed and encouraging response! Thank you! Agreed….it’s mileage with the piece (or any piece) that will do it. I’ve been working on it since November and I have it pretty clean till p. 10. I have a good ear, and repeatedly listening to the piece has helped me tremendously. (Wish I had the benefit of KZbin and streaming 50 yrs ago….would have made a huge difference in my progress!). Actually the only thing I’m really worried about is the speedy parts….not sure at my age that the speed and agility required for the agitato and con fuocco sections is within reach, but that’s ok. I am familiar with Heart of the Keys, thank you, will see if she has anything on this ballade. Thanks again for your reply to my comment! Wish me luck!

[@jpdj2715]

@@kathleena4038 - I sincerely wish you luck. My point with Heart of the Keys was not the ballade necessarily, but rather her approach to fingering that might make it easier especially in the fast parts. About the fast parts, practice the fast (in your perception) parts first and adapt you speed for the rest to what you are capable of in the fast parts. Chopin made a big point of a steady meter/rhythm in the left hand and felt the right hand could use the left hand part to more freely play on, so in that sense consistency is more important than speed. And then you get to bar 208 Presto con Fuoco ("Fast with Fire") - chips, there goes the neighborhood ;)

[@teresavasey1041]

This ballade is my absolute favourite piece of Chopin, no matter how often I hear it I always find something new in it, great video.

[@GimbalLocksOnly]

I physically shook when he tapped the piano and said "Very well thats enough, coda please". Talk about jury recital ptsd man. So much preparation and studying only to be told "k thanks coda now pls". UUGGHHH

[@estebanod]

I’d swear

[@james240878]

Something similar happened to me in playing Beethoven 110. After a minute or so they said okay let’s jump to the fugue now….Probably one of the most difficult fugues to memorise too.

[@paganviodio]

It is so...What he says is true. You practice the whole Bach Solo Sonate, which is some 25 mins of Music, start playing the Grave, they listen a few tonrs of it, and interrupt you to jump the the 2nd page of the Fuga!! From the 25 min you practiced, they listen maybe...3 mins..😊

[@thegreenpianist7683]

Why do they that? I don't think that's a good thing to do, I could be wrong, but I don't see the point in doing that. If that's what they want, they could inform the performer beforehand to play up to, say, bar 40, and then jump to the coda. Why interrupt the performer midway and throw off their focus? You can achieve the same result by informing them what to play beforehand.

[@stewie3128]

​@@thegreenpianist7683They can tell what your strengths and weaknesses are in the first few bars or a page of a piece, so they just skip right to the outer extent of what you can do after that. The purpose of jury recitals is not to practice only as much as you think they'll ask you to play. The jury is there to check that you're progressing as a pianist semester-to-semester. But you won't be any sort of pianist if you only know the first few bars and then the coda of a bunch of pieces. Music school, unlike STEM school, is not solely about credentialing. The jurors can tell if you've thought deeply about a piece and have an interesting (or at least arguable) artistic take on it basically immediately. But you wouldn't have been able to form that take without understanding (and having thoroughly learned) the entire piece. Also, juries can sometimes just be assholes.

[@adammarkowitz7944]

Hello, sir! Glad to see your face again after all these years. I had occasion to tune for you once in the 1980's. You are legendary and wonderful.

[@Intake33]

A proper teaching video. So many top level teachers just stick to the interpretation aspects but this deals with the technical aspects as well. Very helpful.

[@stringsalive20]

This is because they have of their students is that the technical aspects do not need addressing with the student. Therefore, they can focus on the music without the technique getting in the way.

[@terrykobleck6529]

Being a Chopin lover but not a pianist, I can hear the tension and anxiety in the music. Listening to Mr Olsen tell you how that’s achieved is enlightening and so interesting. Thanks for this video.

[@denaro572]

I love these videos. I cant even play this ballade, since I'm far away from that level still, but it's so exciting listening to this maestro talking about this masterpiece! Great video!

[@benpietrzykowski9216]

I can play up until 2:12😅

[@SuperGustavo65]

@@benpietrzykowski9216 I’m

[@benpietrzykowski9216]

@@SuperGustavo65 what Gustavo?

[@danielb4560]

same here

[@bubumuffin]

Garrick Ohlsson interpretation of Chopin Prelude No.13 is one of the best.

[@erpollock]

This man is truly amazing! His playing, and his explanation must be very helpful to advanced piano students.

[@glenngouldschair390]

I know, but did you see the thumbnail?

[@johnsrabe]

It’s fascinating and fantastic how well this works for me as a non-player! I’m understanding the music better by having him explain how to play than I would from listening to him explain the music.

[@fredericlinden]

Fabulous lesson from a Maestro. These advice can be applied to the entire repertoire !

[@da__lang]

I love listening to Garrick Ohlsson talk about Chopin.

[@1patula]

I don’t even play any instrument but could listen to this guy for hours. He loves what he does the best. Thank you sir

[@VICTOBERN]

Such an impressive teaching lesson. I wish I'd had the privilege of such tuition 60 years ago!!

[@inajoankim2024]

This is so wonderful! I am laughing profusely through this lesson because it makes so much sense !!!! So happy I got to watch this video. Thank you maestro Ohlsson! :)

[@briananderson8428]

Good God. His playing just kind of casually, rather off-the-cuff, is still superb. It's stunning what these highly honed and majorly gifted musicians can do with their instruments even in an informal setting. His fingers are wickedly precise. Thanks so much for these videos.

[@fazergazer]

Now it makes sense! It took me months to finally get Ravel’s Ondine. Years to get the first ballade. Then I went back to Ondine and finally “got” it after some years. So much of this comes down to human biomechanics and how the hand behaves at speed. His analysis makes it so much clearer.🎉❤

[@adamodimattia]

It always amazed me how this part is practically ragtime almost 100 yrs before ragtime ❤

[@millcreekx]

This is the first time I have ever heard anyone else say that and its the part I least appreciate! When some pianists perform this, the beauty can morph into a sickly comic funhouse feeling in those measures in my opinion. Like Scott Joplin with tempo doubled or something.

[@박만두-y7w]

recently I started to play ballade no.1 Now!! I'm on the part before going to coda of ballade no1. ive never seen lesson like this on KZbin! about ballade no1. Its such a legend lesson especially for me! Thank you!!

[@matthewalan59]

I started university in 1977 and stayed in the student residence that was beside the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton. I obtained season tickets for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The first performance I attended was Misha Dichter playing the Brahm's second piano concerto. It was quite memorable. Another very memorable concert had Garrick Ohlsson playing the Prokofiev second piano concerto. He is a very tall man and was quite a bit slimmer at the time. I am so glad he is still around.

[@RafaelQuirinoVex]

Best piano lesson I've seen in my life. Unbelievable!

[@mountchoco8174]

I started learning this three weeks ago and am no longer taking lessons- this video came out at the perfect time! 😄

[@juditherwinneville7797]

Excellent teaching! I played the Op. 23 for my graduate recital (41 years ago!) and am now revisitng the piece. The coda did wear me out! Thank you for the suggestions!

[@micheldupaul7768]

As you reach the deepest relaxation the energy begins to grow in tune with the rhythmic pulse. There is no other way to achieve clarity, speed and expression. When I listen to you, I see that you understand this.

[@jmchic]

You’re spot on regarding your recommendations about holding back the crescendo until the coda intro!!!

[@nickk8416]

Wonderful stuff Garrick. That was always my crash and burn spot. I'll practice it that way so I can finally play the whole piece. Thank You! Best Regards.

[@davidnagi5099]

Im not a pianist. But i still love watching these kind of tutorials on my favourite pieces. It just raises the level of appreciation i have for these aliens the next time i listen to some Chopin.

[@matiquielma]

This piece is what you need to show when people ask why do you study so much, and I don't mean this because of how difficult it is, but because of the music story it tells so perfectly well.

[@jonaby2123]

This is such perfect timing, i've got 2 concert within maybe a month of each other pretty soon, where I will be playing this piece.

[@GimbalLocksOnly]

Best of luck! O7

[@GimbalLocksOnly]

Playing all the notes right ia great, but its about the music. We wont always play the right notes but for Gods sake keep playing the music! ✌

[@jonaby2123]

@@GimbalLocksOnly Definitely a good thing to keep in mind, thank you!

[@joannawronska4100]

SO WONDERFUL, MAESTRO!!!!! Thank you for your great very helpful lesson, because this Coda from my favourite Chopin's Ballade it's beyond my abilities, too difficult, my best regards from Poland to America, have a happy week. Joanna

[@Anvanho]

4:09 "with all these wiggles" Yes, perfect description. I am trying to train myself to fully sight-read the entire coda, I can manage it a little better looking at that keyboard, of course. But those leaps in the right hand are not natural to me [yet]. It's weird, some mornings I sit and play it, and *click*, my aim is pretty accurate; other mornings it's like trying to find where I parked the car last night ... it's so weird. Great video.

[@songforthemute8087]

not related to the ballade, but Ohlsson's recording of the Polonaise-Fantasie is admirable. His expressiveness, especially at the coda, is legendary.

[@KarineLeBaron]

Who is this genius? Love his teachings!!!

[@SK-qo6vn]

Omg....this video is so helpful. My son has been struggling of playing the coda part. This video has a tremendous help. Thanks for posting this video!

[@Draverd]

Thank You. I have learned to a play a piece well one must know it personally. They must make the music their own through their own interpretations, that is based upon their inherent emotions of their Character. When I played the Third Movement of the Moonlight Sonata I found I was able to take the music to a greater level once I had the entire piece memorized, and known by heart. So I was able to add, and subtract changes as needed.

[@bifeldman]

Such a superb man and musician.

[@hanfpeter4190]

I didnt realize this was such a new video, please keep them comming theyre amazing (:

[@DomskiPlays]

Oh my what a video! Thanks for this gem

[@0Bumburnyak0]

I am deeply impressed, thank you very much. The advice has helped me a lot.

How great this is! I just barely have dared to read through this piece, and will probably never be able to play it, but to hear these things make me appreciate the piece even more, not to mention how much more I appreciate all you great pianists that actually can play it!

[@falldog9]

This man is such a treasure.

[@WalyB01]

I should start playing this again. Forgot i was in love with it.

[@p1anosteve]

Always it's the leaps that trip you up! He didn't say it but slow with fast leaps is a good way to practice as well.

[@mikasam4510]

I do not know how to play piano, or interpret music, but I want this man as my teacher.

[@Ro-pg2lb]

Started learning this last week, the timing couldn’t have been better!

[@lucjanocastro]

Great tips from a great artist and inspiring teacher! Thank you!!!

[@olegyamleq7796]

This video, this gentleman, is stunningly great!! Can't believe it stumbled upon it!!!!!!!! Wowwwwwww!!! I will go check out more videos. Thank you. Just brilliant!!

[@Eristhenes]

Spectacular lesson!!

[@Silvertongue8]

Only just found your channel, learning one of Chopin's nocturnes at the moment,,,I have Asperger's I don't read music,do it all by ear and remembering the patterns,, but we all have our ways in life and music,,I'm learning one of his easier one's , Chopin Nocturne op.9 No.2 ,, the ending is pretty tricky,, wouldn't be for this chap though hehe,, 🎹🎹 Really pleased I found this channel,

[@Evanaseveru]

Great pianist!

[@kenra2964]

Relieved to hear he says it takes month. Thought I'm slow 😅 thanks for sharing

[@DLPlanes]

11:08 reminds me of Vinheteiro

[@susan_mclaughlin]

Golden nuggets there. Thank you!

[@paulflute]

very impressive.. to have such skill and also be abel to communicate it so lightly..

[@christianvennemann9008]

I love how he's teaching us this, when most of us will never be able to play this. 😭😭

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

I was fortunate to see him in a small auditorium playing the Schumann. Very nice evening.0

[@kalobadams7803]

Can someone who is 30 years old with two kids learn this before death, or not enough time left?

[@martial8283]

I watched the whole video as if I'll be able to play it once in my life

[@shawnandrew_artist]

Chopin will tear your heart to pieces then gently place the pieces back together.

[@mohammedguemmi5915]

11:21 damn that was smooth O_O

[@dnarvarg]

Wow I’ve just started learning this’ perfect timing Thank you so much !

[@poe6018]

Amazing lesson. Pure gold. Thats why I pay the internet.

[@TheDajome]

2:25 goes insane for 7 seconds, "so anyway" 😩

[@RXCN]

💀

[@sizzlinglizzi1345]

Excellent -thank you so much for this .

[@landgreen4050]

This one is very difficult. I have been practicing for long time but I am not satisfied with my play. never will be.

[@amber40494]

Coda of 4th ballade is really challenging as well

[@PcBguitarLibrary]

I never learned piano, been finger picking strings for 35 years but always come back to piano for love of tone, melody, intervals, theory and linear/logical layout of keys and interface. I have a love/hate relationship with guitars.. I learned the wrong instrument.

[@vul3196_ssc]

Great video! Thanks a lot😍

[@corgisrule21]

He was insane for real….that Ballade nearly killed me in college 🤣🤣

[@danoss7290]

3:12 The voicecrack... love it😂

[@lloydbotway5930]

EXCELLENT advice.

[@MrJhavedat]

Bravo!

[@윤-l6v6k]

개릭올슨 멋져요^^

[@gabrielortiz-larrauri4890]

After ten minutes of brilliant insights: “what can i say?”

[@carolleenkelmann4751]

I wish I had had you as a Teacher.

[@陳柏安-q5k]

a lot of people are actually not paying attention in detail.....its either ear or brain problem...sometimes its not coda... that is why some 12 years old kid can play so well , btw ty :) Garrick Ohlsson, winner in VIII chopin competition also : Best Performance of Mazurkas

[@carolsmith8756]

Thanks, really helpful. I feel more confident to have another go at this beast. x

[@beatlessteve1010]

like coiling the spring back as tight as you can get it and then release it in the coda

[@barney6888]

Amazing stuff

[@silviaferraroalves4772]

Thank’s a lot!!!!!👏👏👏👏

[@eenayeah]

The part he said was easy (the descending chords) is actually the hardest for me and I hardly ever get it right if I do the whole coda correctly 😂

[@mossfitz]

The problem is getting my left hand in the right position so high up to the right. I try getting my body in a good position, but the first chord up there still twists my left hand to the maximum

[@kathng8354]

Thank you

[@Sumiyeco_boutique]

Who else know NOTHING about piano or music and is just watching these videos nonstop like me 😂

[@alexandreblanc9294]

5:47 J'entends déjà mon professeur : "mais jetez pas comme ça!! Arrêtez avec vos catapultes, ça fait un son primitif!!" Et il a raison selon moi en terme de qualité sonore (avec tout le respect que j'ai pour Mr Ohlsson, qui est un brillant pianiste).

[@louiserussell8267]

I have a short-cut to achieving the intended results. It's how you breath and how you raise your energy - which is what you are in fact doing. To achieve the Coda you need to almost go into trance and take the pressure off, and basically practice slowly and in this state - then let go.

[@generichuman_]

Not really a short cut...I don't see how anyone else could use this information of "going into a trance" to suddenly be able to play the coda. But hey, if it works for you, have at it

[@nloc1929]

So, just go Ultra Instinct?

[@seangan9402]

Unfortunately I have to disagree, because while natural, good breathing is essential in helping one physically execute difficult passages, there is really no "short-cut" to skip mindful, conscious, and concentrated practice.

[@wcsxwcsx]

We hear in this how Chopin's technique was to alternate between a single note (with the thumb) and a chord. That actually made it less difficult than it might have been.

[@constanceaverman4364]

Awww! I don't play. But...I love to listen to reasons why some music is difficult. I missed hearing the coda played completely through though.

[@REwing]

The real problem is that people make it look so easy, so we the listeners just keep listening!!!!!😮😮

[@matthewking1873]

Fabulous

[@vivyrox7202]

omg chills ❤

[@goatfitness]

this made me feel like I was back at university studying piano lol

[@immaleaf4964]

Well this is just a smart teacher trying to simplify things that I can't do. Give me some time. That was all really well explained ok edit: I may not have enough time

[@ocean_0602]

Anyone else notice how the melody in bar 216 of this coda is almost identical to bars 76 and 86 in Beethoven’s Appassionata sonata 3rd mvt.

[@jenniferbate9682]

A bright tone. What make is this piano?

[@ggarcia12390]

Wow @2:20 and on sounds like crazy hard !!!