Frederic Chopin

Born: 1810 - Died: 1849

Chopin Preludes - see page 13 for suggestions on what to listen to in each Prelude.
E minor:


 
B minor:


 
A major:


 
D flat major:



Other pieces
Etude in C minor, Op. 10, No. 12



Etude in A flat major, Op. 25, No.1




Polonaise in G minor Op. Posthumous




Chopin wrote very few pieces that were not for the piano. Here is an example - the Cello Polonaise :




Technique Tips From Chopin
Chopin hated stiffness in playing and admired flexibility in the hands. He used new, unusual ways of fingering passages and thought that finding a good fingering was very important. He didn't shy away from using thumbs on black keys or crossing the third finger over (above) the fourth. He was against practicing mechanically and advised full concentration and focus. For developing a beautiful legato style of playing Chopin suggested listening to lots of good quality vocal performances.

Composition Contest Winners

Congratulations to everyone who sent in compositions this year. We received over 450 pieces and picking the winners was very difficult.

10 and under Division
First Place:
Joshua Tsuchido Shew, age 9, Japan

Second Place
Leanna Niesen, age 10, Wisconsin

Third Place
Colin Harrington, age 9, R.I.
Ava Graig, age 9, Kentucky

Honorable Mention
Haley Unsinger, age 10, Arizona
Zoe Goddard, age 9, Missouri  

11 and over Division
First Place
Kyle Gatesman, age 11, Virginia

Second Place
Lauren Little, age 16, Oregon

Third Place
Susanna Harmon, age 13, Indiana

Honorable Mention
Madison Burke, age 17, N.C.
Bryce Russell, age 16, California
Lydia Cox, age 11, Oregon

This year we received an astonishing 17 entries from students who are only 5 and 6 years old. We are recognizing their efforts by awarding a special Honorable Mention category. We honor the exciting works by:
April Alton, 6, New York
Margaret Z. Chen, 6, Ohio
Nathan Shan, 6, Maryland

First, second, and third place pieces will be printed in the magazine. Pieces awarded Honorable Mentions will be available on our website soon.

We'd love to hear from you!
  Do you have any ideas or thoughts about any other practice tip we have published this year? Let us know how they worked for you. Were you able to solve a problem spot or learn a tricky passage?

Perhaps you have your own practice tips that you'd like to share with other readers. Write to us and we'll include the best ones in the magazine or on the website.

We also accept original artwork, music, poems, jokes and stories. Submissions that don't appear in the magazine might make it into the Kids Corner.

email: [email protected] or send a letter to Piano Explorer, 200 Northfield Road, Northfield, Illinois 60093