🎶 Start your 14-day free trial & unlock the full course today. Start Free Trial →
tonebase Piano Course

Practicing with Groupings

Taught by renowned pianist

Henry Kramer

In this segment from his lesson on Chopin's Etude in A Minor, Op. 10 No. 2, Henry Kramer discusses the principle of grouping in practicing building speed and power in challenging passagework. The Etude in question is notorious for demanding the right hand to play a rapid chromatic scale with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers whil the 1st and 2nd play chords on each beat. Kramer begins by turning your attention to the left hand, though, which will help fortify your rhythmic foundation. After learning how to spring from the key to achieve a lively sound in both hands, Kramer demosntrates how to practice grouping different combinations of sixteenth notes within the same rhythmic frame. It is crucial to choreograph your motions so they are compatible with your intended phrasing. These concepts apply equally well to different kinds of demanding passagework. Apply them to those nasty spots in your repertoire and you should soon develop the reflexes to execute them with brilliance and style.

  • checkmark icon
    Category: 
    Repertoire
  • checkmark icon
    Difficulty: 
    All-Levels
  • checkmark icon
    Duration: 
    1
     hours
     hour

Course Syllabus

Practicing with Groupings

In this segment from his lesson on Chopin's Etude in A Minor, Op. 10 No. 2, Henry Kramer discusses the principle of grouping in practicing building speed and power in challenging passagework. The Etude in question is notorious for demanding the right hand to play a rapid chromatic scale with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers whil the 1st and 2nd play chords on each beat. Kramer begins by turning your attention to the left hand, though, which will help fortify your rhythmic foundation. After learning how to spring from the key to achieve a lively sound in both hands, Kramer demosntrates how to practice grouping different combinations of sixteenth notes within the same rhythmic frame. It is crucial to choreograph your motions so they are compatible with your intended phrasing. These concepts apply equally well to different kinds of demanding passagework. Apply them to those nasty spots in your repertoire and you should soon develop the reflexes to execute them with brilliance and style.

Click here to download the course workbook PDF and see the full syllabus →
Access this course and hundreds more.

Click below to access hundreds of exclusive piano courses, available only on tonebase.

Unlock Course →
Henry Kramer
meet YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Henry Kramer

Garnering international recognition with a Second Prize win in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, pianist Henry Kramer is developing a reputation as a musician of rare sensitivity who combines stylish programming with insightful and exuberant interpretations.

read full bio →
Henry Kramer
explore our courses

Join tonebase today to unlock this course plus 500+ more!

Preview our curated selection of courses below. With lessons covering fundamentals, technical training, style and interpretation, you won't find a more thorough and enriching learning experience anywhere else.

preview
play-button-icon
Principles of the Taubman Approach

with Robert Durso

preview
play-button-icon
Chopin Étude Training

with Marina Lomazov

preview
play-button-icon
Intermezzo, Op. 118 No. 2 (Brahms)

with Garrick Ohlsson

preview
play-button-icon
Inside Mozart's Piano Sonatas

with Orli Shaham

preview
play-button-icon
Music Theory Basics

with Ben Laude

preview
play-button-icon
Intro to J. S. Bach’s Keyboard Music

with Magdalena-Stern Baczewska

preview
play-button-icon
Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23 No. 5 (Rachmaninoff)

with Boris Giltburg

preview
play-button-icon
Clair de lune (Debussy)

with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

preview
play-button-icon
Music Theory at the Piano

with Eric Wen

preview
play-button-icon
"Moonlight Sonata" (Beethoven)

with John O'Conor

preview
play-button-icon
Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66 (Chopin)

with Leann Osterkamp

preview
play-button-icon
Sonata in C Major, K. 545 (Mozart)

with Sara Davis Buechner

Listen to a few tonebase stories. Ready to start yours?

Ready to Begin learning?

Start your 14-day trial today!

All plans include:
  • Unlimited access for 14-day free trial
  • Full 90-day satisfaction guarantee
  • Access to 500+ video lessons & courses
  • Structured & guided course content
  • Free PDF workbooks & annotated scores
  • Feedback from our active Community
  • The Ultimate Practice Toolkit ($100 Value)

Monthly

$
49.95
/mo
Billed monthly
Give tonebase a try with our Monthly plan. Cancel anytime or upgrade your plan later when you find it’s a good fit.
Select Monthly →
Best Value - Only $0.82 per day

Yearly

$
24.95
/mo
Billed at $299 yearly
Make music your priority for the next 365 days and save BIG with our most popular plan. You’ll be amazed what a year with tonebase can do…
Select Yearly →

Lifetime

$
695
/once
Billed just once
Ready to invest in your future education? Get our Lifetime plan and gain full, unlimited access to tonebase for life!
Select Lifetime →

"I don't regret for a minute having spent the money on the membership. There's something for every musician on tonebase – I recommend you give it a try."

Photo of Dave
Dave McLellan

Concert & Chamber Musician

Join over 10,000 fellow musicians improving every day on tonebase.