Team AB,

I was on alot of airplanes this week and kept listening to this piece and thought...."I can do this!"

I looked at the sheets - I can tell it will be a long road getting all those big chords down, but I think it's manageable with persistence.

What should I be on the lookout for as I start to tackle this piece over the weekend? Any tricky spots you can think of? If you've played it, what do you think the best way to start it is? Anyone want to study it with me? We could start a group.

Thanks for any tips!

Cheers

1)Worry about the dynamics after you have the chords down. Trying to start the soft sections first will kill your right hand.

2) Work on the least amount of movement of the right hand. Big changes in hand position will not work. Fingering will be important.

3) Do not keep your hand in a fixed stretched position for a long period of time. Again, it will hurt. The pedal will help.

4) Maintain the upper line as melody. This will be hard until you get comfortable with the chords. This will work your 4th and 5th finger in the right.

5) Don't let the left hand overpower. It happens easily because the octaves become easy quickly.

This is a good piece and easy to memorize. Just don't hurt yourself playing it. Good luck

Househead: This is the second or third prelude I learned way back in prehistoric times.

J gave you some very good advice.

I discovered (once I got over the shock of looking at those chords) that one actually slides very easily into the next.

The pp section can be so beautiful if played almost as an echo of the p. Rather faintly, yet distinctly.

Barry Manilow used this piece as inspiration for one of his big hits ......"Could It Be Magic."

Good luck...don't give up; it's worth it.
Kathleen