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I hope that is only your mantra for music and not life. Life would be pretty crap if you never went anywhere for the first time.

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Any Scriabin piece.

Recently it's been the Scherzo from Beethoven Op. 26. I can get it up to 88-90 which is a very acceptable tempo, but I really feel it needs to be more molto around 96-100. Right now, no matter how much I practice I just can't get that very last section with the left hand run up to tempo and at FF without it getting sloppy and out of control.

But I know it will come. It always does ... eventually.

Vers la Flamme...

Prokofiev's Toccata

The most difficult sections are the sections with the 3-note chord runs in the right hand, both the ascending ones and the descending ones (the ones where most people cheat on).

Chopin's Revolutionary made me frustrated for a while and so did Chopin's Nocturne 48/1, but now it's La Campanella! It's so difficult trying to get the patterns and notes stuck in my head. So far, it's only that piece, but I'm pretty sure my new etude will frustrate me too...

really??? what cheat is that???

i also had trouble with that passage, specially in the recapitulation.

I'm sure this one's easy for you, bach enthusiast, but I'm having an extremely frustrating time with the Courante from French Suite #3.

I just can't get the ornaments right And I can't seem to find a fingering that feels comfortable.

Liscio

"feux follets" by liszt, but thats a piece that needs to be practised, put away, practised a.s.o.
and chop. 10/#2 is quite tricky.

Not really. This one gave me some trouble. I spent a while learning it. The ornaments are definately the hardest parts.Come to think of it the courante from each of the frencies I play (first 3) didn't come very easily. They really do pop and spite fire though. especially the second and third. That third one happens to be my favorite .

what parts are you having trouble fingering? I can share some of my fingering on rough spots your having and see if it works for you. I always write down all my fingering for all the Bach I learn.

I'll definitely get back with you on the Courante, bach enthusiast. I got so frustrated with it that I actually put it away about a month ago and haven't looked at it since.

Which book do you play yours out of? I have the Alfred edition (with all the different ornament possibilities in light gray). I think part of my problem is that I can't make up my mind on which ornaments to use and when. I've listened to two different recordings of it -- one played by Gould (who is very sparing with his ornament use) -- and the other is played by Schiff (at least I think he's the one), and he uses a lot of ornamentation.

What is your opinion on how this courante should be played?

Glenn gould thought that the french influence on germany during Bachs day was a disatrous influence that inspired bach to produce an extrovertly over decorated style. This was deeply suspicious in the eyes of such an ultimate purist as gould. (from a cd jacket)

"What is your opinion on how this courante should be played?"

fast!

Ditto.

Heroic Polonaise owned me in several different levels. It was a big above my skill level, but not tremendously; still, the octaves and fast jumps are hard to master.

Don't they skip some notes on the top line?

For me its Chopin's op.25 no.6 etude, op.10 no.4 etude, Liszt's Mazeppa, his Valse Infernale.

man Chopinlives81...I would think Liszt's "Mazeppa" Etude would be hard....It sounds like you'd have to be crazy to try that. I've never really looked at the music though how hard is it?

DAIM! I didn't skip any note at the Prok's toccata. That would have made things easier! hehehe

pd: correct my grammar please

The most frustrated I have ever been from learning a piece was back when I was somewhat younger. My teacher assigned me the Sonata Pathetique, and I learned most of it without too much hassle, but I simply couldn't get the timing/counting of the opening correct. Eventually, it sort of "clicked," but before then, it was deeply frustrating.

The one that ticks me off the most is the 1st movement of Beethoven's Pathetique. I'll work it up and up for a certain period, but as soon as I leave it for any extended period of time, and go back to it, it feels like Im learning it over again every time. BAH

And what's even more frusturating is knowing that I can and do play pieces that are quite a bit more technically challenging, and can handle and hold them fine.