PIANO

Chopin – Étude Op. 10 No. 5

“Black Key”

MARINA LOMAZOV
 ABOUT THE ARTIST
Praised by critics as “a diva of the
piano” (The Salt Lake City Tribune), “a
mesmerizing risk-taker” (The Plain
Dealer, Cleveland), and “simply
spectacular” (Chicago International
Music Foundation) Ukrainian-
American pianist Marina Lomazov has
established herself as one of the most
passionate and charismatic
performers on the concert scene today.
Marina Lomazov has given major
debuts around the world and won
several important piano competitions.
She studied at the Kiev Conservatory
and holds degrees from Juilliard and
Eastman. Today, Ms. Lomazov is a
Professor of Piano at the Eastman
School of Music.

PIANO
 character and analysis

tempo and rhythm

phrasing, technique, and practicing

Watch the tonebase lesson

fingering and pedaling Download plain edition

The hand needs to feel firm and comfortable on the black keys to avoid slipping.

play through the entire piece at a Moderato tempo Apply Lomazov’s practice strategies: grouping,
plucking, plucking and holding, rhythms, repetitions

keep the right hand light

Grouping: hands separate, groups of
four, five, or si
Repeat each group 5x-7x; if you
always practice with the exact
make a mistake, start back at zer
fingerings you’ll use for performance
Vary the emphasis

make sure your bridge is supported

note where the pattern

switches from up to down

after a month and a half of practice at

Moderato tempo, try the piece at full tempo
3
 practice strategy: pause and hold
the top note (groupings + rhythms)

“I let my hand go there freely; I sort of close my eyes and

dive into the lake. Sometimes I miss spectacularly. But if
you always hesitate, you’ll always sound afraid.”

4
 resting spot; listen to the left hand
and let the right hand swim

Chopin writes groups of 4,

but don’t learn it that way

left hand must come out

over the right hand

practice in groupings and

different rhythmic patterns

5 most chromatic and intricate spot for left

hand, perhaps it’s OK to slow down here
to really savor the harmonies
“I try not to worry about the right hand
does; I rely on the training I provided it.”

melody in the thumbs of the right hand

etc...

6
 Coda
highly exposed line

5
5
4 3
2 1
5 3

spend time to try and voice the left-hand

thumb as beautifully as possible here

practice these bravura coda passages

in reverse: start with final note and add

preceding notes one at a time

find the “gaps”