Question on technique - Chopin's Ballade No 1?

''To bring out or not to bring out?''

This is one of the many instances of ''hidden counterpoint'' in Chopin's works and, in this particular one, the notation is quite clear as to what notes are to be considered as structural. However, these quarter notes are NOT to be brought out in any way (don't even think about it, it is musically non-sensical to do so and technically very awkward) and their only purpose is to visually guide the performer as to the harmonic sequence.

You will notice that all fingerings for each pair of quarter notes is 2 - 1 which is an indication to the performer to transfer the *weight* of the hand through these specifically fingered notes. And this is the important point: the performer must use his right hand so that, for each bar (bar 150-3), each beat (corresponding to the 1st and 7th eighth notes) gets less weight while the eighth notes between beats are to be played with full weight down and up through the subdivisions. I think you can imagine the resulting ''swinging'' motion.

Played this way, this passage, assuming proper technique, will not present any particular challenge.

Hope this helps!

Best regards

Edit: @ Dawn: Please, refrain from giving advice on things you do not master. Had you read my response, you would have learned a few things to use for your own benefit. Listen carefully: the quarter notes of the inner voice (we've all noticed these are quarter notes...) DO NOT have to be ''pressed harder'' (they will be held for their full value only through adjustment of the weight) just as the resulting ''melody notes'' DO NOT have to sing on their own. You are advising precisely the opposite of what should be done as the ultimate goal here is to PRECISELY get the eighth notes at ''identical dynamic levels''. Learn to play decently first and get some experience as teacher before trying to tell anyone how to play correctly.

Regards

Are you holding them down longer? My version shows that many of the inner voicings are in quarter note rhythms, so make sure you are holding them when you play the subsequent 8th note. You will need to press harder on these and lighten up on the the second note. Try playing the RH slower, making the melody note forte, and the second 8th mezzo forte. You need to control the touch between the two notes. You are probably playing them at identical dynamic levels, and that's why you can't get the melody notes to sing.

Hahaha yes quite clearly you were not talking about the violin.

I don't play that piece myself but from looking at the score it seems that the crotchets are actually held from the quavers. What I suggest you try to do is play those quavers not connected to the crotchets softer than the quavers that are.

A practice technique you could try is play slowly and deliberately making all the quavers 'pp' (pianissimo) except the ones which are held onto the crotchets. Play those ff (fortissimo). That way your ear can get used to hearing the melody, and once mastered, you will automatically bring out these notes and they will 'sing'.

If you are talking about for Violin:

Tilt the violin slightly towards you, and play near the bridge.

Mmmm, I apologize. However, I just skimmed it and only saw the word keyboard once. Plus, you have such a vague question, how are we supposed to know what measure you are talking about?

Can't help you anymore, I only played piano for a year.