6 Micro Study 7 – turn around 1

The next micro study requires the excellent use of smart guide fingers to work. If you have played through Etude No. 4 you should have no trouble with the first two bars, other than having to iterate over them to get used to the unusual chord shapes.

Top tips here are:

• Practice in two beat segments, concentrating on the fingers for each change.
• Pre-prepare finger 2 on E, to facilitate beat 1 to 2 change.
• Use the rall indicated in the score to aid your chord changes.
• Bar 18 (beat 1 to 2), has two possible fingerings, the second (brackets) is not based on guide finger principles, it is a jump

The last two bars are here, but really should not need any work, just the opening idea again. Use this point as a mental break, a sign post moment, to collect yourself before diving into the next section of harmonic ideas.

This is the first, of two, turn around ideas in this study. They can be separated out and practiced solo if needs be, as the fingering for each one is quite complex and will require some extra repetition and forethought.

A short pause here and consolidate advice for what you have learnt so far.

It holds true for each segment you complete.

• 1 bar at a time, be clear on fingering and any hacks before practicing in, no rhythm to begin with.
• Chunk into small segments of a beat, then practice: beats 1 to 2, 2 to 3, & then all.
• Take a short break, come back and double check that is all secure. If not repeat above. Then put bars together, 2 at a time and build up from there.
• Slowly with rhythm – use quarter notes to eighth notes.

A note on Learning

Make sure you do not allow any errors to creep in at this stage, your body will retain these and they will need ironing out at a later stage. So take it slowly and perfectly – if you can! (You are 1/2 of the way through!)