Learning and Understanding the Piano Etudes of Chopin and Ligeti

This treatise is in two distinct sections. The first part uses the Etudes Op. 10 by Frédéric Chopin as a vehicle through which to examine aspects of the learning process. Topics discussed include mindset, the role automatic behaviors play in learning music, and characteristics of deliberate practice. The paper proposes practice techniques for specific passages in the etudes based on the principles of these psychological theories, and discusses approaches to avoid. The second part deals with compositional elements found in the Études pour piano, deuxième livre by György Ligeti. Several influences on Ligeti's style are examined, including artwork, mathematics, and non-Western music. The paper discusses Ligeti's use of asymmetrical rhythms and rhythmic ostinati, his treatment of multiple simultaneous pitch collections, and other features unique to specific etudes. In both sections of the paper, the primary focus is on practical and technical concerns for performers of these pieces, rather than on subjective aspects of musical interpretation.