Frédéric Chopin Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
Frédéric Chopin’s Fourth Ballade stands as a highly complex, multi-layered architectural structure. It demands absolute control over polyphonic layers, a deep understanding of long-term formal tension, and the ability to manage intense emotional gravity while maintaining complete clarity.
I have filmed a thorough lesson on this statement piece in order to help you refine your piano playing, deepen your understanding of Chopin's stylistics and the music of the Romantic era.
In this 2.5-hr comprehensive video course I thoroughly go through the entire Ballade, elaborating on:
- Optimized fingering suggestions, material distribution between the hands, as well as other other tips & tricks
- Motion coordination, tension-free efficient technique development
- Articulation, phrasing, pedaling, balance, polyphony, and such; in order to improve your performance, bring it as close as possible to professional standards, and help you create your own, unique interpretation and understanding of this work.
I also include my ANNOTATED PDF SCORE (Edition: Ekier, public domain) with markings for fingering, pedaling, material redistribution between the hands, and such that I created specifically for this lesson.
NB.: My own score does not come from a public domain, so you might find subtle differences to the edition I used for the annotations in this course.
My performances of this work:
Not sure? Check out a free portion of this course with excerpt examples by clicking here .
The Course Curriculum
- The Annotated PDF Score
- Part 1: mm. 1-8 (15:49)
- Part 2: mm. 9-37 (14:41)
- Part 3: mm. 38-57 (11:18)
- Part 4: mm. 58-71 (13:57)
- Part 5: mm. 72-99 (15:02)
- Part 6: mm. 100-128 (16:57)
- Part 7: mm. 129-151 (10:32)
- Part 8: mm. 152-168 (10:52)
- Part 9: mm. 169-210 (19:22)
- Part 10: mm. 211-222 (Coda) (15:17)
- Part 11: mm. 223-239 (Coda) (12:11)
I am a Ukrainian-American classical pianist, currently living in Austria. In 2025 I have successfully acquired my Doctoral Degree in Artistic Research at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, with Excellence, on Artistic Interpretation of Late Scriabin. During the last decade I have created six multi- and crossdisciplinary productions with my Intertwining Arts team. After years of my discoveries as a solo pianist and a crossdisciplinary artist, I find it absolutely necessary to share my knowledge, skills, and understanding of possibilities in musical interpretation with the world, by teaching individual piano lessons and recording video tutorials.
I play and teach all kinds of classical music - from Baroque to Contemporary. I think it is very important to understand how unique and complete each individual style is - therefore, I don't really have a favorite one, since they are all incredible. I am an open-minded and easy going person, always willing to collaborate with my students' needs and ideas when it gets to piano playing.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about individual lessons via the contact form on my website elinaakselrud.com – I will be more than happy to reply!
Keep creating and best of luck,
Dr. Elina Akselrud
