For all learners who are playing Shostakovich for the first time, or for those hearing or learning about him for the first time, there is one thing I strongly encourage you to do: simply listen to his other works. This is paramount. I strongly recommend listening to his orchestral works rather than just his piano pieces. By listening to his orchestral compositions, you will gain a deep understanding of his orchestration and tonal colors. This will help you to imagine specific instruments for different sections when playing this piano piece, understanding it as an orchestral work. This will provide a valuable hint for playing this piece.

Musical Aspects of Russian Works

Let me also discuss the musical aspects of Russian works. Works written by Russian composers often exhibit intense emotional fluctuations and do not 'always' express beauty, gentleness, splendor, fantasy, slumber, purity, or elegance. At times, they can be violent, humorous, sarcastic, angry, or sorrowful, expressing various human psychological states through all possible means. These are extremely powerful emotional expressions. Therefore, performances can never be merely 'pretty.' There are parts that should be played roughly, intensely, and percussively.

In any case, it is highly beneficial to listen to many of his symphonies. And internalize his orchestration.

Technical Aspects

Now, this piece is by no means technically easy. The human 4th and 5th fingers are inherently weak and difficult to make independent. For example, if you can play the first beat to the second beat of the right hand in measure 1 with the fingering 1-2-3-4-5 without issues, that is fine. This passage appears throughout the piece. If the evenness of the notes becomes slightly uneven or inconsistent when using fingers 3-4-5, special sectional practice will be required. It would be good to ask your teacher for practice methods.

Alternatively, you can devise creative fingerings.

For the right hand in measures 1-2, the following fingering options are available:

• Measure 1: 1-2-1-2-3-1
• Measure 2: 2-3-4-3-2
• Measure 13: Right hand: 1-1-2-3-4-5; Left hand: 5-5-4-3-2-1
• Measures 30-31: Left hand: 4-3-2-1-2-4, 3-2-1-2-3

Especially when the phrase appearing in the right hand in measures 1-2 appears in the left hand (e.g., measures 30-31), ensure that the notes are perfectly even and consistent.