Noctave
The piece
The exercises of Op. 821 (1853) each fit into eight bars and target a single technical problem. Their author, a pupil of Beethoven and later the teacher of Liszt, devoted a large part of his work to piano teaching. No. 3 works on thirds: the right hand strings together double notes in sixteenths above short chords in the left hand.
Each group starts after a sixteenth rest: three slurred thirds, C–E, D–F, C–E, with the hand settled and fingers 1-3 and 2-4 alternating. Both notes of each third must sound exactly together, so listen for one sticking out. The opening rest matters: without it, the motif tips onto the beat. The left hand plays short chords followed by rests, then bass notes leaping an octave; keep it light and precise under the thirds. The right hand averages 4.5 attacks per second, peaking at 5.3, and at that pace a supple wrist matters more than strength.