I started this piece around 2 days ago for my grade 8 piano exam and I've been having a nightmare with the beginning section(red circles). I can play the rest of the piece with no problem but the beginning keeps giving me a headache. When I try playing with both hands my right hand keeps failing. I just don't understand why I can't play it.. I've played much more technically demanding pieces and my teacher even told me that this was a relatively easy piece.
I would recommend you getting the rhythm and the "Left-Right-Coordination" right. I found it helpful in such cases to reduce the pattern to a more simple rhythmic pattern and practice these in a loop until they feel save.
In Example A I just tab a simple 4th rhythm in the left hand, while getting used to the rhythmic pattern in the right hand in relation to the beat. Then in example B and C I'm introducing the 4th breaks. You can do different variations for B and start introducing the breaks in different ways then shown here. Experiment your way of getting closer until you get C straight.
Then you can adapt those rhythmic patterns being played with real notes. This does not necessarily mean you got to start with the notes from Beethoven's Op.2 Nr.1, you could also improvise with this patterns or play it in different (maybe easier) keys. Have fun... :-)
Play it SLOWLY. Preferably with a metronome set to 8ths at 120. Yes, THAT slowly. Maybe with slightly exaggerated finger lifting to give the musical equivalent of chear diction. You should discover where you're fumbling.
