Well, here's something. Not great, lots of brain freezes, but I was really stretching (for me) trying to play this with a few key changes. I went through the first time in C, then in Eb, then in F, then repeated the last bit in Gb and G ending the song in G.

Mary had a little lamb with a few key changes

quote:
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Originally posted by bruceee:
Here's a challenge you Piano Magic players -- what can you do with that theme? If it was good enough for Mozart to do variations on "Twinkle Twinkle" .....
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Hello bruceee,

I've been with Pianomagic since Jan '06. I tried to teach myself piano for a year and a half, before that. I'm 45 years old. And have lurked here alot. And, this is my attempt to show you what direction I would go with Mary had a little "something" :-).

http://www.box.net/shared/kukfmxusl0

I don't know about variations to much,, but it was fun recording it!
YeCats

YeCats. That was great. this thread is wonderful. I don't know when I have had such fun at the piano, as well as listening to what others have done with this ditty. Mary's little lamb really is bringing out the creative spirit in a lot of us.

And DeepElm, did I notice some blues notes in there? Whatever it was, it sounded great.

Gaby tu

Wow!! you guys are all brilliant -- at least that's the way it seems to someone who can't play like that.

Thank you all for sharing.

Mahlzeit: Glad I made you do it

DeepElem: I have decided I want to be you

Yecats: Sounding good, nice to hear you play its been a while

Gabytu: yes "fun"!...who'd a thunk it huh?

brucee: Nah ..we just have a brilliant teacher


regards


Lee

Hi All -

Here's one more .... "The Ballad of Mary's Lamb" ...

http://www.box.net/shared/qhrv1y77gv

Balladeer (who else would play such a thing!)

Balladeer,

I don't think I've ever heard a finer pure version.

Thanks,
YeCats

PS: Oh,, thanks Gaby tu, brucee, and SeaSide for the nice words!

I don't believe that I'm adding this after hearing Balladeer, and Lee, and Matt, and YeCats, etc... but hey, Seaside asked....

This is pretty raw - I've only been at this about 5 months. I only put 1/2 hour into it and there are many clunkers and a few pauses where I was thinking too much so watch your ears.

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Sorry it's late,
Troy

Hey Troy -

You aren't giving yourself enough credit, buddy! Nice experimentation throughout. At 5 months I couldn't have come close to what you have done here

Remember though, it's not a race or contest. Just keep seeking your own "voice" by thinking like the music.

Balladeer

Troy, that was really very very nice. I love the way you brought in different harmonies. I have been playing the piano longer than 5 months, and my version is no where as nice as yours.

Who would have thought that Mary's little lamb would unleash such creativity.

As an added bonus, when I had trouble falling asleep last night (too many of Starbuck's lattes, which they heavily load with caffine),instead of counting sheep, I began to mull over in my mind different versions of Mary had--a you know what.--playing it with an alberti bass, thirds, 6ths, octaves, etc. What fun.
Gaby Tu

Just a few comments for you "Mary" posters ...

YeCats - Good variety both melodically and harmonically!

DeepElm - Lots of passion - I really like that! Nice arps too!

Matt - Very nice Matt - did I hear some tritone subs in there? Good melodic 'meandering' and some really nice phrasing!

Seaside - you old smoothy! Where's my Pina Colada? Nice change of registers. I knew you would figure a way to slip in a half-dozen 1-6-2-5-1's!!

Balladeer

Tritone subs, eh? Just because I know what they are doesn't mean I can actually use them. The only funky chord I used was C#dim.

Holy Mackerel Troy!!!!

You new guys never cease to amaze me...thats miles better than I could have ever done

Nothing like the proof of the pudding...

Just wait until you realize what you can do with "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" not to mention a "Tisket A Tasket"

{{Pssst...what you can do with these tunes you can do with more grown up songs }}

And I want to hear your version too


Balladeer: You freak me out you really do..you must be an inspiration for the over 50's and SAGA (LOL)...seriously though you're such a dude


Lee

Has anyone noticed how all the pianomagic players sound exactly the same?
...erm...NOT!!!

Hi Bruceee

I have been working a little improv into "Mary had a little @#$!!" for one of the members over at pianomagic....I still haven't left it alone yet (its too much fun )

Here's a newer different version where I try to echo the words "as white as snow" in the improv:-

Mary Had A Little Lamb - Take 2

with some different chords thrown in for good measure


Let me know what you think?


Lee

Hey if Seaside can do two, then I can too!

Mary in a lonely bar on saturday night:

http://www.box.net/shared/4e1ifebott

Hi Folks,

This is my first time here. Seaside Lee told me to bring my little lamb along!

I've been with Piano Magic for almost 4 months now. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Here's my version:

http://www.box.net/shared/uhpdsvpgy1

Nell.

Matt,

I really liked that one!!!
I don't know about you, but I think these are all starting to sound the same
Did you play that one in a different key?

Nell,
Very nice! You definitely got game.

Troy: Thanks! It starts out in C, then goes to Eb, then back to C.

Sorry, Troy, but I haven't a clue what that means!!

Can you translate?!

Nell.

Hi Folks,

I'm kind of new here, but was invited by Seaside Lee to off up what you could do with "Mary Had A Little Lamb."

This certainly is not a difficult song, as Sandy has mentioned, but many folks would not consider it a "fun" song to play.

You see... Seaside and I both think somewhat alike when it comes to music, as I too play by ear, cannot read a note of music, and have been a member of PianoMagic for about four years now.

Seaside has had some of our pianomaniacs over there posting renditions of Mary's Little Lamb... And, they all are very well done and spontaneous examples of following your heart, how music thinks, and just having plain FUN with a simple tune.

I sat down, pushed the record button, and played this song in one try... It's by no means perfect. In fact, it's got several flaws which may be apparent to the expert, but to the untrained ear, those flaws may sound intentional.

Actually, the only one who will ever really know that for sure is me... it may have been intentional anyway.

http://www.box.net/shared/73ne8cb2l2

OK Lee... you have got me to jump in here. It seems like a great group of folks... Ya know, some of names here look VERY familiar. Looks like you've brought the whole "flock" over. Hope it's not gonna be too contagious, as I could get hooked.

Mary had a little lamb... a little pork, and a can of Spam. Boy, could that gal eat!

Regards,
SB

Hi Nell,

It's a bit of outdated slang from the sports world. When someone plays their sport well, people say, "He/She's got game".

So, you're sport being piano, I said, "You got game"!

In normal english, "You play well".

Hi!
Someone said that whatever you can do with these simple tunes you can do with more complex tunes. So, I wonder if anyone can record a song (doesnt matter which one) of Queen, because I really love Queen and i really love listening to you (pianomagic players)
However, I know that Queen songs arent really easy so no problem if you cant - but if you can it would be really very cool to hear.

Ask and ye shall be served. Here is my favorite queen song. I have never played it before until a half hour ago. It's only the verse and none of that fancy piano stuff. It wasn't too hard to figure out, except that there's a key change from C to F halfway during the verse which threw me for a loop at first.

http://www.box.net/shared/fnsgv36fem

Wonderful mahlzeit!
But I found one mistake! Its too short!!
And it really is a beautiful song!

OK, now, all the pianomagic players: Whenever you record a pop/rock song (or even heavy metal - now, how would Iron Maiden sound on a piano?? ) you MUST post it here!!!
thats an order!!

Hopefully I join you after the matura exams.

P.S. mahlzeit, when you will have time, you still owe me November rain!

Yeah, I know it's too short. I will have to figure out the rest when I have more time. In any case, I've added it to my list. Thanks for requesting a Queen song, because that's what made me think of it.

Lovely, mahlzeit! I agree, it's too short.

Nice work, Matthijs!

Troy....thanks for explaining the cryptic sports jargon. I think you got game, too!

Nell.

I'm very impressed by everyone's music posted here. In a previous life. I tried to play popular music but it was a huge effort and never sounded like this. Currently I'm into classical -- much easier -- all the notes are written down, and I just have play them one after another

I expect to get seriously back into popular music one day. You guys are a great advertisement for Piano Magic, and I will be very tempted to take that path.

Hi Brucee

I posted your challenge...
over at "pianomagic" (to see what the guys and gals could come up with) and here is a recording from one "young lady" that isn't a member on here.

I wrote her and asked if she would mind if I posted her recording in this thread and this was her response to me

her screen name at pianomagic is "honeycomb" and she is an inspiration to me every day because I have often thought to myself "if honeycomb can start in her 70's have so much fun and be able to do it then I sure as heck can do it too!! "

Personally, I think she should be an inspiration to all the people who post on here saying "is it too late for me to learn to play a piano?" (whether they are a 20 something? or in their 70's!! )


So without further ado

Here, we have "Honeycombs" version (fuelled by "Grannie Power!!!" TM ) :-

http://www.box.net/shared/ur1xjaeg5v


take a listen


Lee

Lee...thanks for sharing that and tell "Honeycombs" thanks too!! I was smiling as I was listening