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#1245408 - 08/07/09 02:24 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: nancy_w]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 707
Loc: Massachusetts
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Thanks Nancy  ! I use the camcorder's audio for the sound, I don't have an external mic or anything like that. My camera is a sony, and it's fairly new, and when I bought it, it was "in the middle" as far as quality is concerned. So obviously the sound/video isn't the best, plus I generally compress the files to between 15-25 mb, so they'll upload nicely.
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#1245443 - 08/07/09 03:51 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Waltz]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 3104
Loc: Chocolatetown, USA
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nancy w - just a little note to let you know that I answered two questions you asked in separate posts above (since you haven't responded to either answer I'm assuming you missed them and I wanted to draw your attention to them).
Regards, JF
_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
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#1245497 - 08/07/09 06:18 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: TrapperJohn]
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Full Member
Registered: 04/12/09
Posts: 67
Loc: Seattle, WA
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I did see your messages. I read the new posts by watching the thread and it emails me the new posts when there's an update, but don't always get a chance to reply.
Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome - I'll have to get to work on my Super Special song which is the first one in the book.
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#1245743 - 08/08/09 12:36 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Undone]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 707
Loc: Massachusetts
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Waltz – nice job on your first two book 3 pieces. I look forward to being able to listen to your recordings of the pieces I’m beginning to work on. Undone Thanks Undone! Haha, by what I've read on the first ten pages of the thread, I'll probably be slowing down "big time" soon. On which piece/page are you working?
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#1245849 - 08/08/09 05:58 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Waltz]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 873
Loc: Southern California
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Waltz – nice job on your first two book 3 pieces. I look forward to being able to listen to your recordings of the pieces I’m beginning to work on. Undone Thanks Undone! Haha, by what I've read on the first ten pages of the thread, I'll probably be slowing down "big time" soon. On which piece/page are you working? Well to jump in and steal Undone's thunder (never of course) I'm hitting "A Very Special Day" this week. It's a very nice piece (unlike it's previous ones) and I'm prob going to be here for a good 2-3wks..  SC
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#1246161 - 08/09/09 12:01 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: TTigg]
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Full Member
Registered: 03/05/09
Posts: 24
Loc: Harrisburg, PA
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Very nice playing everyone! I'm only starting Book 1 but I love hearing everyone's recordings of the more advanced pieces. Keep up the good work!
PS
Edited by PeggySue (08/09/09 12:03 PM)
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When you are aspiring to the highest place it is honorable to reach the second or third rank. Cicero
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#1246186 - 08/09/09 12:33 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: PeggySue]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 3104
Loc: Chocolatetown, USA
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Well, since you asked PS, here's my version of "An American Hymn", which is in the new key of A Major and is the first piece in Section 2 of Book 3. This piece is much more commonly called "Shall We Gather at the River" (after the first line of the first verse) and was written way back in 1864 by Robert Lowry. The Book's arrangement is nice, but I've enhanced it a bit by adding (1) and "intro" based on the last phrase (a very common technique) and (2) insertng a D.S. al Fine at the end of measure 16, which jumps back to the start of the chorus at measure 9. These same techniques can be used often to spice up many of the study pieces found in any number of methods and songbooks. Enjoy! An American Hymn Regards, JF
Edited by John Frank (08/09/09 12:37 PM)
_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
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#1246577 - 08/10/09 07:07 AM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Waltz]
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Full Member
Registered: 01/14/08
Posts: 415
Loc: USA, CT
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Waltz – nice job on your first two book 3 pieces. I look forward to being able to listen to your recordings of the pieces I’m beginning to work on. Undone Thanks Undone! Haha, by what I've read on the first ten pages of the thread, I'll probably be slowing down "big time" soon. On which piece/page are you working? Waltz – I’m currently working on A Classy Rag. This is another one that is going to take some time to get through. Undone
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#1246589 - 08/10/09 08:10 AM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Undone]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 3104
Loc: Chocolatetown, USA
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Very nicely played JF. It’s great to get a glimpse of where we’re headed. This piece certainly does have a lot going on behind the melody.
Undone Undone - thanks for the kind words, which mean a lot coming from one who is such a good player himself - behind the melody is an on-going series of arpeggiated chords, with some variations, which provide a very nice base for the RH melody, which contains numerous double notes to help make that melody stand out. Speaking of "A Classy Rag" I'm reviewing that piece at the momemt when I get a chance - I really liked this piece the first time thru and got a fairly good recording of it, which I'm going to try to improve. This piece is as much fun as the Joplin piece "Solace" way back in Book 2. I would recommend observing the repeat sign after the D.S. al Fine and also playing the intro 8va as a Coda at the very end (as the Book suggests). I don't think you'll have too much trouble with it, especially since you already have some experience playing Ragtime music if I remember correctly about the piece you submitted to a recent Recital. Speaking of which, are you submitting one for this upcoming Recital? I have a nice little Baroque-style Minuet from the "Essential Keyboard Repertoire" book I'm also currently working out of already uploaded. Regards, JF
_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
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#1246798 - 08/10/09 03:06 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: TrapperJohn]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 707
Loc: Massachusetts
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JF, I can't really contribute much commentary but I absolutely liked your playing of An American Hymn; very pretty. Undone, A Classy Rag sounds like it may be Ragtime music, which I know you like. I'm sure it won't take you too long to master. Here is Fandango: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyDwa1IHQYYHope everyone is having a nice Monday, W
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#1246870 - 08/10/09 05:33 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: TTigg]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 707
Loc: Massachusetts
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Bravo mate, nicely done. I can see I'm going to get behind very quickly (already am with videos needed to be done).. Hmmm gotta light a fire and get moving Thanks man ! I'm looking forward to your videos, but don't feel rushed, I am lucky that I have some free time at lunch some days to do them, they do take a while to make. Fandango is the only piece I've liked so far in Book 3. I'm preparing to put the finishing touches on "Modern Sounds" but I don't like it very much. The first two I didn't like either. I hope "Jazz Sequences" is better.
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#1247102 - 08/11/09 07:14 AM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: TrapperJohn]
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Full Member
Registered: 01/14/08
Posts: 415
Loc: USA, CT
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Very nicely played JF. It’s great to get a glimpse of where we’re headed. This piece certainly does have a lot going on behind the melody.
Undone Undone - thanks for the kind words, which mean a lot coming from one who is such a good player himself - behind the melody is an on-going series of arpeggiated chords, with some variations, which provide a very nice base for the RH melody, which contains numerous double notes to help make that melody stand out. Speaking of "A Classy Rag" I'm reviewing that piece at the momemt when I get a chance - I really liked this piece the first time thru and got a fairly good recording of it, which I'm going to try to improve. This piece is as much fun as the Joplin piece "Solace" way back in Book 2. I would recommend observing the repeat sign after the D.S. al Fine and also playing the intro 8va as a Coda at the very end (as the Book suggests). I don't think you'll have too much trouble with it, especially since you already have some experience playing Ragtime music if I remember correctly about the piece you submitted to a recent Recital. Speaking of which, are you submitting one for this upcoming Recital? I have a nice little Baroque-style Minuet from the "Essential Keyboard Repertoire" book I'm also currently working out of already uploaded. Regards, JF No, I didn’t have anything ready for this recital. Now that my regular Alfred’s pieces are demanding more time and attention, I’m finding it difficult to have a recital piece ready each quarter. Twice a year is easier, but I’d still like to get something in each recital. As for “A Classy Rag”, I definitely agree with you that the added Coda makes for a much nicer ending. It’s starting to come together for me, but that last line has yet to be tamed. Undone
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#1247169 - 08/11/09 09:55 AM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Undone]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 3104
Loc: Chocolatetown, USA
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Here's a heads-up for all of you newcomers to the Book 3 thread - you don't have to wait until you work your way completely thru all the "regular" pieces in Book 3 to tackle those in the "Ambitious Section" at the back - take them on whenever you feel you're ready for them - in fact, that's what the authors had in mind since they recommend that you do exactly that - for example, at the end of the Clementi "Prelude in D Minor" on pages 36-37 there is a note encouraging you to try the Bach "Prelude in C Major" on pages 122-123. There are several other such references scattered throughout Book 3.
Several of the people who have worked thru Book 3 and who have contributed to this thread have done so, and you'll see their commentary on these advanced pieces in previous pages. I personally have chosen not to do this (yet) mainly because the regular pieces are challenging enough right now, and also because I'm concurrently working out of two other sources on an on-going basis, and really have no more time (or energy) to devote to pieces in the "Ambitious Section.
But, if you're up for it (and ready for it) good luck and have fun!
Regards, JF
_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
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#1247172 - 08/11/09 09:59 AM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: TrapperJohn]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 3104
Loc: Chocolatetown, USA
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Waltz - nice job (as usual) on "Fandango" - very smooth - keep up the good work - you're coming along very nicely - I'm impressed with how well and how fast you learn these new pieces!
I think I have a version of this excellent piece somewhere back on a previous page here if you wanted to hear an alternate take (with an enhanced ending).
Regards, JF
_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
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#1247478 - 08/11/09 07:52 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Waltz]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 3104
Loc: Chocolatetown, USA
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JF,
I loved your performance of it! I especially like the poco ritardandos at 8va changes. That added an extra layer of depth to the piece.
waltz - thanks much - yes, the rits were effective - and so was the fact that in the 8va sections I played both hands up an octave (instead of just the RH as the Book specifies), which added another dimension - try it - also, the added extra ending is basically just a repeat of the last two measures or so, but lowered an octave (and played "Beethovenesque" as someone said in a review). Regards, JF
Edited by John Frank (08/11/09 07:52 PM)
_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
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#1250961 - 08/17/09 06:16 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Waltz]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 873
Loc: Southern California
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This thread should not be on page 5. I'm on Haydn's Serenade. I like it PS: I thought "Modern Sounds" was the worse piece of any of the three Alfred's books. It was just terrible. Anyone else feel this way? I liked Jazz sequences once I got the hand of it... Well (for me) it was the other way around  I mean come on, "Jazz Sequences" wasn't very, well, Jazzy! Thus far I'm beginning to like the stuff in #3. The String Serenede's nice and I do like "Very Special Day", now I'm moving onto the Classy Rag... SC
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#1251004 - 08/17/09 07:42 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Waltz]
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 873
Loc: Southern California
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Ttigg, you liked Modern Sounds?
I agree about Jazz Sequences not being really like jazz. A
"sequence" is synonymous with a "phrase" right? I just enjoyed trying to play this one smoothly, making each sequence soft and light. I wouldn't go so far as to say I "enjoyed it" but I did prefer playing it to the Jazz Sequences one. Oddly enough that's listed as a "just for fun" in the back of #3 (separate version) SC
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#1251195 - 08/18/09 07:19 AM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: Undone]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 3104
Loc: Chocolatetown, USA
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Congratulations to all you Book 3 recital participants!
I just finished “A Classy Rag” last night. This one took me much longer then I initially expected, but was a very enjoyable piece.
Undone Undone - did you get a recording of it? Would love to hear it! JF P.S. You're right - it is a very enjoyable piece - I'm still reviewing it, but not yet ready to record it - if I get a good one (which seems sort of iffy at the moment) it may appear in an upcoming Piano Bar???.
Edited by John Frank (08/18/09 07:23 AM)
_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
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#1251583 - 08/18/09 07:38 PM
Re: Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Cour
[Re: piano4]
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3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 3104
Loc: Chocolatetown, USA
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piano4 - maybe you need a little break from "Fur Elise" - "A Classy Rag" is just the ticket - a really fun piece - another outstanding piece in Book 3 (my favorite so far) is "Come Back to Sorento", which is an excellent arrangement of the great old classic Italian love song.
Good luck with the new job.
Regards, JF
_________________________
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
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