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Typical of me to lay myself wide-open. That's me. Sign on my back says "Kick me, make fun of me, I'm gullible." Hmmm - pedicure - I could certainly use one. But no - I don't get one. I walk out with both shoes on then kick one off. No sox - but you have to remember to put your shoe back on before you take a bow and walk off! Hopefully it hasn't crawled too far away. Otherwise you go CLUMP,clump,CLUMP, clump..

Teachum,

Great response . Actually I'm the same way, give um a big smile and take one right in the chops. You're a good sport.

Keep peddlin.

Funny, that hadn't even occured to me, or the teacher! I just thought it would be nice! I didn't hear anybody mention being nervous about a recording.. I just had two good mics discretly placed about halfway back (which was too far away, but that's another topic on another board) but I cleaned up the recording pretty well in the computer.

It's funny, a little kid was playing Fur Elise, he did an amazing job with it, but there was this dog outside, barking, IN TIME even, everybody thought it was a kid in the audience being bad but nope, a dog.. got louder and louder, didn't phase the kid playing one bit!

Anyway - yeah, I love that Chopin waltz as well. Tastefull, but great opportunity for some expressive playing and showing off some chops on those fluid right hand runs. I'm hoping to tackle the Bb Nocturne in the coming months.

Right now I'm working on Schumann's "Knight Rupert" (spelled in English 'cause I don't want to hack the spelling of it ;-).. I can almost get through it at the right speed (quarter note is 126, it's pretty much all 16th notes, alternating both hands, in 2/4.. ack!)

I didn't get around to posting sounds last night, hopefully tonight!

-Paul

Does your teacher have Student Recitals?
Yes. We have one regular recital each year. My teacher's mother is also a piano teacher, and they combine their recitals. In addition, the adults have a holiday potluck recital and ensemble thing around Xmas. The kids have a halloween one that mandates costumes.

Do you play in them?
Yes.

Does your teacher have other adult students?
Yes. She has had two or three other adults at any given time during the three years I have been taking lessons from her. All of them are retreads. She also teaches harp and most of her harp students are adult beginners.

Are you the only adult on the program???
I am usually the only adult piano student. Most of the adult harp students also play.

For bonus points, and a tie-in to the "first piece" thread, what was the first piece you played in a Student Recital (as an adult if you are a retread)?
It was a Bach Bouree. I don't remember the number. I guess I don't qualify for the bonus points. Also there was another piece I don't really remember...I can find the program to jog my memory. A kid at that recital played the same Bach Bouree, but only the first line and a half of it.

It's a little disconcerting to be in the middle of a program where most of the rest of the performers aren't even old enough to drive. The Performance Anxiety is better some days, worse on others.

Last year's xmas recital was a bust. We usually have six or eight harps and a couple of adult piano students. We practice a few holiday songs on our own, then attempt to play them as an ensemble. Since there's only one piano there, I bring a couple of recorders (a tenor and a bass) to play on the ensemble pieces. Then each person does a solo piece. I had a little Bach Minuet prepared, but I totally bombed. I was also the only guy there. I think there was too much estrogen in the room.

This spring, I played pretty well at the regular recital. It was my first Scarlatti piece and I was pretty pumped to be able to share it.

I am not a student, but I really enjoy going to student recitals. I like hearing people having fun playing the piano.

My one comment about them is that most of the adult students have a lot of problems with memory slips. I really think that it would be better if they would have the music available, just so that they can be more comfortable playing.

The most memorable experience at a student recital this year was the adult student who had a lot of trouble with a Chopin Nocturne last year, and wasn't going to play any more. But this year he played a movement of Ravel's Mother Goose with his daughter, and they really nailed the piece. It made everyone feel good to hear it.

Just have to keep chiming in! I love that Chopin Waltz too - in fact I just learned it. Hey Frank - did ya know I'm gettin an Estonia 190 too?!?!?!?!? I'm not excited or anything. You guys are all going to be SICK of me talking about it until it arrives!!!

Theach,

Very cool, when are you taking delivery? I had about a 6 week wait, due to remodeling. Slowest 6 weeks ever. Well worth the wait though, I love mine.

Of course we'll see pics immediately RIGHT?

Remember keep peddlin.

I played some of this with my teacher, both for family recitals and for a local music club (in existance for a million years!) It is so much harder to play than it looks! Kudos to the Dad and daughter that played it!

The daughter is still in elementary school, I think. She is pretty small, and her father is fairly tall. It was quite a contrast.

Does your teacher have Student Recitals?
Yes.

Do you play in them?
Going to next week!

Does your teacher have other adult students?
I am not too sure but I guess so.

Are you the only adult on the program???
Yes, it's a little frightening to be playing among all kids. My teacher has put me to be the last to perform and I hope this won't backfire!

For bonus points, and a tie-in to the "first piece" thread, what was the first piece you played in a Student Recital (as an adult if you are a retread)?
This is my first recital and I am only playing one piece from Clayderman. At the end of the day, the audience (parents) will vote for their favourite performer.

Ooooh, the "What's the best recital slot for the adult beginner?" question!

I don't know about anyone else, but I take this whole slotting business seriously. My teacher's recitals start with the student playing the easiest piece and end with the most difficult piece. Early on, this was rather tricky. My first recital piece slotted me with the 11-12 year old kids, all of whom have nerves of steel and tend to perform flawlessly.

Now, though, I am getting close to the slot where I would be ending the first half of the recital, before intermission. We are going to have to find a different slot for me because I would be too nervous having to try to end the thing on a high note.

Cindy -- who wishes she could go first and get it out of the way, but who thinks it would be unseemly to preempt a five-year-old kid

Frank - My piano is actually in Seattle (did I mention that? - old age setting in!) I'm thinking I will be able to take delivery no later than end of September. Hopefully sooner. Definitely before the snow flies. I don't want to take delivery of a grand piano in a snowstorm in North Idaho! I'm going to see the piano next week. Alex HErnandez has it for me in safekeeping!

Question for those of you with children at the ricitals -- is it just us adults that sweat so much when we play at recitals? I know of course that children also can get stage fright, but from what I've seen, they seem to get past it very quickly. I find I can start off very well but by the middle start to fade out and lose my spot in the music. (I am working on making sure I know how to read the music and find my place again because that really improves my ability to restart after flubbing it.)

So Frank - I noticed on the What Does your Piano Thread that ChickGrand doesn't wear any shoes either. You better give her a hard time too!!

Nan - It seems like the children I've seen play don't yet have that same fear of failure. If I ask my son how he feels before playing in front of an audience or judges he says, "fine Mom?" and looks at me like I'm from another planet. He always loves playing for people too if someone comes over all of sudden you'll start to hear him playing. I do notice some body language that would seem like nerves are somewhere there; My son gets very shy & quiet when asked to introduce or take a bow.

teachum - I believe chickgrand is a he

Cathy

Teach,

I missed that one . This could get serious if it catches on. There could be ANARCHY .

Keep peddlin Teach.

:rolleyes:

Well - well I finally actually figured out how to make these things work - so simple!!!

Cathy S - Yeah I got told (pm'd) Oh well - I still think Chick Grand is a "chick" name. But now I see the "other meaning" I thought Chick was a Chick with a Chick. Sorry Chick!!! :p

Phew, I have just finished my group recital! Now, I can finally get that irritating Clayderman piece out of my head!

The recital started with about 12 people playing a classical piece each and the remaining 5 playing easy-listening stuff. It turned out that not only adult beginners get nervous during recitals, some of the kids are rather nervous too. And that helps a little... Some got nervous to the point of stopping the music for one or two seconds before repeating the passage again. The tension could also be attributed to the fact that this was the first time most of us played on a grand and it can be rather alien. This was my third time playing on a grand and I still could not get used to the heavier actions. For eg, I didn't played hard enough on some bass notes and it seemed that the sound that came out was a little inaudible. I also found the treble a little bright but otherwise, it was a really fine piano and it is of course way better and more expressive than what I get to practise on at home (Yamaha U1). It's a Seiler grand by the way.

I was generally satisfied with my own performance although I know I can do better (at home of course! ). Like most people, I made some mistakes during the performance but *maybe* the crucial difference is that I made my mistakes in the softer accompaniment part (when often I didn't play the notes at all or due to the above mentioned reason - heavier actions) while my melody notes were singing and went on smoothly. This somehow covered up the mistake. And to my utter surprise, I was voted one of the 2 favourite performers! I thought I wouldn't stand a chance as parents might actually like the kids better but well, lady luck's on my side. Yipee! The easy-listening Clayderman must have helped too.

After so many weeks of preparation, I am finally relieved that it had come to an end. All I know now is that I will be there come next year!

Thanks for listening. This is a great forum!

I forgot to add that I have some pictures taken for those that are interested but the problem is that I have no idea on how to post them. I think it needs some webhost or something and I don't have one either.

No audio files though...