Kathleen,

I think I'm done with it. I played it for my friend the other day and he told me it sounded great. I made a couple mistakes, but for the most part, I think it's to the point where I would perform it in front of anyone.

I actually tried to record it the other day in midi format, but for some reason a lot of the notes were not being recorded (I think there is a problem with the midi connection). I'm going to have to buy a microphone and get an audio recording. That would be better, anyway, since playing my grand and playing my digital is like night and day.

Anyway, thanks for all the encouragement and analysis. And thanks to everyone for their recordings. They were all so good. I won't be joining the Nocturne group, as I think it's time to go back to my favourite--Beethoven (no offense to the Chopin fanatics here, of course). I'm thinkiing of starting Sonata No. 5.

Good News, Cookie74. I can't get through the Raindrop either without making several mistakes. Maybe sometime in the future (like about a year), I'll be able to do so.

Again, if you'd like to record it and have us listen, that would be great. But it isn't necessary.

I, too, have problems recording both on my grand and then on my Clavinova (digital). My grand sounds terrible. It shimmies. When I record on the digital, the bass is so much louder than the upper register. I haven't played it for about 20 years, so that could be the problem. Someone told me that digitals have to be played regularly or else their connections get dusty or something like that.

Anyhow, please PM me with your address. I've made 4 T-shirts so far and hope to send them out today (one is for me). I'd like to send you one also, for you certainly have earned it.

Please tell me your size, MM/LG or XL. Then the wording you'd like. Below is a picture I took of one for MaryAnna. The "studly" picture of Chopin seems to be the favorite. On mine (I had a hard time determining what the wording would be), I settled for: CHOPIN (above the picture in large capital letters). And underneath, in smaller letters (TILL THE END OF TIME.)

And congratulations again. Good job. I know I should branch out on the compositions I learn. But I am such a Chopin freak, that he's all I really want to play.



Kathleen