Believe it or not, our 16th quarterly Piano World Adult Beginners Forum recital approaches! The recital will be posted some time on the 15th of November, which means that the submissions must be in by 9:00 pm EST, November 14. Please note this deadline is very firm; I cannot start working on the recital until it is closed, and once it is closed, no new entries can be added.

While any and all styles of music are welcome, we do ask that it be piano related.

If you are fairly new to the piano, please do not be intimidated by some of the talent here in the ABF. We all consider ourselves to be beginners even though we may have been playing for some time. And, we LOVE to hear recordings from folks new to the keyboard. So even if you’re on your first Alfred’s method book, we would *really* enjoy hearing from you.

Recital submissions should be in MP3 format. The maximum size of the file is 20 MB. We recommend encoding the recording at 192 kbs, as that works best with the online streaming player. At that bitrate, a 20 MB file works out to be about 7 minutes in length. Your recording will be normalized when placed in the consolidated zip files, but your original link will still be available for those who want it.

If you are new to recording your music, there are several threads in the forum archives that address the ways and means. See the "Important Topics in the AB Forum" thread stickied at the top of the AB forum page. Audacity is an excellent "free" recording application that can be used.

Submitting Your Recording:

We will be using again the absolutely marvelous automatic web-based recital program that mahlzeit wrote for us. And thanks to LaValse's extremely generous offer to host the recital program and zip files on his server, it is no longer necessary to upload your mp3 files to box.net or some other file hosting server prior to submitting it to the recital. You will upload your mp3 file to the recital server as part of the recital submission process.

When you have your mp3 file ready, go to:

http://abf.make247.co.uk/

and follow the instructions there. Once you have uploaded your info to the automated recital website, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. You will have the opportunity to revise your submission any time up until the deadline. If you have any problems at all using the new website, or if you do not receive a confirmation e-mail within a few hours, just PM me. If you have not participated in past recitals using this software, you may want to submit your recital piece at least a day in advance in case you run into any problems with it. (Though there should be no problems. Mahlzeit is a genius. )

Mahlzeit's website will use the same submission template to be filled out along with your attached music file. You may want to have your responses to these fields prepared in advance so all you have to do is cut and paste:

Performer's Name: {forum ID and real name if you’d like}
Where you are located: {optional}
Avatar image link: {optional}
Experience: {Yrs/Mos of piano playing experience}
Link to YouTube or other video: {optional}
Home page link: {optional}
Title of piece/composer:
Source of music: {sheet music, improvised score, play-by-ear, etc}
Instrument used: {Piano make, keyboard model, etc.}
Recording method: {audacity, Zoom, digital to PC, etc.}
Constructive technical feedback wanted: {Yes/No}
Additional Info: {Your thoughts on the piece, etc. etc.}


The due date for all submissions is 9:00 pm US EASTERN TIME on November 14, 2009.

Did I mention that the 9:00 pm deadline was firm?

Think "consistency of concrete."

By submitting a piece to the recital, you are certifying that it is an amateur recording of your own performance.

Again, the recital order will be presented in the order the pieces were received, so the sooner you send in your piece, the higher you will be on the list! This serves to reward the folks who feel on top of their game, and it's about as fair as I can think of for all parties. You can revise your entries on the template (e.g., thoughts about your piece, adding YouTube links, and the like) any time and not lose your place in the recital queue, but if you resubmit your recording at any time, for any reason, you will be bumped to the end of the list.

Should anyone have any questions at all on what to do or how to do it, this is the place to ask. Remember, there are NO stupid questions, as we have a steady flow of new members in AB forum for whom this is their first recital, so your questions will probably help to eliminate other members’ problems. Please ask away!

Let's all go out and brave that Red Dot and share a lot of beautiful music!

Just letting you know that I submited mine but I noticed I appear twice in the list of submissions. What happened was that when I went to listen to the submitted piece by clicking the play button on the last page of the submission process it only played part of the piece, so I clicked the link to download and tune and listen to it that way. Everything played ok so I did a "Page Back" in IE and hit refresh. Maybe that caused the double submission.

Ay, ay, I'm in serious trouble - I have to put something together quickly. That'll be tough

Mine is in (#11, or is it #10?).

Now, I'm the proud possessor of three very valuable things: (1) pride for recording my piece fairly well; (2) relief in having it successsfully submitted to the Recital; and (3) joy at having recieved yet another rare and valuable 20-digit magic code with which to make revisions (although I am still not fully convinced that 20 digits is nearly long enough to establish and guarantee complete security ).

JF

I'm in. (and on time this go-round!) I'd like to make it better....but I had a MAJOR problem on my iMac - my FileVault encrypted hard drive crapped out, and I only have access to what I already put up on Box.net two weeks ago....and don't know if I'll have this thing back and working by the 15th. I've gone through two rounds of hard disk recovery so far, and each attempt takes 3 days.

I love my iMac, but this is seriously testing my sanity. I still have my old hard drive, but I am having to use some serious recovery tools on it, and I can't do anything to risk writing to it or changing the drive....so I even have a complete operating system and 3 recovery tools on a 16GB USB jump drive. I call it "Snow Leopard on a Stick."

If I get anything back from it, three things will be happening from now on.

1) I'll be backing up daily. Religiously.
2) I'll be testing the backups on a periodic basis.
3) I'm never using FileVault again.

Sorry for the diatribe, but I'm just happy to be able to submit something this time - despite the other crisis.

Yeah, that is what created the duplicate. However, the administration pages of the site will recognize duplicates so it will be removed at some point by Monica.

Red dot, red dot be my friend -
Let me make it to the end.
You are slave, I am Master -
Please no - not another disaster.

^Lol. Not even going to try the red dot today. Will do some practicing, but no recording.

Mines in.

Just a side note. In a way, I'm kind of sorry that my Zoom H2 is worth around $150 because I'd sure like to throw it across the room and watch it smash. Nothing against the Zoom of course as it's a great recorder but rather a sick form or therapy for me!

I just have this extreme desire to meet this jumbo-life sized red dot in a dark alley somewhere and beat it senseless. [Think of those inflatable referees that take a beating and keep bouncing back for more.....until they pop of course].

Hell, you would pay more than that for an hour of professional therapy. I say THROW IT! I can't throw mine... it's my whole damned computer. But I can kick it!

Cool everyone. Looks like a few Beethoven Sonatas will be appearing.

Decided to change my piece yesterday. I'm definately NOT in until at least next weekend...

Well, just go mine uploaded. I recorded it a couple of weeks ago, but got beat by about 10 people! Oh well, now I can sit back and relax. Can't wait to hear everyone's performances!

It's crunch time. Piano players scrambling everywhere to do some last minute practicing. Others will be screwing around with unfamiliar recording equipment and don't forget everyone else on their 27th take of the same piece having to force themselves to start the piece again calmly when what you really want to do is scream and choke people!

I can smell it, it's in the air!

[Ssssshhhhhh] get out of my head
- SC

Yup, deleted.

You're not helping mr_super-hunky.

I sat down with the red dot just now and tried a few options. Tragic.

Sorry but it happens to everyone (I assume). Look at it this way, when you finally submit an acceptable recording you will probably know the functions of your recorder inside out and backwards. You will have accelerated your piano playing experience under stressful situtions thereby gaining valuable experience and confidence. In addition, you probably will be very close in memorizing your entire piece as you have played it so many times.

So you see, while it may seem like nothing but stress, frustration and doom, you will end up stronger in several areas as a result.

I remember just a couple of years ago most of us had no idea how to record our music, where to host it, how to convert it to mp3 format etc. Now members are embedding HD videos of their playing almost as easily as a standard reply.

Like the old saying, "what does'nt kill you will only make you stronger". This still holds true. You will definitely get out of it what you put into it.

A very good summary of why I do this. I lack the discipline to sufficiently perfect pieces simply for my own purposes.

^^The workstation here makes recording a snap. Just start the resampler and then transfer the results to the computer to convert .wav to .mp3. I automatically get a sample without background noise, bench creaks. Even my clicky pedal disappears.

I am in now. I went with option number three of what I was hoping for and rerecorded Trois Gnossiennes. Only had to do one or two retakes of No. 1 which seems to be the one I forget the most.

My real problem was I had taken on a bit too much over the last few months. It should put me in a good spot for the next recital or two with a few Songs without Words nearing the recordable mark and a few more Kinderszenen coming close to recordable as well. I should be able to work those troublesome spots out and start a new piece as well.

But, it's time to get back to reading journal articles.

Something I have found that reduces the red-dot fever for me is a larger memory card for my recorder. I use a m-audio microtrack, which is a generation out-of-date with the newer recorders. It came with only 128 meg of memory, which meant I got about 7 minutes of record time. Every time I made an aborted take I would have to stop, delete, start. Very annoying.

So I bought a 2 gig card for it. Now I can record for almost 2 hours if I want to. No longer is my concentration broken by stopping to fool with the recorder. I start it - and forget it. Play my recital piece through several times. I almost forget the recorder is running.

After the session is over I load the file into audacity and cut and trim to the best take. So if your recorder allows it, just turn it on and try to forget it - don't fool with it after every aborted attempt.

Sam

I've been having kittens over doing Clair de Lune for the recital. Not sure if I'll have it ready in time. I can play it now slow, and with mistakes. It's not a piece really that likes a lot of mistakes. It might be ready, then again, it might not.

Quick update....I may have my data back. I still have to send the unit out for a HD swap, but I was able to get most (if not all) of the data back.

Someone resubmitted or deleted. I've moved up a spot to number 16.

That was me that bumped you to #16, I have had a few problems with uploading my submision so with Monicas help it is now done and I am in the # 17 spot, I hope you guys will like my piece, this is the very first recital I have ever done and I am also excited to hear all the other peopls submisions too, aloha everyone.

Chris

Oh, if past history repeats itself, there will be lots of shuffling going on in the recital queue over the next 12 days. I, for one, still have half-hearted hopes of getting a good recording of my more challenging Einaudi piece that I really wanted to submit this time.

I am going to participate in this one, for the first time in ages!! Actually, this will be my first submission with the new system in place.

So, how would I know what my file is encoded as? (we are recommend to encode at 192kbs?)

I recorded with a Zoom H4, and then cut the empty bits at the beginning and end off using Audacity, and ended up with an MP3 file that's about 5mb (it's a longish piece). Is there something else I should do before submitting it?

Also, the recordings are now normalized, right? Do people ever have problems where their recording ends up sounding worse after encoding?

The only other question I have is one no one can answer. Should I submit what I have now, or try a few more takes and see if I can get a better one??

This is the first time I've moved up. Of course with a sample set of 3, it's hardly a significant statistic.

No regrets (need to shoot myself for that pun) that I won't be getting Mendelssohn op. 19, no. 2 in this time, but it might be a sure bet for the next recital. Looking forward to being able to start work on a new piece in addition to the four of five pieces I'm trying to get polished off. I just haven't decided which piece I'm going to try to move from the really atrocious sight-reading state.

Maybe Chopin op. 28 no. 17, Mendelssohn op. 19, no. 1 or Schumann op. 18? I'm starting to lose my focus when I'm at the bench again, there's just so much music out there.

I "regret" to say I don't get it - what pun? Is Op.19, No. 2 known as the "regret piece" or something?

JF

You'd be able to tell by looking at your H4, Shiro, which will have that little button/switch that you can set to 192 vs. other things. Look and see what you have it set on.


Nope! You're all set!


The only time there is a problem is if somebody recorded using a variable bit rate (which I don't think is the case if you were using a standard setting on the H4). And even then, the problem only occurs with the online streaming player, where the playback can sound speeded up a bit. And, yes, the mp3 files are all normalized prior to being put in the zip files. However, the recital thread itself will have a direct link to your mp3 file in the state it was when you uploaded it... so if it's sounding too quiet when you play it on your home computer, go ahead and normalize it in audacity before uploading it.



Actually, I *can* answer that question for you: Submit what you have now. It's beautiful as is.

I've never done any kind of recital before. It looks like fun. I guess I'll go find something to put in the recital:P Does it matter if I don't have a piano, and a keyboard instead?

Nope, doesn't matter. Usually around half the submissions are from people using digital pianos. Although I have both an M&H acoustic and a digital piano, I tend to do all my recording on the digital (the M&H is in the living room and I'd have to filter out my wife's television program -- and that's just too much work).

Ed

Opus 19, No. 2 is known as "Regrets".

Ed

Mendelssohn put word titles to very few of the Songs without Words and op. 19, no. 2 wasn't titled by him. It has been titled 'Regrets' over the years which is where the pun came from. One of my current favourite composers and sequences of pieces. I've been working on four of them and have plans for another couple at some point, but I think I should stop ignoring Chopin so much except he's too darn hard for my tiny brain and clumsy hands.

Monica, thanks for the answers (and the vote of confidence!!)

Pardon my ignorace, but just to clarify:

So, on the zoom, there are these buttons:



None are 192. I either had the top button pushed or else the MP3 button (actually I am pretty sure it was MP3 because that's what the original recording was before I even put it into Audacity). Once you put something in Audacity, you have to re-export it as an MP3, so whatever encoding I have is probably based on Audacity's?? Is there some way I can find out what Audacity encodes at, or some other way to check the encoding?

Also, re normalizing the volume level, my computer's speakers aren't so great, but I'm thinking that looking at the levels on Audacity should give enough of an idea of whether or not the overall volume needs to be increased? In other words, if the levels are going up to like 75% of the meter, that's probably a good level to leave it at? (since too high will cause distortion or breaking)

Sorry for all the technical questions, hopefully I'm not the only one with these questions!

Oops, sorry to keep going on here. But I just right clicked on the final MP3 version (i.e. exported out of Audacity, the one I'd like to upload) and selected Properties and then Details, where it says:

Audio
Bit rate 128kbps.

Is that the encoding?? And if so, then mine is too low, yes? Does anyone know if I can change that in Audacity at the point where I export into an MP3 format?

Or am I just doomed?

Ok, one more.

I just tried exporting aain, and it appears that if you take an Audacity project and export it to MP3, there is no step along the way where you can change the bit rate. But I still don't know if this is the same as encoding, so I'm not sure if there's something else I need to look for, or maybe there's something you have to do before selecting export??

Ok, I promise not to write any mor reponses until ... well until someone else replies.

Well, that just goes to show how bad my memory is! [edit] I record in either 44.1 or the 96 option, but I don't remember which. I *don't* recommend recording in mp3, simply because that compresses the file from the start and you don't have the option of burning it to CD in higher quality wav format. And converting wav to mp3 in audacity is very easy, so there's no reason not to record in wav.

I don't think you're doomed, even with the 128 bitrate. I've never had any problems with any of my recordings in the recital, and I'm doing what you're doing. But hopefully mahlzeit or one of our other tech wizards will come along soon to illuminate us both.

Hmm, if you record with the 96 button pushed, and then open up the file on your computer without going through Auduacity, what kind of a file is it? WAV?? It's been a long time since I recorded with the intention of sharing it with anyone, and so I looked at those buttons and thought that MP3 was higher than 96! Oops.

Hopeful there's some way around this, becuase otherwise I will have to re-record since the encoding seems to be set at the very first step in the process. I think.

Also can someone answer whether or not bit rate and encoding are the same?

Somehow I think I'm making this more complicated than it needs to be...

I've always simply recorded at 44.1kHz on my Zoom H4 (encoded as WAV) then opened up the WAV file in Audacity to chop off the silence at the beginning and at the end. No normalizing. I then just export it as an mp3 file from Audacity. It's always worked fine for these recital submissions.

Well, I'm confusing you, too, Shiro. I'm thinking now that I do the same as jazzyprof and record with the 44.1 button pressed.

Pressing any of the 3 buttons besides mp3 on the Zoom will get you a .wav file.

I'd say, just go ahead and submit the recording you have now. You'll be able to play it back and see how it sounds. Worst case scenario is that you have to update your submission with a new recording later, but if you submit now and it's okay, you'll have your spot in the queue.

I recorded mine with a Zoom 2 and in my file information it has the bit rate @ 128kbps. It is recorded in wav format and converted to MP3 with Audacity. After uploading mine I listened to it and it sounded fine only louder. I suppose that is the effect of the normalization. I am thinking of including a warning to reduce volume ... Moonlight Sonata does not do well at an elevated sound level

Just to clarify, record a WAV file on the H4 (normally I don't suggest the MP3 setting since that's compressed and you never want to edit compressed files as you lose data). You then import that file in Audacity and export it as an MP3 file. You can specify the encoding for the MP3 file in Audacity. As jzzyprof said, record the WAV file at 44.1 which provides adequate quality for that file. The setting of 192 comes in the Audacity export options.

Hope that helps.

Ed

I finally filled out my submission for the recital and currently sit at #22 but I have a feeling the piece won't stay there. I've made some arrangements for it to be moved around at a later time...

Shiro,

I think epf answered your question re: mp3 settings. Just to clarify, go to >Edit, Preferences, then the tab File Formats. At the bottom, it has 'Mp3 Export Setup', and you can select the bitrate from there (which then gets used in the LAME exporter)

Ok, thanks everyone!!

I an pretty sure that the older recordings I made were originally done in WAV and only put into MP3 at the final stage, so too bad that I forgot about that for this one. But I think it's still a useable recording. Thanks for the clear instructions epf and Euan. Since I still have the original file, I can open it up in Audacity and do the export with the setting at the 192 bit rate.

Otherwise, maybe I will try one more recording session and see if it's any better, and that one I can record as a WAV file from the begining. Since I'm recording my digital piano, it will be interesting to see if there's any notable difference in the quality.

Thanks again everyone! I think I am good to go!

Never mind. Question already answered.

That's what happens when I open 66 tabs to read different threads, and then I don't refresh before posting a reply in one of the last ones.

^Only 66, I thought for sure it would be 88.

Welcome to the recitals kalai1. I'll trade you islands.

Tried to get a recording of my Einaudi piece today. 3/4 of the way through it, the cat shook her collar, the mantel clock--that I forgot to turn the chimes off--chimed, and the batteries in the Q3 died. I took that as a Sign From Above that I should give up for the day. Sigh.

@ Monica
Is Waiting for the Sun your back-up?

Yup. I was hoping to submit Quel Che Resta instead, which is more difficult and a flashier piece, plus it's very very fast, so it would represent a new skill set for me. Unfortunately, one has to attain the skill set before one can show it off.

you’re too modest!!

btw, where did you find the sheet music for “Waiting For the Sun”?
or did you ear it out?

It's not out on his website yet? It will be soon. Here I must abandon modesty and explain that I am one of the adult beginners that David uses to obtain rankings of difficulty of his sheet music, so I get first crack at the transcriptions as they come in.

Did a test recording of the Bach P&F I'm working on last night.



Definitely needs more work.

Maybe it will help that I had the piano tuned (again!) this morning.

WOW!!
That's pretty cool!!

If “Waiting For the Sun” doesn’t make it to the recital, any chance of a YT upload??

I've been working on "In God's Hands" for over a year now (not always focused, diligent, goal driven practice) and I’m tempted to submit a shortened version just so I can move on, but feel like it would be a cop out.

Hi homeinmyshoes, if your ever in Hawaii look me up, and thanks for the welcome, this is my first recital, I only let a few close family and friend listen to me play, I am totaly self taught and I play George winston and piano pieces I created, like the one in the recital, I hope you all like it, aloha.

Chris

Hey! Watch your language!

JF

P.S. What exactly is a "recovering cellist"? One who stays away from it completely, or one who stays away from it an amount of time that would seem reasonable for most human beings?

If I had to pick one, it would be the latter.

As they head down the back stretch, it's Beethoven (3) and Chopin (3) neck and neck, leading the way with Lanz (2) and Satie (2) close behind...

Oh, well let me add a vote for Lanz, then.

it's THREE Gnossiennes though, so clearly Satie is in the lead!

Well,
I just uploaded my first pieice to the site. I just wanted to say a big thank you to Monica and all the others who had given me their guidance. I may even be brave enough to go back and update it, it I can get the few bloppers out. The Red Dot almost got worn out on my new Zoom Q3. Thanks also to my husband the computer whiz.
Bunneh - I worked on on the Satie's early in the year. Maybe I'll go back to it and polish it for the next Recital. I look forward to hearing your Satie.
Dot

Not uploaded anything yet... I am in "Any moment now, I'll have the recording I like" mode.

I did what I've never done before, I just submitted my recital piece not at the absolute last minute before Monica shuts down the online system! I'm in at No. 27.

Hurray!

I got home a bit earlier today and was the only one home, so it was perfect make or break time with the Zoom H2. I might have liked to have done a few more takes (and maybe I still will, with a week left to go!), but I'm happy with this recording.

My submission was Kuhlau's Sonatina Op. 55, No. 2, Mvts. I-II.

Looking forward to the recital release,

cscl

Congrats, cscl!

I think we're in the lull before the final push of recital submissions. We had quite the flurry of activity when the recital was first opened, but not much the last few days. I'm guessing there'll be a lot of Red Dot action going on this weekend.

And Friday next week (since I'll have the day off)
- SC

Mine will be in after we finish playing for a church service Sunday morning. I'm a great pianist ([/sarcasm]) but even I have to practice a lot if I get the music on Wednesday and have to play it Sunday - even just a Unitarian hymn So I haven't had a chance to record my recital piece yet. I did, however, play it at the adult day care center, so I have one performance under my belt.

Cathy

OK, I'm all practiced now. I've even trained my page-turner. Now I just need all the right conditions to record. You know, quiet cat, lack of Futurama in the background...

Everybody moves up (1) spot. I got a recording today that I prefer over the one I submitted earlier. It is a little bit cleaner, but the deciding factor was it sounds more like I would like to play this piece. The first one was just a bit sterile.

Tomorrow is dedicated recording day.
I hope everything goes well and I can get a recording that sounds the way I want. If so, I'll be ready to submit.
Keep your fingers crossed for me, please!?

Cheers!
CMOHR

We will for sure - but don't you - that's no way to play

JF

Good Luck, CMohr!

I see an entry by Kawaigirl 1;

So looking forward to hearing your beautiful music again. Missed You KWG!

This is a very good thing - eagerly anticipating this myself!

JF

Okay, we're currently at 32 pieces with less than a week to go. I spent about an hour this morning with the Red Dot and got a version of Quel Che Resta with a few skipped notes but no major bloopers. So now the question is whether to submit a sloppier recording of a more challenging piece or keep my #11 spot with an easier piece. Hmmmm.... what to do, what to do.

Oh, yeah, I guess there's always option #3: Keep slugging away with the Red Dot for a better take of QCR. *sigh*

How about if you submit them both to the November Piano Bar and we'll take a vote on it there and...oh, wait a minute...never mind...

JF

I like option (3) as I am curious would like to hear "Waiting for the Sun"

Oh, you'll hear "Waiting for the Sun" one way or the other; I'll submit it to the piano bar if I don't use it for the recital.

We'll all hear them eventually so why not present them as best you can. Submit whatever you can perform best now or within the next week. Also, some people go through the list backwards so being last will actually make you first!

I'm thinking of putting numbers in a hat and randomly picking them out for listening order.

I'm insanely busy, and don't know if I'll get the chance to submit. If so, it'll likely be last minute.

In the same boat. I've been practicing my "current piece" but it's not where I'd like it to be recording wise. However I do have Friday off so that'll be my "red dot" day
- SC

hows about a yt upload if it doesn't make the recital??

I will. But I might wait to upload it until he gets the sheet music on his website so people can order it if they want to hear it played correctly are inspired after hearing my rendition.

good point!! I will definately add this to my collection. I like his new create your own value pack option.

I'm in. #34

Question from a newbie: How is the piano bar different from the recitals? Just the time frame, or different types of music, or ??

(I've already submitted to the recital. But I don't have work tomorrow, so I hope I can record a better version then.)

It seems to me we get a wee bit more excited about the recital.

There's too much alcohol in the bar for us to take anything even half-way seriously.

So, I have actually practiced for the recital!

Ditto. The piano bars are also ongoing, and people post up recordings whenever they feel like it. There's more anticipation and pomp and circumstance associated with the recital, and all the recordings are gathered together in a couple of zip files, which many people download into iTunes or burn to CD for posterity.

For me personally, I tend to designate my hardest, flashiest pieces for the recitals, as a way of tracking "here's the best I'm capable of pulling off at this time" across the months. The piano bar is where I'll upload recordings of pretty or cool pieces that I don't necessarily intend as a showcase.

Except the alcohol...

JF

And the Piano Bars have dancing girls in skimpy outfits - the Recitals are far to straight-laced and prim & proper for that sort of lascivious behavior

Mine's there - 35 pieces now.

Cathy

... checking Webster.

Good one JF!

Personally I'd only ever noticed the male talent...

(of which there is lots)

I try to record something I think I can do reasonable justice to, whether it's the flashiest/most difficult at this time or not. But I think both places, the recital and piano bar, are just places to share pieces we love.

I can't wait to hear Serge88's submission, Nevue's Greensleeves!

I've never heard anything by Nevue before and love all interpretations of Greensleeves, the Vaughan Williams version being my favorite before.

And the Gnossiennes of course...

Dropped down from 8 to 37 with the submission of a new recording of Lanz's "Leaves", this one using the Yamaha Grand Piano voice on my DP because of it's clearer, more "brilliant" and penetrating sound, which is ideal for this piece...

"Brilliant" idea, huh?

JF

I've done it!

Alas and alack my recital pieces are never my best work. I usually submit something I've only recently learned and isn't really quite polished yet. Then, a couple of years later, I'll post a better version in the piano bar.

I'm still working on my better version of The Entertainer

Cathy

Question... Jillian gave me her recital piece, but she is too young to register @ PW. Does she need to be a PW member to submit a recital entry?

And having posted my question, I now see this interesting discussion. For me, my recital entries (including this time) are stretch pieces. For the most part, I have chosen things slightly beyond my capability, and my entries have been of uneven quality as a result.

OTOH, that's the point of stretch goals in general. So I have found these entries to be very valuable in terms of development, and will probably continue doing what I'm doing.

(Edited because I typed in the wrong place...)

I'm in at #39.

I'd just make her 18 and submit the piece...I don't know why there would be an age restriction. This place is G rated...

I generally submit whatever it is I'm working on in lessons that is furthest along, but that usually means I'm either still polishing it up or am trying to get in some extra practice and an audience before an upcoming recital. I don't think I've ever submitted something I was "finished" with in lessons (which would make for a higher quality submission). I often use the ABF as a practice forum, both for encouraging me to practice and prepare a current piece or as a dress rehearsal for a recital in my studio. That also means that I submit pieces I am reasonably happy with, but which my teacher would not be ready to let me play at a live recital if it were held on ABF day. Unfortunately, the ABF deadlines usually come about a week or two before I really feel confident with certain pieces.

This recital looks great. There are some pieces I really like in here and that I want to be able to play someday, so I'm really looking forward to this one.

It's the *Adult* beginner forum though

Jillian and I are in at 40 and 41. I guess you don't actually have to register on the board...

Well, after spending the whole night recording I've finally got me a recording that is good enough. It's not perfect, but they never are. So mine's in!

Hi, I have a question, I am new to this forum and this is the first piano recital I have been a part of, in a few more days the recital will go live, my question is, how is it going live and how do I listen to it, and can I invite others to listen, thanks and aloha.

Chris Kalai

When the recital "goes live" there will be a post that provides links to not only the individual submissions, but also zip files that contain all the pieces. To listen you follow the main thread that lists the pices and click on the links to the music. Nice and easy.

There's also a section where you can comment on those pieces where the pianist has asked for comments. Usually these are supportive comments, sometimes with suggestions for ways to improve one's playing. We try not to be negative here as this is really a way of supporting our fellow pianists.

Ed

I've just submitted my piece: Minuet in F major from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena.(BWV Anh 113).
Looking forward to listen to your contributions.
Manuel

Well, less than three days left and I still don't know which piece I'll be submitting. It's a good thing I have Friday off. It looks like that will be my only chance to try to record something decent. Even if I don't manage anything, I will look forward to hearing everyone else's pieces. I see a few old favorites in that list.

Me too!
Been crazy @ work so I'm looking forward to relaxing a little and putting something together for this time around Looking forward to listening to a bunch of them over the next coming week...
- SC

I just submitted mine. When I tried to play back (per the instructions), it got cut off in the middle. Is this how it will be in the final version, or is the site just busy right now (can't imagine why . . .)?

I'm in, I'm in!!! #45 I almost can't believe it - my FIRST (and hopefully not only) recital submission! And NO editing.

Thanks to those who crossed their fingers for me!

My recording isn't the best (some tape hiss), but I did it, even with some wrong notes - but, hey it is a recital, right?!

Thank you to everyone who made this so easy to submit. I was a little nervous, but the process was extremely easy.

Oh, just one last thing..CURSE YOU, RED DOT!!!

CMOHR

A flurry of submissions! Looking forward to listening to the recital.

Piano Again
I bet it is fine...that has happened to me before and it turned out fine. Did you download the file?

Monica listened to it and said it was all there. The problem was something about bitrates.

Congratulations, CMohr! Did you do the Happy Dance?

Cathy

"Oh, just one last thing..CURSE YOU, RED DOT!!!"

CMOHR



Haha, I told you Lucy! Sure feels good when you finally get a good one huh? Also, I'm SO proud of you for NOT editing that I'm sending you $100 bucks as an acknowledgement of your accomplishment. Ok I'm not but I'm still proud nontheless.

This is seemingly a good point made by Bunneh - it would appear wise to address it. Perhaps allow this one entry because it's already in, and then discuss a possible age restriction that satisfies a definition of "adult" for upcoming recitals?

JF

John,

Personally, I am fine with postings by non-adults. There is already a precedent - Matt (Debussy20) posted in the recitals a few times and I think he may just now be old enough for his driver's license (or close if he is not).

Rich

I'm open to this... however, this has come up before and most of the feedback I've received has been "Wow, wonderful that she wants to participate."

That said, I read Bunneh's point to be more about registering as a forum member than participating in the recital. I'd be happy to be corrected on this point.

For folks who might be put off by children participating in the recital, I'd be curious to know why. Not challenging anyone here, just can't come up with any downside / negatives on my own.

We had a mom/daughter duet once, too - I loved it.

The discussion is always good - and it sort of makes the parameters dynamic, which, to me, keeps the ABF alive.

For me, I suppose some of it has to do with whether the parent is an active (and there's no set definition for that, either) member of the ABF, or just using the recital for another "public" opportunity for their kid, or to show off their kid. OTOH, we've had a couple of entries from adults, both here and in the piano bar, for only those purposes. I think those folks aren't around any more. Sometimes someone else will comment, or, more likely, there won't be enough comments to feed the troll, so it seems sort of self-correcting.

I like it that Jillian wanted to be like Dad

Cathy

I'm happy dealing with issues like that on a case-by-case basis. As far as I'm concerned, Jillian's certainly welcome here. I like Cathy's proposal of using how involved the parent is in AB forum as a determining factor. We wouldn't want a bunch of strange unfamiliar kids suddenly flooding the recitals. But I would like to hear Jillian, piano*son, or any other AB forum offspring, even if the offspring plays circles around me.

I'd hate to institute an 'adults only' rule, too, as it would seem to exclude people like Matt (who seems to have outgrown us, *sniffle*) who were solid contributors to AB forum.

Monica, there's also the problem of those of us who refuse to grow up! Chronologically I'm probably an adult (heck, in most places I qualify for the senior discount), but I'm still a kid at heart.

Ed

Jotur - I did a great happy dance after playing w/o hitting any wrong notes only to find out that after I pushed the record button the camera wasn't on. Went for it again, got the one I submitted (definitely not note perfect) but did the "happy dance" anyway!

Mr. SH - Darn! I could have used that c-note towards a zoom.

CMOHR

Rich - Well, I guess I am too - but only as long as the place isn't overrun by a veritable mob of the talented little irritating twerps!

It's bad enough that somebody is always excitedly linking us to these snot-nosed, parent-pushed, precocious, pint-sized geniuses on YouTube, but now we have to tolerate their obscenely early and colossial talent here in the Recitals...

But, I think that - at the end of the day - the most important part of the phrase "Adult Beginner" is the word "Beginner", and that the Recital should be open to all who qualify under that term - whatever the definition of it might be (and good luck with that one).

JF (aka, Grumpy Grandpa)

Not to mention the difficulty of verifying "Adult" status in general (other than on the "honor system", where usually some have the honor and others have a "system" ).

JF

I'm an Adult, but I'm not a Beginner, for sure. (I realized when I was filling out the form for this recital that I started playing the piano 47 years ago!)

It seems to me we're always having these discussions here, with proposals to change the name of the forum to something more meaningful.

Amateur Pianist Forum would seem to cover it.

A little later than planned, but I'm off to attempt get a recording of my piece. I am wearing my favourite football/soccer shirt for confidence, and am avoiding all nearby alcohol (until after the session [unless things are going REALLY bad!])

Does anyone else have specific habits/routines before they sit down to record?

A lot of fuss over nothing - a potential "Take 1-er". A few hesitations, but I think it could be okay. Am going back for another couple of shots as a backup.

After 16 recitals, my red-dot nerves have still not improved!

Mine either. I just let the mistakes fly.
Mike

Hey John Frank Where'd you go?. I was #6 and you #8. Both playing David Lanz pieces. Heck we were almost room mates but now your #36 and far far away.

I'll have to make nice with the people around me now but to be honest, most are classical players and they kind of look at me a little funny.

Double check to make sure I am recording.

Euan, looking forward to the cake!

I re-recorded and resubmitted and dropped like a turkey's head at the chopping block on Thanksgiving but now I've gone and re-recorded again (this is the last time, I swear!) and may end up at #6 too (from the end).



That funny look is jealousy and fear - they know you're going to kick their collective butts with that gorgeous Lanz masterpiece you're playing!

JF