Yea, I'd probably put the 1st invention as an early intermedite piece. I'm guessing either the A major or the E minor prelude? Another short and really pretty one is the B minor prelude. I had toyed with raindrop but decided I should wait a while, until I've gained more skill...

Both, I "completed" the Em and I'm still working with the AM prelude (which is actually in Book 3). And yes I agree; Raindrop takes some chops.

I finished "Come Back to Sorrento" and another piece this week. My teacher wanted to skip "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and move on to "American Hymn". I've been working hard and making good progress for 2010 so far.

I've also decided to perform "Dream Bright and Beautiful" for my recital piece.

Welcome Cyborg!

As Waltz had said, a BIG to our Book #3 (and the others) Alfred'rs on the recent recital. I must admit that since "parking" #3 at Xmas I've been busy with other things and have not (yet) gone back to it.

I am changing up my schedule of lessons a bit and hope to return to it shortly, maybe a month or so.

What's everyone else working on?
- SC

BUMP. I'm still on the 1st invention. I don't know if I'll really come back to Alfred's, but it's still fun to hang out here with my Alfred buddies

And, TTigg, I still think that was a cool video of the Lost footage and your playing. I didn't miss an episode from seasons 1-3 but then stopped watching it. Are you a fan of the show or just the music (or both)?

Both coz it's confusing which is good and I do love the music, hey it's TV & Film piano - I'm there
- SC

Thanks Waltz, Keep us posted on your progress and hope to see a submittal in the ABF recital- in May perhaps?
Carl

I bought all three books at the same time just in case they sold out or something. I hate starting a series of something and not being able to finish it! The pieces in book 3 look amazing and im looking forward to getting my teeth into them.

Does anyone know roughly speaking what grade (theory or practical) you would be expected to pass if you complete all 3 books ? just curious

Carl,

Thanks, yea I should contribute something this May, or maybe in the pianobar sometime. Maybe that invention if I ever can play it decently. What are you currently playing/learning? More Chopin?

Smokestack,

I'm not that familiar with the UK grading system, but I would think something like grade 3 or 4. Maybe TTigg or someone else from the UK would know more about it. Book 3 ends with pieces such as Fur Elise, the first movementof Moonlight, and Chopin's prelude in A maj.

Back to page one!

Not that I'm the most regular poster, but I'll do my bit to keep this thread from disappearing completely.

I'm moving quite slowly at the moment, but worked last week on the Adagio in A major. Nice piece! I thought I was getting a bit tired of Alfreds, but I must admit that I really enjoyed working on both this one and the previous piece (American Hymn). Maybe A major is a good key for me! LOL!

My lesson is this afternoon, so let's wait and see if I get a go to move on to (what was it?) Blue rondo? or something like that?

Anybody else still doing book 3 stuff??

Ingrid

I too enjoyed working on the Adagio in A major. Now I’m on “Just a Good old Tune” and at first I thought I’d be through with this in no time, but I was proven wrong once again. There a two places in this piece where my fingers just don’t want to behave. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to move on soon though (I have the rest of the piece down pat).

Undone

Hi everyone in book 3!!! I haven't posted in a while but I am currently working on Canon in book 2 and hope to join you soon.

Nice to hear from you HG

We'll save you a seat HG

Undone

Thanks guys. Canon will probably take me a while, but I'm really enjoying it.

I'm popping out of lurkdom to say I really enjoyed working on Canon in D. The one in alfred's is a fairly simplified version; you can step it up just slightly by getting the Dan Coates version (http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Canon-In-D-Easy-Piano/1279480). The Alfred version prepares you very nicely for this one. I spent about a month or so last summer obsessing over this piece of music. I haven't played it in forever.. I'll have to sit down with it again.

Oh - and always my favorite youtube video ever - A Rant about Pachelbel's Canon in D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

Hey Nancy What have you been working on recently?

I've not worked on anything in Alfred's in forever. My teacher and I never really started book 3. I've been doing a lot of level 3 repertoire & studies to prep for the level 3 certification exam. I've gone through these songs
* minuet in G Minor (Petzold) - just started this one a week ago.
* Hornpipe in B flat major (Purcell)
* Sonatina in C Major (Clementi). i had a block with this one and gave up on it after spending a month or so trying to stop making stupid mistakes every time
* Sonatina in G Major, I and II (beethoven)
* Morning Prayer (Tchaikovsky)
* The song of twilight (Nakada)
* Studies: Arabesque, Study in D minor & just started The doll (Tansman) this past week.

I have songs actually memorized now so I can (in theory) sit down and play them at any time. We accidentally missed the sign up to take the May level 3 test; so we decided we'd just start working on level 4 and do that in December. My teacher said she thought the songs at level 3 were really easy for me so level 4 won't be a problem at all, but I need to work on the other stuff associated with the exam : playback by ear, recognizing intervals and sight reading. since I've got all year now we'll have plenty of time to get me through both levels on that.

honestly i don't care if I ever take the exam. I just wanted to do something 'different'! I practice scales and triads and such as part of my routine (not every day - but at least once a week or so). All the focus on really polishing each song and basic skills such as scales has made me a much better player too IMHO . I'm learning to love my metronome, at least as a necessary tool.

I keep meaning to record something for the recitals here; but then forget. Someday I'll remember!

Sounds like you've been busy! I too have more or less departed from Alfred's. Learning to play by ear would be an amazing thing, but where in the world do you begin? I'm curious how many people here would be interested in that...

Thanks Nancy. I really love the video. It cracks me up every time.

I haven't done anything in Book 3 in quite a while - been working from 3 other sources: (New Age book, Classical book and Christmas book (late for last season or way early for next season )

Still want to do one last regular Book 3 piece, the "Rondeau" by Mouret, which is an adaptation of the theme from the PBS show "Masterpiece Theatre", which I've always liked (the show and the theme) - and several advanced pieces, but just can't seem to get to it.

And thanks for everyone's comments on my last Recital piece!

JF

Funny to see...

A while ago I was doing some (more and more) non-alfred's stuff and I mentioned here that I was wondering whether I'd really finish book 3.. At that time most of you were pretty sure that you'd all continue to work on book 3 till completion....

Now I see everybody drifting of to film music, new age, playing by ear...just when I decided to give book 3 some renewed attention! haha!


Waltz..what do you mean exactly by 'playing by ear'?

I've been doing some popular / lead sheet work on the side which I really liked. It taught me a lot about using (inverted) chords, and understanding how a lot of (non classical) music is built up. My oldest son is doing the same stuff right now, and I notice that the things he learned are also helping him to 'just mess around' at the piano. He makes up things, or plays melodies he knows with interesting accompaniments (is that the word? I mean he doesn't just play a 'simple' melody, but fills it up with chords, bass riffs/beat etc)


Since he basically used the same chord/lead sheet books as I did I shoud be able to do the same I guess! Point is that I never really tried. I always play from a score. Or by heart.

Ingrid

Ingrid,

I guess I meant playing things you've heard "with your ears" on the piano without any sheet music. It sounds like your son is doing some of that and some "improvising" (I think) which is also really cool, and I would think requires similar skills. I'd like to be able to do it some time...

I'm sticking with book 3. I have no choice; I have OCD.

Undone

I'll probably be in the book 3 ambitious section forever...

I finished up the first Invention a few days ago and did a nice recording of it. I have now started on the eighth Invention (F major) and am working on some beginner teaching pieces for my instructor.

Me too, well I haven't even gotten there yet, Einaudi is taking over LOL
- SC

Now that you guys are buddies, you must play Einaudi...:)

What do you mean by "working on some beginner teaching pieces for my instructor"? Did he send you back to square one?

Undone

Haha, no, I guess not all the way back there . But she did give me one really easy piece, I mean, it was a simple LH repetitive chords and right hand simple melody (and it was short). The other is not as easy, but it is still more to teach me a very specific technique rather than a "repertoire" type song. Of course, the F Major Invention is now giving me enough to work on, and with board exams in a few months, this is porbably about all I can handle :yikes:

How about you Undone? Anything new going on in your piano world?