It was a very interesting day for me.
1) I completed my preliminary recording but i hate it. - I will record it again tomorrow and submit one that is better.
2) A friend of mine called me for a small recital of young (very gifted artists areound here). So I went. One of the performers played the Pathetique all parts. It was a very intersting experience. He had a noticeable (to me) memory slip on the 1st movement at about the same spot I had memory slip when I played it in my recital. But his recovery was much better. He played the 2nd movement beautifully. It was much more emotional rendition than mine, and of course, much better. Anyway, I compared my recording to his performance at home. I realized that the major difference is that I play measure by measure even when I think I am playing the whole phrase.. My video shows myself bobbing head with the beat measure by measure.. Got to fix this. No wonder it does not sound beautiful. Retrospectively, I should record my practice performance regularly. I would have noticed it long time ago. So, DECISION - I SHALL RECORD MY PRACTICE.
3)Husband and dogs did not leave the house. In fact I wound up with a funny video of those two. My husband is crawling by the piano with the dogs. He thought if he crawls he would not be capture by the video. I got both of them captured and intend to share it with you once my husband's computer becomes available. I need to buy my personal laptop. My company forbits us to download any software for security reasons. So it makes it impossible for me to download / upload zoom pictures. Next week, I am buying an apple computer, Mac Air:) since I it's so inconvenient not having a personal laptop. I figure Apple is better for youtube and related activities.

Another achievement = I remembered how to upload videos from youtube.. Yay! I posted it another thread but it's too funny not to post it here too. Enjoy

I'm not crazy by this sort of topics but here it goes... After the first lessons i took following the learning piano material provided by playpianoTODAY.com (David Sprunger, member here), i was able to arrange my own little Amazing Grace with some simple triad voicings. Im absolutelly thrilled about it. For me at least that's what primarely piano means. Sitting down and improvizing songs you enjoy:)

I dont know who to say it was funnier...you, your dog or your husband:))

That's fine. But buy the Mac Air because you want an ultra-thin, lightweight (and designer-priced) laptop, not from any idea that it will do YouTube better than a cheaper machine!

Hey, guys. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. With my hubby's request, I made it "private" so it soon becomes unavailable after 50 views or something like that. He told me that he does not want to be a youtube sensation. I told him "relax, you weren't nakid" but he is kinda shy about things.

Hey Farmgirl, it was so excellent I watched it three times!

I managed to practice 3 consequtive days with absolute concentration. I found the secret in making progress faster - it's called using my brain while I play which is a brand new concept for me but I am getting used to it. I kind of expected my hands to do everything till now and played on autopilot

So in 3 days I did more than I did the past month, I corrected all the problems my teacher pointed out in my current pieces.

C,



Don't look now, but it sounds like you are playing D major scale in (major) thirds as I understand it.

I've only tried that a few times and also found it pretty mind twisting. I think there is a standard hannon exercise for this but will have to look when I get home.

One of my favorite pieces! The first time I heard this was last year in a live piano/violin performance, and it brought tears to my eyes. Just lovely! I'm sure you will enjoy playing this.

Private means you can't search for it on YouTube ... you need the Url to view it. Of course you posted the link here so it's not so private any more.

Edit : never mind -ago I realized that this wasn't the private link you posted.

Yes, I am having the time of my life.....thank you!!!! Isn't it remarkable how such a simple piece of music can be so beautiful??? I realize this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but there is something in its simplicity that touches me!!! I have worked through the first two pages and will make a recording for my cellist partner tomorrow. We practice together,but before getting together each of us makes a recording of oneself playing so the other can practice with the recording (or simply hear the other's sense of the piece). So far, I would have to say that this has been the most rewarding experience I have had since beginning piano. My cellist partner has had her musical fire stoked and just today she suggested that we play the first of six studies in English Folksong composed by Ralph Vaughan-Williams. I find it remarkably beautiful and feel very happy to know that it is one of her favorite pieces to play on the cello.

I have just submitted my first recital piece. I messed the end of it up but I'm going for it anyway and getting the red dot.

Congratulations LBE! Looking forward to hearing it. I always print out my Order of the Red Dot and hang it on my office door

Cathy

Glasslove, I am so happy for you. What a lovely adventure you are embarking on.

When I got the piano I started inviting a few musical friends over, for dinner and music. They were all strangers to each other before that...We've now had 3-4 sessions which have been great fun - and just this weekend one of my buddies has issued an invitation to everyone, so we'll be playing at a new "venue". A whole new circle of friends has developed through our love for music.

JimF... I have no idea what playing scales in this fashion is called. You could well be right. I'll see what my teacher calls it (then I'll translate )

LBE, good for you! I'm waiting for the tuner to arrive, and then I hope to record and slip in under the wire. I considered just giving it a miss this time, but I really would like to join in .... we shall see. I may be putting myself in a too stressful position cutting it so close.

I could have recorded with the digital, but I didn't want to.

Cathy - my medals are on our fridge


OK...edited to add......I'm back to say that the tuner came, my piano and I are happy...and I got my recording for the recital done. whew.

Well I managed to be brave and submit a piece to the recital last week for the first time ever. It is just a little Spanish piece, but at least it was error free! The hardest part was learning how to get my AG N2 to talk to Audacity. Maybe I will really get brave and try YouTube for the next recital!

Musically speaking my accomplishment this week was playing well enough that my teacher thought I should be working on more complex music. So, I have three new pieces: one for Baroque, one for Classic, and one Romantic. I get to play Chopin again Yippee!

And Chopin's Waltz in B minor to boot That's the "main" piece I learnt for the first half of this year. I love it, love it, love it. You can hear my version in the August '11 Recital.

Magnificent work, and as interesting as it is beautiful. Great chance you have, to sing this piece.

SwissMS, Yep, Op 69 - 2 is a really beautiful walz. I think you will enjoy it

well, after the excitement of the ABF recital, I am back to my normal routine . I too am starting a couple of new pieces shortly. The third movement of the Pathetique this Wednesday and Bach English Suite (donno which one yet) as soon as I complete Rach 23-5. I am more excited about Bach piece than Beethoven. I have not played Bach officially .. about 15 years. I missed it. This week I listen to six English Suites to pick one that I am playing. Fun

I have to wait for my Chopin piece until the Beethoven piece is completed. I have a sneaking suspicion that my teacher would make me review all three movements after the third movement is over (sigh) . I did tell her that I love to play the whole sonata a year ago. Anyway, I will do whatever. I commit myself to it and I know I would love it afterwards

Yea for you SwissMS - "just a little Spanish piece" has a lilt to it already - bet it's great I'll listen to you and Little Blue Engine first. First timers FTW

Cathy

I hope this isn't too basic for you folks, but I just got the biggest charge. I'm learning Can-Can in Alfred's book, and I keep playing (at like, 60) and I keep thinking this sounds no way like the Can-Can that I remember. Then I'm in the shower sounding out the notes in my head and I go a little faster, then faster, and holy cow!! - now its starting to sound like the Can-Can. No way I can play it fast enough with both hands, but with one hand somewhat faster than I'm used to, it really does sound right. Sooooo cool...

Hi Ed. Welcome to the forum. Nice to hear of your accomplishment. The speed will come as you get more comfortable with the music. I'll often set the metronome at the slowest speed when I'm learning a new piece, just to get the timing correct, or when I'm putting hands together for the first time. You'll get it soon!

This is my first post. I just started playing in August. My achievement this week was the first 8 bars of Bach's Minuet in G. That's all my teacher wanted me to try. I also played a bit of the RH of Schumann's Kinderszenen No. 1, just because I'm a bit obsessed with it at the moment.

MaryAnn,

Welcome to the forum. We are all adult beginners or re-starters here.

BTW, your location says Japan. Do you still live there? I have been in the States for the last 20 some years but am actually from Japan. Hope things are getting better there.

Hi MaryAnn,
Welcome to the forum!!! 8 bars of Bach's Minuet is an awesome achievement for having played for only 4 months.
I share your love of Schumann and No. 1 from Kinderszenen is on my "to do soon" list. I also LOVE Mignon from his Album for the Young.

Thanks, GlassLove. I will listen to Mignon.

MAOW will be that I finally get out of the house today.

I work from home. I do have an office in my company building. My bosses are all in NY. We are all virtual. I can do everything from home but I start feeling wierd after so many days not going out and speaking with other human beings except my husband. After 6 or 7 days in a row staying home, I start to feel like I am engaging in a bunch of imaginary activities including conversations with my forum friends, the phone conversation, e-mail and my music. Did you guys ever feel this way? Have you had simlar experiences?

I think it's time for me to go out and mingle with my fellow muggles.

Ed - I remember that feeling well - and I was only doing the oom-pah to back fiddlers for a dance! But at some point when I was first learning it, wow! it was music!

FarmGirl - I work from home a lot, too, but like you, I try to have a couple of clients outside because otherwise I become a clam

Cathy

Achievement of the week for me: I am close to getting the big jumps right in the Chopin E minor (Op. Posth) waltz. I had been trying to get that right for over a year now but the breakthrough came when I got a tip at a masterclass that I attended. The teacher asked me to treat the lowest note as the starting note of the figure (which was actually true in this case, but even if the jumps (left hand) started from the note above, it would probably be useful to think of the lower note as the starting note). The most useful tip then was to keep my arms close to my body. That reduced the effective distance my arm had to travel (I guess it has to do with having to control just the motion of the arm, now hinged in position at the elbow as opposed to having to control both arm motion and elbow motion when the elbow is not kept close to the body during these jumps).

Will post a video sometime to demonstrate this.

Whew! I think a video would be helpful, not sure I get that message (though I think it is a safe bet to say I won't need it for this piece for ...oh 2-3.... decades )