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Amazing what having kids around does!

After years of not really touching the piano much my enthusiasm has been invigorated recently. I dont know why exactly - but seeing my daughters develop a passion for music has re-ignited something in me. (Perhaps its also their insistence on watching really crap TV that gets me on my feet and gravitating towards the piano to occupy my time instead of siting in front of the idiot box?)

Anyway - after trying to rekindle my playing a it Ive doodled around with half a dozen or so Chopin Nocturnes with varying degrees of success. I've tried to broaden my horizons and play some other stuff - but nothing 'Classical' really does it for me and although I have a Schubert Impromtu thats hits my 'acceptable' spot and quite enjoy the Gerwshin preludes, nothing really has the zen peacefulness of Chopin.

So I decided to seek out more - there had to be more to Chopins extensive output than *almost* playable Nocturnes and 'out-of-my-league' Scherzos that I remeber struggling with many years ago. I had a re-listen to a few CDs with my mind focused not on being absorbed by the music (which is my normal response to Chopin) - but on assessing potential playability and decided despite the 'over-popularity'to have a look at Op28 #15 'Raindrop'. I found some free sheet music (isnt the internet a wonderful thing?) - and had a stab.

To my surprise and delight within 30 minutes or so I could pretty much play it! I need to focus a bit on the final beats of bars 4, 23 and 79 to get them sounding relaxed, and I havent quite got all the chords in 64-75 as sure as they need to be yet - but basically its 95% there and I can completely lose myself in the music rather than worrying about 'playing the right notes'. Its a lovely feeling.

My concern now is that my neighbours and family are going to get sick of me playing the middle section with those sostenuto G#s! lol - How long before someone yells at me - "ENOUGH!!!!".... Hopefully I tire of playing this before they tire of having it as backgound music!

30 minutes and you can play it - I hate you too

I've been playing and listening to it for nearly 20 years and haven't gotten sick of the repeated Ab/G# yet. The Chopin Preludes are evergreens.

Theres a difference between 'prety much play it' and 'play it well' - It certainly wasnt polished aftr 30 minutes - just good enough for me to have that "Hey - I'm gonna be able to do this soon!" moment.

Certainly can't be any worse than the ever repeated Fur Elise that your children will one day play!!!

Ah, now there's something I can play , but not as good as Valentina.