Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Achievement of the week - what got you excited?

Aimee, I don’t know what the Hanon exercise #50 is, but it must be a great step for your technique. Congratulations!

Not an achievement per say. My teacher just uploaded photos from the last concert and the caption on facebook is "Teodor our pride!!!" which in turn made me feel proud and good and also reminded me I need to start training again so I can look in shape like in this photo ^_^

That is a cool looking piano, what is it?

It's a Bluthner Leipzig.

Teodor, what a gorgeous piano!!! Must be such a joy to play on it.

I've achieved a couple of things over the summer: I've learned to play fairly decent appogiaturas. In the process, I've gotten my pinky under control - it tended to stick up whenever it wasn't in use - so my hand position has improved a lot. & my teacher started me working on my first Bach piece. It seemed absolutely impossible at first, but I can just about play the first line now, so I'll keep working on the rest of it & keep believing that with practice, I'll get it eventually. I'm learning so much from it!

Yes, very cool piano, Teodor!

What a great attitude, Carol! I almost always feel like this when I start a new piece, especially when it's a bit above my current level. My teacher is a great help with this of course, because he never gives any indication of doubt that I'll be able to learn it.

My accomplishment this week was performing my ABF recital piece, Clair de Lune, at my lesson, from memory. (I just finished memorizing it this past week.) I got a huge boost from my teacher when he said, "You're doing some nice things there." (That might not sound like much, but those compliments do not come often or easily! )

Congrats on the memorizing and playing well for your teacher!

Isn't it amazing how in tune we are to our teacher's comments and reactions to our playing. I got my teacher excited at my second to last lesson where for the first time I played a song the same way I know I can play it at home. Her excitement kept me motivated all week long!

Marybee, I just listened to your recital piece & it's wonderful! I'm not surprised you teacher complimented you!

I was on a camping vacation for almost 2 weeks and it was so fun but at the same time I dreadfully missed playing the piano! When we got back I got into the usual grind of daily chores. I did have the chance to play the piano but found myself feeling that I would have lost all the progress I had made in the last 2 months. I have played almost every day since I got my piano and was nervous about this long break. I really thought I would have forgotten everything! Well finally yesterday I had a few hours to myself and I actually felt I sounded better than before I left! There were some things I had been struggling with before and now those things were not there. Amazing! Of course this got me really excited! I think I played for 3+ hours yesterday (something that is very hard for me to do!) So, my achievement is week...is getting back to my piano and loving it!

I listened to it too just now it was mesmerizing! I haven't heard too many renditions of this piece but yours sounded great!

Last week I received the Practiceopedia that I ordered. I've read a good bit of it and immediately put into practice what it was saying. I had a lesson last night and my teacher was floored. She said everything was much smoother and I had a lot of confidence in what I played. I just grinned because it all had to do with the way I practiced. I really concentrated on just my troubled areas and slowed everything down.

Also, I've been working on finishing Fur Elise. I couldn't play that one fast part up to speed, so I slowed the whole piece down. I ended up playing it note perfect and the fast part is coming along.

I was frustrating while working on a piece that started with one sharp and changed into 4 flats. I just can't do it. Thankfully she's told me to just stop at the key change and we'll proceed with it at a later date.

I do enjoy playing and practicing.

Yup, that's how you do it! Now do it a few more times, still at the slow speed. Don't try to get faster in this practice session. Tomorrow, it will just flow!



Well, think of it as 8 sharps! Seriously - put your hand on the keyboard. Play a G chord. Play an Ab chord. Is one "easier" that the other? No, of course not! It's a non-problem, and your teacher will help you through it very quickly.

My AOTW, teaching myself "In the arms of the angel" by Sarah McLachlan. I've got a chord pattern worked out, now I need to work on the feel.

I didn’t know that song, CaptainKawai., but I’ve searched it on Youtube. It’s a beautiful song. Congrats!

This week, I’ve managed to play Impertinence by Handel. It’s an easy piece, but it’s so wonderful playing the music of Handel. I feel that I could play this piece hundreds of times without getting tired.

Thank you Exalted Wombat. I'll keep on track. I appreciate your input!

Not so much of achievement this week. just chugging along. My work is extremely busy these days and i can only insert one hour of practice time. Besides (sigh!) I have to go to Utah again tomorrow... This time I decided to take my unemployed husband to cheer him up a little. So, probably, my practice time will suffer... But you know what. Sometimes life takes precedence. I will practice at least 3 days at the very kind music store. I will try to do the best I can. I cannot complain. I have a very good job that I like to do. It's busy but I am employed. I have a wonderful hobby which balances my life and gives me satisfaction that even this old dog can learn new tricks. It's just a precious thing. Just hope the economy gets better.

Don't doubt it, FarmGirl. All of us will live better days soon.

Cheers.

My AOTW is spending time with friends instead of the tempting alternative of practicing all day.

Ricardo, thank you for your kind words.

Lain, I think sometimes piano has to yield to friends, spouses, s/o, children and pets:) I feel your pain though. I spent the whole sunday with my husband driving around alpine route, visiting park city in Utah. No piano practice today...

Another non-achievement - I saw a beautiful piano at the lobby of the Embassy Suite here. I asked a front desk guy if I can play the piano. He told me that he could not allow me to play the piano does not belong to the hotel. It's leased from another company. At least I am not alone. He told me several people asked him the same quesiton before.

So why is it there? Decoration only? How pointless. I admire your persistence, FarmGirl, in seeking out every opportunity to play. Maybe you need one of those collapsible toy like keyboards to roll out and just practice scales or voicings or something not really requiring a responsive keyboard.