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After spending about two weeks reading through at 1 note per second or even slower... and getting frustrated as F*, finally I started speeding up the Chopin prelude #1 op 28.... amazing little piece. I'm trying to "don't cheat" releasing the right hand thumb because I use the pedal... quite hard.

How many achievements! Reading them is really inspirational to me.

This week I’ve managed to play the first fourteen bars from the Chopin’s prelude (Op 28 nº 4). It’s a little step, but necessary as well . Now I’m going to try to master these bars, before to try the rest of the piece.

Regards.

Recardo, congrats for that achievement. 14 bars are more than half of the piece! It's a very beautiful prelude. Nice and dark when played a little slowly.

My achievement is that after my sleeping problems two months ago, I'm back with a lot of eagerness to play. It takes so long to get back. In the two months I hardly played. It feels very much like a burn out after getting sleep rythm back. Even simple movements looks impossible. But now it's finally over. I'm very happy.

Though I will spend less time reading on this forum. More time on the piano. My writing will be shorter than I want it to be. The main reason is that I type and read all messages on this forum through my cell phone.

Chris

My AotW is getting back home to my piano!
lol.

After a month away with intermittent piano opportunities, it was good to get back to my OWN piano.
I did play at my sister's place, but my nieces weren't very interested in trying duets ...What can you do?
However, they both played for me, and I played for them. Compromise.

After leaving my sister's place I had 2 more opportunities to play - once at the residence where my MIL lives, and once at my cousin's home.

None of the pianos I played came even close to mine.

At the moment mine is slightly out of tune, but not horridly so, and I had fun running through a few favourites today. I look forward to getting back into my routines.

I was watching Grease on TV, and when Blue Moon played (during the dance off), I was able to match the chords by ear on my piano. Yes, I was proud of myself!

I have an achievement this week! I finished, with reasonable competency, the Beethoven German Dance I was working on. I can play it at a nice tempo with no obvious stumbles, when I'm focusing, and nice dynamic expression. Yay!

Welcome back Chreyl. I missed you:)

My achievement is, well, still in the making I guess. I started memorizing Beethoven's Pathetic 2nd movement. I am happy it's short:) My hubby is in Los Angeles - I got house to myself ... and a couple of winey dogs... As I am writing this, I hear Emma the spoiled Golden Retriver barking. I have to get them inside (Phoenix is very hot)!

this is my first one! (like a virgin, hey!) Anyway my big achievement(s) of the week was getting to sit down with my teacher and play my first ever Hanon excercise and playing it all the way through! And also blowing him away with a little Tchaikovksy I've been learning behind the scenes! so happy!

It's been a while since my last post. I can play the Entertainer pretty well. I have started another piece, Canon in d. I had previously learned an easy version of Canon (in c)......I found a slightly more advanced version in my Faber level 4 book. Someday I hope to learn my third version when I get around to the original composition!

My first post on this Topic
My achievement of last week/lesson is I just start learning "The Maiden's Prayer". Wow, this is a beautiful piece and I have to work hard on those arpeggios.

Wow. Its nice to see all these new faces on the AOTW thread.

Blues Tune - Many of us have used Alfred Adult at one time or another, so there's nothing minor at all about your progress. Good work, keep it up.

SeanC - Congrats on your entertainer breakthrough. Isn't it amazing how changing just a few small things can seem to completely alter the character of a piece? What are you working on next?

Attaru074 - Matteo, that sure is one of the more challenging Chopin Preludes. Have you found the old skills coming back? We'd love to hear a recording of 28/1 when you finish it.

BnWKeys - That takes some quick thinking/playing to match those chord changes in real time. I'm impressed (and jealous).

ArcticMama - Nice job on the Beethoven. I just got back from your incredible state of Alaska. It was everything I'd always imagined.

YukiKiki - It is pretty (if I looked at the right one on youtube). Part of it sounds just like the Bach C Prelude - either that or my brain has finally been Bach-ed to death. LOL.

Recaredo - Great start on Chopin 28/4. My advice would be to take your time with it because you can play it for years and years and still have ways to improve it. Second half has some tricky bits that just require slow, careful practice.

Cheryl - Welcome back. I know what you mean about getting back to the sound and feel of your own piano. Amazing how quickly the recently new becomes the baseline for 'normal'.
I found it took a while to reaquaint the fingers on the Sonatina - how about you?


My AOTW is getting the rust off after my 10 day break. It seems like it took almost a week to get back up to speed and make a little progress. The break seems to have been very beneficial for my hands, which I think had been a little strained for quite some time. Everything feels much looser and relaxed now. I just hope I can keep that feeling and transfer it into the music.

Jim

I usually read this post, but never wrote anything in it. So, this is also my first post here.

This week I finished studying the piece "Monday" by Einaudi. I heard this piece on the album he recently published "Islands", and decided to learn it. My wife is "tired" of asking me to play other things besides Einaudi (LOL) but when she heard this piece, she said: "This is beautiful, who wrote it?".
So, I wanted to share with you two things: First, "Monday" is over (still missing some details) and, second, I gained a few extra credits to play Einaudi out loud

Wow, everyone has been busy!

BlackNWhiteKeys - Grease, Blue Moon - figuring it out on your own, what a great combination!

Arctic Mamma - How satisfying! I have a Beethoven German Dance in one of my books but I haven't really tackled it yet. I feel inspired to give it a try!

FarmGirl - aw, thanks! I missed you too - it is nice to be back. Sounds like you are making the most of your hubby's "away" time - he will be delighted when he comes home to hear your progress! (and I remember seeing a photo of Emma, she is one beautiful dog!)

Micheal Taylor - Canon in D is probably my favourite piece of music. I even have my preferred recording! What is the version you were playing BEFORE the Faber Level 4? It is a piece that is on my MUST PLAY SOMEDAY list :):)

Yuki-Kiki - welcome! You gave me a new piece to look up, I didn't know A Maiden's Prayer. I'm glad you came and told us about it. It is a lovely piece - one youtube version I found had a ton of trills and embellishments added in which were very pretty.

JimF - Yes, I needed to refresh on the Sonatina - the second half of the Romance is still very weak. I'm glad to get back to it, but I also want some other "new" pieces to have as alternatives. Unfortunately my teacher had some very grave family health issues in July, and I was away for August, so I've been coachless for a bit. We met today, just to catch up (as we are also friends, not just teacher-student) and we will start lessons again next week.

CarlosCC, Welcome to AOTW ! Nice to see you here. You really are a firm Einaudi fan! I think it is great to have a composer you are so fond of, and I love reading about your enthusiasm for the pieces you are working on (I've seen your comments in other threads before now!) Keep us posted on your progress!

I'm excited about my progress this week! I the past seven days I ironed out Aria in F and Menuet in G Major (both Bach/Petzold pieces) and they sound great! That's huge progress for me to get the notes ANd dynamics right, and so quickly.

I'm moving onto Menuet in g minor next and hope that goes as smoothly as the two predecessor pieces

My AOTW is sitting the AMEB Grade 5 piano practical exam and passing with Honours. I was extremely nervous and had not one but two trainwrecks in the technical work, and fluffed most of the aural tests. But the examiner nevertheless awarded me an A so I'm happy. I celebrated yesterday with a very long lunch with my teacher and friends.

Toastburn, that is PHENOMENAL! Congratulations on passing and doing sp well!

Thanks, Arctic.

My set pieces were, if ppl are interested:
Bach, Prelude in D, BWV 950
Beethoven, Andante from Sonata Op14 No 2, 2nd mvmt
R. Schumann, Kuriouse Geschicht from Kinderszenen
Bartok, And the sounds clash and clang from the Mikrokosmos.
Mozart, Allegro, 1st mvmt of Viennese Sonatina II in A
Heller, No 18, Allegro, from Studies Op 45.

Good for you Arctic Mamma - that's a great satisfaction, isn't it?

Toastburn - your train wrecks could not possibly have been as bad as you thought, if you passed with A ! Congratulations on your success.

I took a break from my Beethoven because I felt stalled out on it. I've been sight reading and am quietly pleased to see that I am reading more smoothly.
I'm really feeling the loss of my teacher for the past 2 months. I can't wait to get started with her again.

Good morning all
Congratulations Toastburn...what a great accomplishment. I'm hoping to do the RCM Level 5 this year yet but have two papers I want to finish and submit to journals...clashing passions. My piano and my scholarship. Both suffer from the other. LOL.

I realized that PW conversation inspires me to keep going when I'm feeling low energy and I appreciate ALL of you for sharing your accomplishments. What a great bunch of musicians.

My AOTW is that I'm getting to the tempo I want on a David Nevue piece I'm working on...starting to sound like music.

sure I'll do... right now I have the first 8 measure "up to speed" and I'm memorizing the next 8 (actually there are the first 4 repeated) and I prepared the "math" for the 5 against 6... I'll have to take 6 days "off" for work related reasons. but I'll be Bach!

meanwhile I'm removing the dust from the 5th year exam repertoire restudying everything... it's going to take time... 2 english suite, 3 bach 3 voice inventions, shubert impromptu, 1 mozart sonata, about 30 studies between czerny and cramer...

that is going to be 1 year to 1 year and 1/2 of material for me right now...

my "long term" target is to get back to 8th year conservatory repertoire... I hope to be there in 5 years from now.

(as personal note I wish I can go back in time and kick myself for wasting so much precious time)