Figured I'd go ahead and start the next piano bar. I haven't put up a video in awhile so decided to do so this time around. I still used my zoom recorder though so sounds pretty good I think. Song is Edelweiss from Sound of Music. I took an easier version of this song and improvised from it. It was a fun experience! Hope u enjoy. Also Happy New Year!

Here is Man of the World from my favorite anime Naruto Shippuden. Sorry about all the background noise from my camera again:) Enjoy!

Nice job on Edelweiss Sis!:)

Very nice, Ladypayne, and Augustina! I love to hear you both play!

I wrote a new blues tune a while back and haven't had time to recorde it until yesterday... so, I'll post it to the January Piano Bar.

"Ain't no need to have the blues all the time"

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed playing it!!

By-the-way, Happy New Year, All!!!

Rick

I always enjoy watching your videos to Rick! I can tell you really enjoyed playing this:) A great song, and fun to listen to!^_^

Ladypayne, augustina & Rickster, nice start to the year!

Rick I loved it!:)

What a wonderful way to start the New Year!

Ladypayne: Loved your Edelweiss - great improv!

Augustina: Hadn't heard this before, but very nice!

Rickster: I don't know how you do it, but you always amaze me with your creative Blues tunes - great singing and playing, and especially liked the tremolos!

Here's a popular tune that is taken from a classical piece (Polovetsian Dance - Borodin)

Stranger in Paradise



Happy New Year!

Elssa that was very pretty:)

ladypayne - Very good job on this. It sure doesn't sound like easy version to me. Well done!

Augustina - I'm always pleasantly surprised by your song choices. You always manage to come up with something with a beautiful melody. Good choice and well played.

Rickster - I can't get enough of your original music. You never fail to please. Your C7 has the guts to growl on the low end and the polish to sparkle in the upper registers. You two were made for each other.

Elssa - What a lovely rendition of this classic showtune. You nailed this one.

Nice job sis on Naruto

Rickster: Great song you composed. Very enjoyable.

Elssa: A very pretty song. Nice playing

Aside from Rick's excellent original song so far the Bar has featured music from two musicals (Sound of Music and Kismet) and one anime soundtrack.

My offering was written for the short-lived (1981 to 1983) American TV series The Greatest American Hero. The stories center around a high school special ed teacher who is endowed with superhuman powers by aliens in hopes of saving our world. The show was a flop but this is one of my favorite TV Theme songs.

That was a very nice song Bill. Thanks for introducing it to the bar =)

Thanks for the comments, all!

Elssa, my piano playing goal in life is to be able to play as well as you!!! Your playing is so calculated and precise and is a joy to watch and listen to!!

Bill, you're a pro as far as I'm concerned!!! I can't decide which I like the best, your playing or your singing! The two together is a great combination!!!

Best regards!!

Rick

Thanks, all, for your kind comments!

Rick: Well, I don't know about "precise" (I always hear plenty of little boo-boos in my playing when I play it back ), but I'm like you and many others - just love making up my own arrangements rather than reading/playing straight from the written sheet music. Just wish I could sing all these wonderful song lyrics half well.. Do you and/or Bill give singing lessons by any chance?

Well, Rick certainly doesn't need them but I started taking weekly voice lessons in November and am really enjoying them. So far they haven't "took" but I'm enjoying the journey.

Geez, can't imagine either of you needing voice lessons, but I appreciate the feeling of liking feedback and suggestions on how to improve in any area of music. What are your favorite tips so far from your teacher, BIll?

Recently I've enjoyed listening to the Brahms Op 39 waltzes which I was first introduced to back in the Feb recital by Ben. This is No 3 and was composed in 1865 but not published until a couple of years later. Brahms composed all sixteen waltzes in Op 39 for four hands and also wrote two hand arrangements of each.

Brahms - Op 39 No 3 (Waltz in G# Minor)

Nice playing, cgayn! Your digital piano sounds nice too... (at your hands, of course )

And, Elssa, I'm not so sure how well I can sing, but it sure is fun trying! Over the years I've learned that musical perfection is not as important as presentation.

Rick

Okay so I tried to record myself.. eep! It's just with a camera so please excuse the crappy audio. I did this because I'm looking for some feedback on my timing (that whole 4/4 thingy) and my fingers! I didn't realize that I held some of my fingers so straight! lol I didn't realize how frightening recording oneself is! The song is just from Faber Accerlated. Page 21!

BeccaBb - I'm certainly not qualified to provide the timing feedback you seek, but I enjoyed watching your video and look forward to following your progress here at the ABF. Congratulations on your first Piano Bar posting.

Elssa - So far we have been working on fundamentals: posture, breathing, annunciation, etc. We do lots of exercises to work on improving my range. Usually for the last 15 minutes I play and sing something for him that I'm working on and he tries to help me improve my phrasing and interpretation. I'm enjoying it so far.

cgyan - Wow - a beautiful performance in all respects. I'm with Rickster - your piano sounds fantastic (as usual).

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Ladypayne - "Eidelweiss" is just beautiful, and Wow! very nice runs!

Augustina - "Man of the World" - I'm always pleasantly surprised by such wonderful anime music. You've played this beautifully!

Rickster - "Ain't No Need to Have the Blues.." - Oh, yeah! You are just having way too much fun. I love your tremolos. You are a great showman. I loved it!

Elssa - Sorry, I can't access your video...

Bill - I loved The Greatest American Hero! No doubt the TV show may come off as kind of corny now, but what a song! I've always liked this one. Your take on it, with your playing and your voice, is fantastic!

Cgyan - The Brahms waltz is absolute perfection. I'm very envious of your clean, smooth playing. Excellent recording!

BeccaBb - "Scenic Train Ride" - Well, brava, Becca! Congrats on your video and first piano bar. Your piece moved right along, so it's hard to give any advice on timing.(I'd have to see the music to comment further) Good going!

[quote]
Oops, sorry 'bout that. I made some changes at YouTube and forgot to update the link here.. This should work now.

Bill: I've always really liked that song and never realized where it was from.. Great job with it, and your singing sounds better than ever! That's interesting about your lessons.

Cgyan: A lovely Waltz played with precision and polish!

BeccaBb: Nice job - no sign of the dreaded red dot syndrome that I could hear there!

Thanks, Elssa! I particularly liked the middle section of this tune, and your LH work is pretty amazing! It still boggles my mind that you can change the sounds on your piano and not miss a beat. Really nice arrangement.