Recital #25 is now open for submissions!

Believe it or not, our 25th quarterly Piano World Adult Beginners Forum recital approaches! The recital will be posted some time on the 15th of February, which means that the submissions must be in by 9:00 pm Eastern time, February 14. Please note this deadline is very firm; I cannot start working on the recital until it is closed, and once it is closed, no new entries can be added.

While any and all styles of music are welcome, we do ask that it be piano related. Only one recording may be submitted per forum member (although that recording may consist of a medley of two or more very short related pieces).

If you are fairly new to the piano, please do not be intimidated by some of the talent here in the ABF. We all consider ourselves to be beginners even though we may have been playing for some time. And, we LOVE to hear recordings from folks new to the keyboard. So even if you’re on your first Alfred’s method book, we would *really* enjoy hearing from you.

Recital submissions must be in MP3 format. The maximum size of the file is 20 MB. We recommend encoding the recording at 192 kbs with a constant bitrate, as that works best with the online streaming player. At that bitrate, a 20 MB file works out to be about 7 minutes in length. Your recording will be normalized when placed in the consolidated zip files, but your original link will still be available for those who want it.

If you are new to recording your music, there are several threads in the forum archives that address the ways and means. See the "Important Topics in the AB Forum" thread stickied at the top of the AB forum page. Audacity is an excellent free recording application that can be used.

Submitting Your Recording:

We will be using again the absolutely marvelous automatic web-based recital program that mahlzeit wrote for us. You will upload your mp3 file to the recital server as part of the recital submission process.

When you have your mp3 file ready, go to:

http://recitals.pianoworld.com/

and follow the instructions there. Please note that this URL reflects our new permanent home for all the recital files; if you have previously bookmarked the recital site, you will be automatically redirected to the new address. Once you have uploaded your info to the automated recital software, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. You will have the opportunity to revise your submission any time up until the deadline. If you have any problems at all using the new website, or if you do not receive a confirmation e-mail within a few hours, just PM me. If you have not participated in past recitals using this software, you may want to submit your recital piece at least a day in advance in case you run into any problems with it. (Though there should be no problems. Mahlzeit is a genius. )

Mahlzeit's website will use the following submission template to be filled out along with your attached music file. You may want to have your responses to these fields prepared in advance so all you have to do is cut and paste:

Performer's Name: {forum ID and real name if you’d like}
Where you are located: {optional}
Avatar image link: {optional}
Experience: {Yrs/Mos of piano playing experience}
Link to YouTube or other video: {optional}
Home page link: {optional}
Title of piece/composer:
Source of music: {sheet music, improvised score, play-by-ear, etc}
Instrument used: {Piano make, keyboard model, etc.}
Recording method: {audacity, Zoom, digital to PC, etc.}
Constructive technical feedback wanted: {Yes/No}
Additional Info: {Your thoughts on the piece, etc. etc.}


The due date for all submissions is 9:00 pm US EASTERN TIME on February 14, 2012.

Did I mention that the 9:00 pm deadline was firm?

Think "consistency of concrete."

By submitting a piece to the recital, you are certifying that it is a recording of your own performance.

Again, the recital order will be presented in the order the pieces were received, so the sooner you send in your piece, the higher you will be on the list! You can revise your entries on the template (e.g., thoughts about your piece, adding YouTube links, and the like) any time and not lose your place in the recital queue, but if you resubmit your recording at any time, for any reason, you will be bumped to the end of the list.

Should anyone have any questions at all on what to do or how to do it, this is the place to ask. Remember, there are NO stupid questions, as we have a steady flow of new members in AB forum for whom this is their first recital, so your questions will probably help to eliminate other members’ problems. Please ask away!

Let's all go out and brave that Red Dot and share a lot of beautiful music!

<-- is biting fingernails nervously, crossing fingers, and hoping the uploads will run as smoothly as the test recital suggested they would.

Well, the first submission uploaded fine, and I was able to see and listen to it on my end, so I think we're good to go. *Phew!*

[Now I can start panicking about the fact that I haven't even started trying to record my own piece, and the run-through I did tonight had not one but four fatal errors! ]

Just put mine up. Seemed to go smoothly.

What a relief to have that done....

ALREADY?! I haven't even memorized it yet!

I just upload mine, listen to it and everything look fine.

Serge

Dear PW friends,
Unfortunately I will not have a chance to participate in this recital... However I will listen carefully to all the pieces and make my comments.

And Monika, if a problem occurs with the server send me a message because I can always try to copy the pieces to an alternate server as I did last time.

Monika,

One remark on the uploader:
If you check your recording with the "download" button, and press the browser's BACK button, your recording is uploaded AGAIN.

Carlos--- I'm sorry you won't be joining us this time!

I'm in at number 11 - and I see there are some enticing titles up already! This is going to be fun (well,... no surprise there!)

what the....?

it's February??

Scary how it crept up on us, isn't it?

Hey guys, just to let you know, at least one person has had trouble updating his submission and/or adding an mp3 file. Sam's working on it, but I just wanted to give y'all the heads up. Let's just say this would be an excellent recital NOT to wait until the last day to do your uploads, just in case there's more of these problems.

There's also something flukish going on with backwards slashes appearing any time you use quote marks. We'll try to get that worked out, too.

OK, I'm in. Sorry about the squeaky pedal - it's one of those things that's got worse over the last month and I didn't realize how bad it had become.

I saw those /// characters, I assumed it was to escape something and would eventually look OK.

The backslash characters are because "magic_quotes" is on, for you php programmers out there. We're trying to get it turned off. In the meantime, if you use a single or double quote, it's going to insert a \ before it. Don't worry about it, and don't try to correct it because you can't. We'll try to fix it after we get that "feature" turned off.

Sam

I noticed that and thought it was kind of cool.... so I left them.

My performance is a video clip. um... if I figure out how to convert this to a mp3 won't I lose the video?

The recital submissions are all mp3s anyway. There is an option to add a video link to your submission, so you can include that with your submission and those who want to can watch the video. Is it already on youtube? If it is, there are many sites that can give you just the audio in mp3 format.

I hadn't put it up on youtube yet. I can though. Hmm okay so I have to find a site. Arghhhh.

There is software that will allow you to separate the audio from the video on your computer, but it might be easier to just put it on youtube and then get the audio using a site such as http://www.youtube-mp3.org/

I found a program. All done! Okay have to upload video, figure out info and submit. Thanks Sam!

I would suggest to convert the SOURCE to an MP3, and not use a youtube clip for that.

The problem with youtube is that the sound usually is very low quality. Not suited for a good piano performance.

Very true. I sadly had to do that because I didn't plan to use the recording that I did for the recital so I deleted the source audio. I may have a copy on a computer of mine in Los Angeles, but I'm not sure and I'm in New York. It's definitely not ideal to do it this way.

I'm in!:) YAH!

Sam R -
I see you lived up to your end of the postcard bargain... good on ya'!

I've got to get down to recording... though I've just discovered that I need to do a brief pedal on one spot (where I need to jump quickly with the left hand and don't want the note before the jump to sound staccato), and how that sounds (never having pedaled before) is pretty random... but it'll be good to get this piece recorded and submitted so I can be at peace with it.

Mine is in! Sadly mine is horrid sounding anyways because it's just recorded as video on a cheap digital. I did however convert it using a program I downloaded and not a youtube thingy. Thanks for the advice gents.

I'm in! Last recital I didn't even think about submitting until the weekend before the deadline so there wasn't much wait time but this time with two whole weeks to spare the anticipation will probably drive me nuts.

LBE can't wait to hear it. Martha My Dear is definitely one of my top 3 favorite songs from them.

I'm screwing up my performance like you wouldn't believe. I don't know why because it's not that hard and I had it down pat for a while.

Cheryl, did you put a hex on me? If you did please take it off. I'm working on the tear jerker I owe you but all of a sudden I can't make it through the piece without a sudden brain fart and finger fail!

I'll make it nice, I promise but you've got to take this spell off me.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Bewitched, bothered and bewildered? Do you believe in magic? "You put a spell on me" he says..."No baby, it wasn't me".

(Is there music in the air?)
I will however do my best to remedy the situation - and of course, musically.

Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Reverse the hex, that is making a mess
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
You've got to believe it will work quite a lot
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

Salagadoola means mechicka booleroo
Now let fast fingers flow over the keys
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola menchicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Let your heart soar and ignore the red dot
bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

Well ... I've been very busy (really!) and I can not even get near a piano with the mindset to make a decent recording. Maybe next time.
At least I'll listen to your pieces.

OK, the magic quote problem has now been resolved. You can now use single and double quotes in your submission without those pesky backslashes showing up. All the previous submissions should be correct now too.

Sam

Mr super-hunky,

Play it one or two times at half speed and I guess you're good to go again

I think we need to hear a recording of this, with chanting (enchanting) vocals, for the spell removal to really work.

Sam

I think she just admitted putting a spell on him in the first place... isn't that cyber-bullying?


I don't think my failure this morning to overcome the red dot was caused by a spell, unfortunately... I noticed that it makes me play faster. I wish that was a virtue!

Hey Wouter, before I forget, you can critique my performances from now on.

I wasn't sure about you at first but your feedback has usually been spot on so have at it.

That is of course as long as you like what you hear. If you don't then just lie okay? My nerves can't take any more right now because Cheryl really did put a hex on me. I can't believe it. I never knew these things were real as I always thought it was hocus pocus make believe stuff.

I've gotta start being nicer to people before they all start putting spells on me. This is nothing new however as a former member [Seaside Lee] had a voodoo doll and used to poke it with pins whenever I'd act up.

It's tough to deal with all this at times you know?

Just got through an epic recording session. Managed to pull off a half-decent version of my piece with some hesitations and skipped notes here and there but no glaring bloopers. Got up to turn off Zoom Q3HD and discovered that it had slipped in the tripod mount and had just finished videotaping 4 glorious minutes of my hardwood floor.

Bad Zoom! Bad Zoom!
Maybe if you beat your Zoom more it would behave and not film your floor!


In all seriousness, that sucks! I hope your next recording goes off without a hitch! You too Mr.SH!

LOL okay, so I can already give you the very positive comments right now and leave the rest out?

At least it will make for a good MP3

Hey, Mr. Super-Hunky enough already!

I'm innocent - AND I made a sincere effort to remove someone else's hex!
(and besides, it isn't logical? Why would I try to jinx something I've been waiting for ? Silly.

Sam Rose: I suppose I could record myself singing that song, but......... then again, I don't think I will

haha I wasn't the one who asked you to record it. That was Sam S!
Maybe I need to change my name

Good job, Sam - now if we can only get the "magic code" problem fixed - we need to increase it's size - I've never been quite sure that a mere 25 characters is secure enough

Trap

ooops - Sorry Sam- I was checking from my phone and just saw the signature, didn't really see the sidebar with the full name. And given you'd been participating in the previous few posts I thought it was you.

So, sorry Sam S too!!

In any event, I'm not going to sing it.

Woohoo, I'm number 22! I may rerecord to see if I can get one closer to flub-free, but thought it worth committing now to ensure submission, "perfect" or not.

Mid-February is my one-year anniversary of starting piano, so this recital is a nice marker... I can genuinely say that I'm a much better player now than I was a year ago.

Tried to record today and failed in an immense red-dot illuminated bomb. I turned the recorders off and was so at ease playing thru it - I've been wondering a while now why I subject myself to such self abuse.

Strengthening thru fire perhaps?

...or a desire to connect with 60-80 folks that are feeling the same way I am tonight.

I think the latter.

Ahh! I forgot about the recital.. now I have to start practicing something heaps and post something last minute if I make it.

I'm in. First time I've taken part in this recital. Not too happy with the recording. My digital camera runs out of juice really fast when taking video, so I was limited to just a few takes. Maybe I'll have another go at it before the dead-line.

Really excited to hear what everyone else have uploaded.

If it was possible to separate the sound of my piano from the rest of the household noise I could probably get lots of good recordings by just letting the dot glow constantly. My best playing seems to occur when the TV is on at top volume, someone's playing computer games really loud, kids are screaming from one room to another and the dogs are fighting under my piano bench. Its a poor environment for learning, but its often when my playing thrives.

As a matter of fact, every time I submit something to a recital, and play it back afterwards, I notice a few clunkers that definitely were not in my original recording.

No doubt about it - some hacker has been breaking the code, and tampering with the files. I suppose this is his way of trying to win the "Best In Recital" prize. He can't eliminate the clunders in his own recording, so he puts a few in ours. Not fair, and darned irritating!

I'm for fifty-character codes.

Ed

I'm in.

Same here. But it gets stranger ... they also hack into my digital recorder and change the file on there too!!!

I'm in, and wow, I'm not number fifty-something! I'm glad to have it done - I've got a kazillion piano projects right now - my brother's going to help me record a demo cd, the band has a St. Pat's gig, I'm hoping to have another one, and I've got a couple of requests from my seniors that I need to learn, + just in general wanting to spend more time at the piano. Keeps me sane, any way.

Cathy

I request.... I Giorni. Has this been played before?

Oh wait, there is an Einaudi submission!! Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing you all. Looks like there's lots of good submissions, and we may break 60 this time...

I've been slacking off lately, so I'll catch you guys this Spring. GOOD LUCK...and again, I'm excited to listen soon.

Too bad, I really enjoyed your last contribution (The Chrysanthenum) , and not just because we have the same piano!

Might give this a go...

Just got to work out the best tool for the job of recording:
1) iPhone? (No tripod mount - so might have to enlist the help of a daughter)
2) iPad (as above? - but would the quality be any different?)
3) Nikon D90 (good pictures - but not sure about the sound quality?

Anyone? (sorry no fancy specialist recording gear here!)

DadAgain, I've heard some surprisingly good recordings with the iPhone, so I'd give that a try first. I'd recommend finding a bookcase or stool or some such object to set it on for recording, rather than a daughter. The glare of the Red Dot is anxiety-provoking enough without the impatient sighs of one's offspring adding to it.

But I should warn you that I've heard some pretty bad, distorted recordings with cell phones. The Zoom H2 really is not all that expensive and will get you hassle-free very nice recordings, so it's something to consider for the future if the iPhone doesn't work out.

Well, that's finally done! *whew*

When I started trying to record yesterday, I suddenly discovered all the little places where I didn't quite have the music memorized to the level where I could play it under pressure. So I spent yesterday and this afternoon getting those parts under control, and was able to get a good recording this evening. Yay!

Bessel, I missed this - note my highlight in black..! I was not guilty, and I was just trying to help

Cebukid, I'm sorry you won't be joining us this time! I always love your submissions!
(I too had been thinking that this might be a record - a recital with no Einaudi! .Well, whew. We've got one


DadAgain - I use a Canon digital camera to record my submissions from the acoustic - then there is free software you can download to convert from video to MP3 if you don't want to post video.

i'm typing this with one finger and only one arm so please forgive me if I take a few shortcuts and don't observe perfect apa or mla style standards. My physical therapist (treating me for Tennis Elbow) says I can only do 15 minutes of practice with a break of equal duration, but the 2 days i did this more than 4 times seemed to take me back to sqaure one with my arm problem. now i can't play at all for at least a day -- computer usage hurts too.

One of the songs I was working on before I got taken out was perfect for Valentine's day and i would realy like to get one more song out there before I tak a long hiatus from piano and computer--at least six weeks--particulary since the February recital marks my one year Youtube journal anniversary.

Now I could easily have it done with 45 minutes every day for a week hands together but in order to get the song done in the seven days i'll have left after tomorrow, I'm practicing left hand only and writing the portions that aren't smooth in the right w/ the fingering (and i haven't much practice writing rhythms from my head). Does anyone know whether it would be a good idea to also record left hand part and then try to use the left hand to play the right hand part with the recording of the left hand part while resting the afflicted right arm?-- or do you think this would only screw me up? Would really appreciate any advice, especially based on experience with tendonitus while trying to prepare for a recital.

I'm afraid that if we hadn't received one the Recital might have been held hostage by "the authorities" until we did...

You mean, play both sides with LH and mix them on the computer?


Well it's obvious "cheating" but it sounds like a nice idea to me, I would give it a go

Hi Wouter,

Thanks for your response. No, I hadn't even thought of that, but thanks for the idea. If I'm unable to use my arm come Feb. 14, that's one way to still participate. But what I had in mind was a way to memorize the newest material without getting my right arm involved in too much hands-on practicing. I thought by writing I could practice mentally. And by using the left hand to play the right hand part, i could memorize at least the intervals and rhythms without relying on right hand muscle memory. at least I'd memorize the visual and know the chord changes this way, and perhaps my experience using consistant right hand positions combined w/ this would be enough to see me through.

StarrKeys -
Aren't there some pieces out there for one hand only? Not that there's a lot of time for this recital to work on them...

Ah, sorry to have missed that, you are hereby absolved. I'll withdraw the formal inquiry.

That's something else i might explore after next week-but no, not enough time before ecital. Thanks for the idea, though.

Well here it is six days after gates opened and I still don't have my piece submitted. I can play it no problem and don't really make very noticeable mistakes but that's not the problem.

The 'problem' is that this is a very slow and emotional piece that in order to pull off, you MUST mean the emotion you put into it. Right now I don't. I'm not sure why either and 'faking' it just doesn't work.

Hopefully my mindset will change before the 15th.

The thing holding me back is finding some time when its quiet enough to record in the house! Theres always kids running around screaming, watching TV, dinner being cooked (pots and pans banging and clashing) or its later and the kids are in bed (in which case I dont want to wake them!).

Should be able to squeeze 5 minutes of peace and quiet to get a recording done over the weekend...

Now to chose... Chopin or Beethoven?? hmmmm...

ETA: Just checked the list so far - and the Beethoven I was considering (Pathetique 2nd movt) is already on the list... so Chopin it is! [just *1* bar needing a little spit and polish! before I record]

Oooooh more Chopin!! I can't wait

I'm struggling to finish learning Gymnopedie no. 1 for the recital. So far learnt the first page, but for some reason the tiny bit on the 2nd page is causing me problems.

Hopefully I can manage to pull it together by this weekend for recording.

Also got a piano tuning booked for tomorrow so my piano will sound at it's best even if I may not be yet.

I envy those of you who are already at the recording stage.

I'm working on this one too (NOT for this recital) and I lost steam before I memorized the transition between the repeated parts and the end. I keep practicing what I learned so far and just can't seem to make myself finish.

I thought I was all good to go - my tune is memorized and in my fingers....then I broke a tooth, and am self-medicating . I tried recording and thought it was in the bag, but pain and self medication don't mix well with recording. Everything was kind of "off".

I'll have to try to record again after the tooth is fixed later this week.

Ouch sorry to hear that CMohr! I hope you get your tooth fixed quickly!

I told my husband the only thing he could do while I was recording was to play darts in the basement.
That's mine! But we've had doubles in the recitals before. It's always fun to hear two versions of the same piece. But I do love Chopin, too, so either one will be great.

*sigh* - finally!

Not perfect at all, but - *shrugs shoulders*

Also managed to get in some not too terribly difficult yet hard to record pieces in as well. I am never playing these again.

One toughie just barely missed the cut. It will be ready soon, and perhaps a stored entry for next recital.

What self abuse we put ourselves through for these recitals.

Those are the same parts I'm having trouble with! It feels better to know i'm not alone tackling this.

Mr Super-Hunky,

You don't need to mean your emotions while you're playing

In fact, I suspect that would make the worst recording ever, how can you play if your hands are trembling and you can't see the score and the keys are dripping wet LOL

So I would suggest to determine just exactly how you want to play it (phrasing, articulation, dynamics, etc) and do just that

Starr Keys



Ah, that would probably work, and it will speed up your 'physical' work with the RH, but I suspect that without training the RH muscle memory it won't work.

thanks, wouter. I guess I was mainly worried playing this way would develop m-memory the left hand and confuse my brain when i returned to playing that part w/ the right, but arm better today and that didn't happen. Now if i can only manage 2 more 15 min. sessions w/o pain today i'll be back on track.

A broken tooth can be emotionally draining. Hope you are feeling better!

Yeah, I'm in. Finally....sheez.

Thanks Wouter for the advice. I was trying so hard to add dramatic emotion and feeling while playing at an incredibly slow, emotional pace that the end result sounded artificial and forced. Actually, it sounded incredibly bad. Not something I wanted to put out.

After some soul searching (and some deep thoughts by Jack Handy), I took your advice and just played it the way I felt like it. It's funny too as the whole sound of the piece changed. It's no longer the sad, emotional tear jerker I was trying to make it. It is now a much livelier happy piece which better reflects my mood and playing style anyway.

SO, I'm now happy once again.

Thanks.

Cmohr.

The two most painful experiences I've had were:

1.) The time I got an ear infection in BOTH ears at the same time. (Hellish experience).

2.) The time I broke my tooth on a Saturday and the dentist (who prescribes Hydrocodin) wasn't in until the following Tuesday.
(Hellish experience once again).

I feel for you. Ouch.

Sorry about your tooth, CMohr. I know the feeling of having things coming together only to have an unforseen obstacle thrown in your path and ruin all your hard work.

It's not easy to move things along when youre in pain or full of painkillers. Like you, I missed the last recital and it's not yet certain I'll be able to do this one either. You have my sympathy and best wishes.

Thanks guys! I saw the dentist yesterday - tooth won't get fixed until Thursday - probably have to pull the sucker. I cracked it all the way through the root. At least it's the furthest back molar, so I won't have a gaping hole in the front of my mouth. So far advil, anbesol, and wine have eased the pain, along with antibiotics as a precaution.

Mr. SH - Like you this happened on a Friday, so the weekend was heck. Yeah, there's nothing worse than pain in the head. I can't imagine pain in both ears! Yikes!

I did get some decent piano work done today, so hopefully can record tomorrow.

Starrkeys - hope you make it in. If not, totally understandable. Hope you're on the mend, too.

Carl - will you be joining us this time? I hope so.

Congratulations! Me too! 45 minutes, which was all I wanted. Thanks for your support and kind words. Now if I can only limit my computer use to that much time, I might just pull it off.

Got 10mins for some recording, but iPhone quality is simply not up to scratch....

What to do? May have to pull out - mediocre playing OR mediocre recording could be bearable but BOTH? Perhaps I'll sit this one out until next time ( thus giving me a chance to see what everyone else's quality is like). Seems to be a lot of discussion about some seemingly high end recording gear around here and it's making me nervous!

Aww come on! Don't do that! Many people use cheap gear and nobody whines about it. In fact, it can be used as an excuse to cover up mediocre playing, if you have that problem

So, that's the secret to sounding good in the Recitals..you're saying that expensive gear can be too revealing and that those who have the "mediocre playing" problem should dummy-down on their gear as a sort of "cosmetic expedient"?

No, I will have to sit this one out... the "issue" meter is a bit high right now.

Changed my mind. Submitted issues and all. Besides it is not often I can follow MSH.

The Zoom H2 is $142 on amazon, easy to use, and yields excellent quality recordings. Put it on the top of your wish list for Valentine's Day, and promise your wife that you'll use it to record a love song for her...

I would not go for the IPhone.

I did a search on the web but there seems no way to set manual volume control, a strict requirement IMHO for recording piano.

>mr_super-hunky

glad to hear that you succeeded in making a recording! Looking forward to it

I know I have that problem, which is why, in a way, I wish I didn't use the Zoom H4n. But that's the way to get better, so I suck it up.

I recorded off my digital camera (which really is a horrid little recording) and I've only been playing for 2 months! Some of us are not high end for either! No excuses! HA!

Funny that... 'Valentines day wishlist'? Dont think I've recognised valentines day as anything significant for over 25 years! (I have a feeling its more of any American thing) - In my limited experience its a day for teenagers to get stressed about and everyone to either ignore completely or use the opportunity to spend twice as much as normal on eating out?!

Anyway - cheapest H2 I can find in Australia is $190 - and thats still more than I can stomach for what is essentially (for me) a bit of a toy.

Given the quality of the iPhone was so bad (it does ok recording my daughter - but i'm obviously too loud for it and it was 'clipping' VERY baddly) - I'll see what the should is like from the Nikon D90 this weekend and try and post whichever is the least offensive.

For the record - my recording environment is far from ideal too. Last nights effort had a group (a 'murder'?) of crows and a making an awful noise and a couple of sqawking cockatoos just outside the window - and over the weekend I'll be competing with either torrential rain, or the neighbours mowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws etc etc... finding a 5 minute window of near silence can be tricky! (but I promise I'll try)

Check out the Zoom H1 too. Just stereo audio recording only (no video), and much cheaper. ( < 100USD )

I use that and record video with a camcorder and edit the two together.

Sucks that this gear is so expensive in Australia compared to other places: Zoom H1 - cheapest on internet = AU$130 (US$140)

Ha! I was just going to say, "Oh, rats!" and then noticed you did submit - yay! Looking forward to yours and everyone elses.

Yes, the line-up looks outstanding and I am looking forward to listening to this recital. Hopefully, yours as well!

I'm glad the "issues" were piano-related. Those aren't fatal And having "issues" just means you're getting better and better, right? Because now you know what to work on. I bet it'll be really fine to listen to.

Any body that can follow mr. super-hunky must be good.

Cathy

Seeing your Tennessee Waltz, Glen, MaryBee & Wouter's Beethoven pieces, beechcraft409, SR & RedKat's Chopin pieces, AP's Debussy, joangolfing's Schumann, Monica's un-Einaudi... well, the list is just too long isn't it? I just had to get in!

Following MSH was just icing on the cake

Haha, not really. It just seems that way. It's like saying "boy, you sound great compared to that swamp donkey that went before you !"

So Carl, nothing to worry about. You've been missed BTW. I'm glad you're in.

Also, when you say your "issue meter" is peaked, so is my "curiosity meter". Now I've got to wonder what's doin'. Remember, I'm a llama whisperer. I can fix anything other than the things I can't.

I got my tune recorded today in ONE TAKE! I'm so excited! I'm ready to submit it, but at about a minute in there's a huge "crack" that our house made. My husband wants to edit it out of the recording....I know editing is frowned upon, and I've never done any...so what do you guys think? Leave in the "noise" or try to edit it out? Can the Llama whisperer fix this?

ONE TAKE! Is that like "SEVEN AT ONE BLOW!!" That's terrific.

As long as you trust you husband to not lose the recording entirely, I say let him edit. Altho the *crack* wouldn't bother me - part of the charm of live recordings around here But it seems a legitimate edit to me.

Cathy

At the very beginning of my recording you can hear my neighbors dogs barking, I'm just glad mine didn't start up with them.

Update, I've gotten past the transition part before the repeat, so now all I need to do is learn the ending and practice away all the mistakes and points of hesitation before I'm ready to record.

A sad note is that my piano tuning got postponed, so it won't be tuned in time for the recording.
On the other hand at least I can now blame my mistakes on the out of tune piano.

Well certainly, I have all of the usual- as a son, sibling, husband, father issues( and you are welcome to take a shot at any/all of them ) but the "issues" I was referring to were more of the phrasing, timing, dynamic, variety. Of which, I need more time, as the sand hits the floor, to work out. So, you will hear the half baked, doughy in the middle, wine before it's time version.

Seriously, it is better than I expected and thanks for the love... it is appreciated.

Congrats on the "one take". I would not sweat the "crack". Piano players cannot be judged on noises beyond their control. During our recital at the retirement community, a lady came in with a cart- dispensing pills to the audience.

However, I would be curious of the source.

Way to go!

BTW, I too was surprised at MSH's placement in this recital. I'm usually way below him in the list.

Ha ha! Here in the U.S., that's what my May and August recital challenges are. (Except substitute cicadas for cockatoos.)

The source of the "crack", or the pills?



Cathy

Awwhh yeeeaahh! It is finished.

Well, I just jumped down from #22 to #36; six days for me makes a big difference in how I can play a piece, it turns out. I'm turning the corner on this one from "get the notes right" to "put some feeling into it"...

It's been fun working on it, though I think I'll take a break from it now and let it rest, then come back to it in a week or so to see whether I can get more feeling in there, post-recital.

I'm looking forward to listening to all of you, less than a week from now!

That's cool, bessel. I was just surprised that I got mine in before the last minute It's neat that you could still get a re-do in.

Cathy

Bessel, once your recording is actually submitted, a funny thing happens. You will automatically play the piece much better than you ever have since the stress factor is gone and in a few more days if you keep playing the piece, it will seem to get even better.

All because you are putting LESS effort into it. You are now familiar with the piece as well as being totally relaxed.

Now, go ahead and try to re-record it. Just watch how fast it all falls apart just by plugging in that flashing stress device lol!

Also, sometimes I take a break from a tune for a short while. It always seems to be beneficial and many times I seem to be able to play it much better just by taking a few days off. Not a bad deal if you think about it. Do nothing for a few days only to come back better. Pretty easy sell actually.

Haha! Likewise, I find that once I've made a mistake during a recording I play better. When the stress is gone, it's easier to do what we're used to doing.

Or you will do what I seem to be doing lately which is finally stop playing it and then promptly forget it... I find myself working so hard for three months to get a piece ready for recording that I'm relieved to get it done and let it go. That said... it's not too hard to bring it back once I do dig it back up. I agree though, it can be so stressful trying to record that sometimes it's best to let it go a few days, relax and then sit down casually to play. Maybe look at it with some advice a teacher gave me a long time ago only replace "playing for an audience" with "record".

"Practice like you are playing for an audience and play for an audience like you are practicing."

Of course, that never worked for me as the few times I have played for an audience I froze up colder than my pond in January but... it's still nice advice.

Submitted! I've been unsuccessful at uploading to YouTube, so you get audio only. Plus I think I may buy my own recorder (I'm thinking Zoom H2), because although I can borrow a recorder from work, it is often checked out to someone else and I can't necessarily get it when I want it.

(My piece took me about 10 takes, gaaah. Which mostly proved to me, not red-dot fever, but that I don't play it as reliably as I think I do. The piece I wanted to submit, but then couldn't upload to YouTube off my iPhone, only took me 1 take. But then you would have had the crappy iPhone sound quality instead of the better M-Audio Microtrack II of my actual submission. But you also would have had a Mason & Hamlin grand instead of a Baldwin Hamilton upright. Trade-offs, trade-offs.)

I'm in! Yay!
Unless I decide to rerecord tomorrow, you'll all get to hear the "big crack" our house made. I'm pretty sure it was just due to a rather rapid temperature change outside. My husband tried to edit out the noise, but the recording didn't sound right so I'm not going to worry about it.
I tried to record today, but after having my tooth extracted yesterday, I still feel a little fuzzy.

Yeah, but if you played your cards right you should be 25 cents richer today (At least that was the going rate back in the day!) Glad you're in.

Ha! All I got was a token little plastic box with my tooth in it! Although my dentist did say I should fine a new shiny nickel under my pillow.

CMohr -
Are you sure that crack wasn't your head hitting the fallboard in an overly expressive moment? That might explain the tooth pain...
Glad to hear you're recovering... we live in an old house, and I'm well familiar with those creaks and groans, actually... your recording will certainly be unique!

Peyton -
Unfortunately I've only got 2.9 "pieces" that I can play right now, so unless I go back to really easy short stuff or spend all my time struggling to learn something brand new, none of them will spend too much time "on the shelf being forgotten." I still play the piece that I played for the last recital most days, though usually only one take at it, enough so I remember it but not enough to polish it... the good thing is that I think that with an hours work, maybe less, it would sound much better than it did for the recital... one of the benefits (the only benefit?) of being such a newby.

MSH -
I like your formula for improvement. I'm pretty sure I'll play it for my lesson (or rather, my half-lesson tagged on at the end of my son's lesson... not lots of time but a chance to get some feedback) tomorrow, but with the pressure off after that, it's going to sound fantastic in a week, right?

Hmm, interesting idea for a recital theme someday... "play something you submitted before, so we can all see how much better you are"...

So I negotiate 10 minutes of observed silence from the family, have a rare moment with no lawn mower noise and put the camera on a tripod.

I crack out the Chopin and start recording......

After 2 false starts due to never before experienced note fluffing, I got through a half decent rendition and wasmreadybto get busy with 'post production' work (not editing - just getting into relevant formats and uploading)....

Then daughter pipes up and says, "it stopped recording before you got to the end!"

Turns out the Nikon D90 has a 5 minute max clip length and my Op9 #1 Nocturn performance takes 5:05. I listened back and the recording stops In the last but one bar!

....time to do over but SLIGHTLY faster!


Grrrrr!!!!!!

Ahh! I spent half my Saturday trying to record Gymnopedie No 1 but kept making mistakes in all the places i had no trouble with, and strangely all the hard bits I had no problems at all.

Gonna try again on Sunday.

Correction!
I returned home this week-end, two days ahead of schedule, so I think I can record something decent and send it to the recital. This is not a promise, and let's see if I can do something even although I have not played recently.

raptor, I will look forward to hearing your Gymnopedie 1. I have fallen head over heels in love with Satie.

I cant participate in this one guys I thought my piece was recital ready but my teacher said it is "raw" right now...

If its not ready for a live, teachers and audience in front of you recital is it at a point where you feel comfortable sharing? Sometimes it is good to go ahead and get the first time "over with". For my first ABF recital my piece had a major flub at the end and I didn't have time to re-record but I was encouraged to enter it anyway and I'm glad I did. This will be my second and I'm excited. If your teacher had you play at a live recital with a "raw" piece it would reflect badly on them for throwing you to the lions unprepared. Here we just want to hear everyone try their best and enjoy listening to each other. There is a wide variety of "best" around here.

Here's sending encouragement to DadAgain, raptor, and CarlosCC. The ABF understands flaws in recordings - flubs from red dot syndrome, missing last measures, a little roughness from not having had time to be on the piano. So please submit anyway.

Same for BrokenChord - this is the ABF, sometimes "raw" is the name of the game I have a recital recording with such a long pause that everytime I listen I wonder if I'm going to start again (a previous recital - this one went pretty well) For my very first submission someone said my octaves were "sloppy" "splashy" - I treasure that remark because it was so true! So we'd love to hear you, too.

It's shaping up to be a good selection of pieces - go ABF!

Cathy

(posting same time as Little Blue Engine - similar sentiments. Great minds and all that.)

Same! The red dot can be quite the hurdle to get past! Every recording so far has taken me at least 5 takes because I freeze just because I know it's recording! LOL I'm sure all my pieces are rough or raw. This is also my first recital and I know how nerve wracking that is. Go ABF'ers!