Thanks, all, for the kind words. I'm reasonably pleased with my progress and enjoying learning piano immensely. So much so my guitar fingertips have gone soft!

Hi Glen,'thanks for those practice ideas. I am going to check into renting a piano room with a grand just for fun at the conservatory. I do know of one retailer who does have a performance hall. Not sure if they would let me use it though. I'll have to ask around and see what I come up with. I usually practice when the house is empty and aside from my husband and kids I don't really play for anybody except for my teacher. I need to change that.

PaddyD - very nicely Played. I Have comment Love this song very much. I think I have a way to go before I can learn it.

Thanks! It is a fun song to play but I usually have more bad playthroughs than good!

The sonatina is by Samuel Wesley. Op. 4, no. 8

Thanks so much, Bill, for the nice words.

Well, still on a movie theme jag, so here's one more..

Theme from Romeo & Juliet (A Time for Us)

Inlanding - Around the Corner sounds very much like the kind of music one hears in those upscale gift shops often found in tourist towns. I can imagine sounds of nature in the background (crickets, soft waterfalls, etc.) Since I have a fairly severe case of tinnitus I didn't have to imagine the crickets. A thoughtful and contemplative tune.

Nameless has a more bluesy, soulful feel to it. Perfect for a late night bar scene in a film noir. As always, your playing is sublime.

ladypayne - I'm really enjoying the highly produced sound of your latest recordings. Your playing is quite good on this piece - you bring real energy to the performance.

TrapperJohn - I love listening to the old hymns. Your recordings put me in a peaceful and quiet place. You do well on everything you play but your treatment of sacred music is special.

Augustina - the pieces you are choosing seem to be more and more complex. You are pretty close to having this completely under your fingers. Good job.

ZoeCalgary - Very nice job! You play these with confidence and without hesitation. I also think you will do fine in April.

Elssa - Another of my favorite movie themes. This one works perfectly with the World Renowned Elssa Style. I like how you kind of simplified the bridge in contrast with the verses.

Glen - Around the Corner: very nice and yes relaxing. Nameless: I really liked this one. A really unique and interesting sound to it. Made me wish there was more. As always Glen very nice playing and I really like the sound of your piano. It just mesmorizes me. I wish I knew how to come up with pieces like this that have a unique characteristic.

Thanks Glen - I learned early in my studies the importance of review - it reinforces techniques you encountered before and gives you a good chance to typically do a better job on pieces you might not have been totally satisfied with before.

It also gives you some easier pieces to have fun with, play with more confidence and musicality, and enjoy more completely while you're knocking yourself out working haltingly and frustratingly on the harder pieces in your current repertoire.

Trap

Elssa - A Time For Us is one of my all time favorites and your playing of
It was great. Nice!

Glen, beautifully played. Just smooth, sweet and mellow.

Thanks Bill - I practice sacred music very religiously - which oddly one can do even if one is not necessarily religious - not that I'm saying that I'm not religious - in fact, I've always been an agnostic on being agnostic

Trap

Thanks, all, for your kind comments! I had fun with it, especially the cross-hands part in the bridge.

Augustina: I really enjoyed your piece - interesting, great arrangement and playing!

ZoeCalgary: Wonderful job with all 3 pieces! Very nice smooth playing.

Ladypayne: Terrific, lively piece - love the latin syncopated rhythms. Great job!

Trapperjohn - I just listened to your songs. Very nicely played and they were very peaceful to listen to.

Rickster - I just watched your video on your new piano. Nice! I dont think I've seen an upright with such a large music desk. It sounds nice. I can see why you got it!

Zoe, Peyton, Bill~ Thank you so very much for the encouraging comments on the improvisations. Makes me want to get back to the piano

Elssa ~ Really enjoyed your rendition of the Romeo and Juliet Love theme!

Glen

Thanks, Zoe.

In hind sight, I wish I had not posted that video on the piano-bar thread. It was kind of out-of-place/OT, and my playing was terrible. But the piano does sounds great!

Rick

I really like these. Very nice and soothing background music. I listened to it and just got lost thinking. Perfect.

Hi Becca - Thank you so very much for your comments - so very encouraging!

Nice Kawai piano, Rick. I just acquired (gratis) a perfectly neglected, all original 1931 Story and Clark baby grand to rebuild. Everything about it will require attention, from the lyre on up - gonna be a fun one!

Glen

Rick: nice upright! I really liked the mini-song showcase to get a feel of how your piano sounds. Very neat.

I liked the speed of this tune! It has a nice...jive? to it. (have no idea what to call it.. I like the phrasing..LOL)

CaptainKawai: Smile was just lovely! It had such a familar sound to it I had to look it up! The Beach Boys! You did a great job. I have never heard this song before but new the style! Great singing too!

Joe, that is such a nice melody. I'm surprised you have not found some lyrics for it.

Thanks Peyton.

I don't really know where to begin in commenting on all the other contributors, except to say that after listening to them all each has something unique, like Inlanding's musical musings or Joe's melody, Trapper's spiritualness, Elssa's busy fingers. Guitar styles (or at least those I am familiar with) fall into pretty broad and recognisable genres, but piano seems to open itself to much more variation and nuance.

Smile, for anyone interested, is actually a tune written by Charlie Chaplin with lyrics added later by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. The version that I hear in my inner ear is Nat King Cole's from when I was very young. Thanks for the compliments ... but I aim to do better next time.

Glen that is some great blues playing. In Fmin? I really like how you don't just keep coming back to the same chords but really move around with inversions. I wish I could look over your shoulder and see what you are playing.

You must live in Easter CO. I have a niece in Aspen that says it's still pretty dry and they missed that storm.