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Wish4 Thing, I love love love your rendition of Whirling Leaves.

You have all the notes correct on the Classical Dance. Here's a thought on expression for it -- what would it sound like if you lightened up on beat 2? Right now it sounds like you're stabbing it, and emphasizing it more than any of the other beats. I'm thinking of something almost like a sigh on beat 2 -- three ONE {sigh} three and ONE {sigh} etc.

Thank you for posting these. I enjoyed listening to them.

wish4thing, great recordings! You have just started book 2? How are you liking it? I have a teacher and lately we have stopped working out of the last 3 or 4 pieces in book 1. She has plans to go back, but she wanted to "push me" with some intermiate pieces she selected. I read that you were self taught. You have much stronger discipline than I! Good luck with your learning, and by the sound of it, it will go well!
david

Thanks, PianoStudent88! (I feel like calling you PianoTeacher now:) I really needed feedback like that, it helps me to improve my dynamics. I'll re-do the Classical Dance piece. Thanks again!

Whirling Leaves reminded me of an old piece I played long time ago, Autumn Ballad. It was way over my level back then... but now with whirling leaves, I kept thinking of autumn:)

Thanks for the encouragement, djheinen! Hope to listen to your recordings some day!

I'm about finishing up Alfred's All-in-one Level one book. While I'm still practicing the last song, I started Faber's book (as PianoStudent88 suggested some time ago). At the beginning, I felt like a big stepback going from last songs in Alfred to Faber's accelerated lesson book 2. But I do realize that my weak spot is my dynamics, and this "stepback" is a good way to help me to leap forward in the future, hopefully:)

I'm not as disciplined as I should... I have been playing on and off... every year I started from Jan (new year resolution of course ) and stopped for the rest of the year... I hope I will do better this year with all the encouragement and support from this forum!

I know for sure that you with a teacher will improve a lot faster than I do!

It has taken me a little over a year. I don't know if this is a normal pace, but I was a complete beginner. I also had a hard time moving to another piece until I got the current one almost perfect.

I am happy with my progress.

I do have a teacher, I need the accountability when things get tough

Is anyone on piano adventures book 4? I just saw a wonderful clip on YouTube of kids playing one of nancy's songs called Chanson. It is so beautiful and sweet. I can't wait to get there.

PianoPraise one year on Book One is commendable. I think you must have put a lot of hard work into it if you were a complete beginner before.

Hiya Alans. I'm working in book 1 accelerated adventures. I think the level doesn't really matter (kids, accelerated, adult) as they are all good.

Wish: I started out with no teacher and used Faber to teach myself the basics, then I got a teacher, now I'm not sure if I have one or not so I might be going back to self teaching again! LOL (yeah that's complicated.) I haven't had a teacher for long (maybe 5 lessons total) but I didn't notice any great leaps in learning. Still the same plodding along but the teacher was able to show me tricks to getting through some tough hang ups. YMMV

Thanks, Becca and PianoPraise.

Becca, I always believed I can learn everything by myself...:) until I saw my friend's kid making huge leap because of changing to a new teacher... now I'm convinced a good teacher can help a great deal... However, since my job is very demanding and I travel a lot too, I didn't feel like adding more stress by having to go to lessons regularly, especially on weekends.

I did went to one performance class with my friend's kid, it lasted several hours, that's the only long hour class I can sit through:) and I felt I learned alot from that one class!

Another impression I got is that, Faber's books are preferred by teachers?

My teacher prefers Fabers, but will use alfred's as well. We also use the alfred's supplemental books for extra assignments.
@wish-If your lessons would give extra stress, then continue to self learn. This is supposed to be fun!
@praise-I too am a complete beginner and will finish book 1 in a year. I also feel like I can't move on until I've perfected the current piece. Sometimes my teacher tells me to move on anyway. She says that its not cheating, that I have learned what I needed to learn on a particular piece and its time to move on.

I like Fabers, but playing "extra" things from other sources is more fun. Makes me feel like I am really playing songs.

Thank You, I have put lots of work into it, but it has been rewarding.

I like the Faber selections, but I am supplimenting with an Alfred Level 1 Sacred Songs, I love it. I enjoy playing and singing songs that I know and learning new ones.

I think my playing may be improving because I am finding it faster to get my four pages per week into decent shape. Yay!

I really like the Piano Adventures music. I think it's creative and sounds good.

That is great that you are seeing such improvement. Congratulations.

I also like the music in Piano Adventures.

How do you determine the right tempo for each song in the book? Do you listen to the CD or the teacher will tell you the right tempo? Thanks.

Wish4 Thing, I have a metronome and use the metronome markings on each piece as a guide for tempo. The book usually gives a range of tempos. As a personal challenge, I aim ultimately for the top of the range (but start practicing slower, of course). However, when I first started doing this getting even close to the lower end was a real victory.

Okay so Im not going anywhere. I think my teacher quit. I've left a few messages and I've not heard from him. I haven't had a lesson since March and he still owes my son and I an hour each, so yeah.. I think he quit!

So I'm going to go back to what I was doing before him and just carry on with the Faber Accelerated Level 1. That will put me back to about halfway through the book. I'll keep on learning with the scales (I have a book) and the Theory(I have two books for that.) and use the technique and theory from Faber also.

What do you guys think?

Sorry you are having teacher problems. I personally need a teachers guidance and the accountability of having to play for her each week, but I realize not everyone needs this accountability.

Happy Playing

Allegro Modertato, Part B is giving me a fit this week.

LH eight notes and right hand quarter notes with staccato. I can play it hands seperate but when I put them together it goes south. Well at least I have until Wednesday to get it.

Anyone else on this song?