Recital #27 is now open for submissions!

Believe it or not, our 27th quarterly Piano World Adult Beginners Forum recital approaches! The recital will be posted some time on the 15th of August, which means that the submissions must be in by 9:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, August 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. 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.

The recital website uses 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, what you had for lunch, etc.}


The due date for all submissions is 9:00 pm US EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME on August 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!

I just woke up in the middle of the night, saw that it's open and Woot! In at place 1 again??!

Next time, though, Wouter, I won't make the mistake of opening the recital before posting the Call For Submissions.

Ah, ok nice, thanks for that!

And Monica, you have the luxury to post at any place you want. What place do you pick this time?

Monica I see a few small issues

(1) if I use a è in my title of the submitted piece (pièces de clavecin), I get to see weird characters

(2) I already see this recital on the list of closed recitals (http://recitals.pianoworld.com/closed-recitals.php) and also in the wrong place (between 25 and 26)

In at no 4 this time. I recorded this a few weeks ago and was hoping to record something a little more recent, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen this summer...

(*shakes fist at beautiful summer weather spoiling my practice and recording sessions!!)

I guess I gave you my spot Ben. I changed my mind on my submission at the last moment and submitted something else.

twin Bach submissions from me and daughter....

We have a recording of daughter - but will try for a better one as it has lots of dog 'tap dancing on wooden floor' noise in the background! My contribution is yet to be recorded - but will be soon!

(I have a sneaking suspicion I'm about to be upstaged as Bach is very much my 'weak' suit and daughters 'strong' suit!)

Okay, I did it, I submitted a super short very tentative recording! This morning I tried to record it again to improve the dynamics and add the repeat part, but I couldn't hit a right key for the life of me! I still don't know how I managed to get a single decent recording.

Please bear with me, I've been plink plonking on the keyboard for less than 6 months. There are a few other pieces that I seem to be able to play from start to end but the Red Dot still gives me the shivers!

Ok, I'm in! I sended a piece of Helen Jane Long.
This time I wasn't deeply "in love" with the piece but I wanted to do a (short!) break in my studies of Einaudi.

Not sure I'm going to get in this time. I've just been far too busy

I'll try to submit something short and sweet if I have the time.

I am in at #17. There is always this burst of submissions when the recital first opens - it's great to see how eager people are to share their performances.

Sam

(1) Yeah, international symbols give the software some problems. I'm not able to fix that.

(2) The recital is very much open, as attested by our 17 submitted pieces thus far. Don't sweat it.

Probably dead last, as it doesn't look like I'll have time to do a recording session before going out of town.

You are absolutely correct that I have an unfair advantage in that I, and I alone, know exactly when the recital will open. For that reason, I deliberately refrain from submitting my recordings first, even on the occasions I'm actually ready. I started managing the recitals with #7, and you can go back through numbers 7-26 and see where I've placed if you want to double-check.

I feel everybody but the admin should have an equal shot at making it in for number 1, which is why I tweaked you for submitting before the call for submissions was posted--and why I'll make sure to close that loophole in the future.

I've decided (or rather had decided for me) to try a new challenge. I'm going to start, practice, and record a new piece in the next two weeks. I've been doing a LOT of sight reading over the last couple of months and haven't focused on any new pieces.

Nothing like a deadline to focus the attention!

Ok, I am in. I couldn't listen to check my piece / Monica, I have sent you and email to ask if you would kindly verify that it is ok, and if not, to help me out.

Thanks again, and always to Monica for her efforts and to all the others who have worked and contributed to make these recitals the great success they are!!!

>and you can go back through numbers 7-26 and see where I've placed if you want to double-check.

Thanks, I don't feel any need to check you. On the contrary, as admin you are doing all the hard work. If anybody deserves to end up 1 a few times it would be you right?

Your recording uploaded fine, casinitaly. Good to go!

+1

Well mines in at #6. I was going to submit the Metallica tune I've been working on but it's not ready as I decided to go a different way with the piece at the last minute. So I went with the Paul Stookey tune instead. Cover version of course.

Now all this talk about 'top spot' placement makes me think that maybe the very top spots should be reserved for anyone who really has a stellar performance in store or has reached some sort of performance milestone.

Just a thought.

I know in the past that certain performances of mine were just okay and I wouldn't mind being further down the list while others I tried to get into the upper spots.

It seems a lot of skipping around is done to almost make the top submissions seem irrelevant anyway. Plus, everyone has there favorites and wouldn't miss them no matter what order the submission. Still, the top spots could have some special meaning associated with them. Sort of like "employee of the month parking" in a way.

Any thoughts?

"employee of the month parking" - I knew I was missing out by being a contractor

I've never figured out the "in at #1" stuff for those who are serious about it. I mean, as a joke, I understand - calling "neener neener" to the rest of us - that makes sense But to actually care? I don't get it.

The only thing it does for those who care, as far as I can tell, is get most of their reviews in in the first week or so. But since pretty much everyone gets reviewed a pretty good number of times in the end, and it's fun (to me, anyway) to read the reviews of other people's submissions, well, I can wait.

But I may misunderstand those who care But if I'm ever first it'll be neener neener for the next two weeks!

Cathy

I was thinking about that - a pretty good number - so I did a quick resume of the last recital:
- 26th recital Participants: 50
- Comments: 19 (*)
(*) counting only the comments on my piece.

I think 19/50 is a good number of reviews but I wonder why there isn't more participants doing individual comments. The fact is that everyone gets reviewed but not everyone makes a review.
(I'm not complaining! I know that there are no rules or obligations, and so it should be!)

ABF recitals are a unique experience for me, and most of the improvements I've got came from the work I do for them. So, the order I appear in the list is not important. I just mark the 1st day of each ABF Recital as a deadline to submit my piece. That's why I'm usualy in the front line.

I agree with you CarlosCC, the AFB recitals are a unique experience. The effort to polish a piece enough for a recording to share with others teaches a lot. I also have improved from that experience.

As far as comments go, like many others here, I comment on everyone's submission- but then I am retired so I have the time to do so. Others may not have that luxury of time.

"There is Love" - Excellent selection Hunky!

Are you doing a vocal version of this? - would really like to hear that - if not, will you include the highly meaningful lyrics in the info section?

There's an old but captivating video of Paul doing this live in concert on YouTube - check it out...
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Also noticed that kenjazz is submitting his take on the beautiful and soulful pop tune "A House is Not a Home" - anxious to hear this too - there's a 7 minute version of this on YT by a young Luther Vandross at an awards show...an amazing performance...

For me, the comments are nice, but not what the recitals are all about. What is important is the whole process of preparing a piece for performance (against a deadline), overcoming the terror of recording, and battling shyness and the fear of exposure to actually present the piece in a public forum.

The comments, which are overwhelmingly feel good and supportive, are welcome proof that someone actually took the time to listen to my playing.

Like most things in life, it's about the journey, not the destination. It's about all the work that goes on preparing and presenting the music. Having someone listen to and comment on the music is a nice reward, but not the major benefit.

When I do the statistics after the recital goes live, and look at the number of participants and the history of the recital, I am always struck by how fragile it all seems. We are very lucky that it has continued as long as it has with so much success.

Sam

Well, the good thing: I’m in.

The bad thing: I can’t wait to listen to the recital!!!

Hear hear - Thank you, Monica!

Glen

I actually make a point of never starting with the first entries. In fact I try to go to some of the last entries first. Of course these days I just can't comment on all of them like I used to... just not enough time to do them all justice and I hate just doing a cursory comment.

For me, more than anything, the recitals force me to take at least one of the pieces I'm working on seriously. Without them I really don't know if I would be recording myself. The comments are always great too. I feel like I'm part of a like minded family.