Okay on Midnight Ride. Forgot I played the heck outta these songs (probably be whipping by this one too.) My whole family is groaning at me replaying these tunes.. hehe

Luckily the technique book is slowing me down (another version of midnight ride.) I'll be working on that for a while. I really want to get the dynamics just right and get the tempo up before I move on. Right now just focusing on two bars at a time and getting notes, changes and timing nice and smooth.

I actually had to count 1-2-3 thru each measure in order to play Midnight Ride correctly.

LOL I always count like that! If I don't then I start going really uneven immediately. Good for you for getting through it!

I'm on camptown races (a favorite) in the lesson book and and in the technique book on the Perilous Midnight Ride. I have it up to speed now. Just making sure when I don't use the metronome I stay even (some parts I seem to go off kilter still) so I'll probably be on that one a few more days.

Well since my goal of getting my basics back up to snuff has been met, I decided to jump back to where I was in the book. I'm now working on page 52 Race car rally. It has some tricky timing in it (for me at least) so I anticipate being here for awhile. Feels good to be back on track with the right skills again! Weeee

I'm still progressing, though very slowly....

on "Beach Party" now, found a recording on youtube, but curious whether your teacher agreed for you to play the piece at such a fast speed? I thought it marked as "moderately"?



Thanks!

Hiya Wish!

I don't have a teacher and I'm not in the same book. However I have all the books. In the artistry and technique book, on page 53, is the exercise that matches Beach Party. The marking is moderato which is around 108-120bpm.

I would aim for somewhere in there.

Thanks, Becca!

I personally think 120bpm sounds better... on the other hand, my fingers just can't move as fast as the player on the youtube video, wondering if that's something I should spend more time to work on...

congratulations on your first online lesson:) can't wait to listen/watch your progress in your recordings:) Enjoy!

Thanks Wish! Maybe I'll post a polished piece at the end of my lessons.

I'm not sure about how much to speed up a work half the time. I try to do my best to get it up to speed but some of it I just pass. I think that video is a wee bit quick but who knows? LOL maybe I should ask my teacher! haha