I have two really minor AOTW's this week.
The first is that I finally stopped procrastinating on the second movement of the Moonlight Sonata, and I can do both hands separate from start to finish pretty well already. Now working on hands together, which is proving somewhat tricky (probably because I'm not playing slowly enough ...).
The other is that I fulfilled a promise I made in an earlier post on this thread. I transcribed the YouTube video Ragdoll linked to into sheet music. It was fun!
It's my very first Sonatina and I must say, it's been a frustrating couple of weeks learning it. My brain definitely works faster than my fingers and it was hard to keep up with the speed that this piece requires.
I think it's very impressive that you were able to learn this to the level that you demonstrated in the Piano Bar after only three months playing the piano, and in just a couple of weeks. So, be very proud of yourself. This is quite an achievement, indeed! Also: w00t for your new piano. Others (including yours truly) have used this thread liberally to brag about new pianos in the past. I don't see why you shouldn't
.
So, my AOTW is focussed, disciplined practice. It is paying off!
Respect, for two reasons. One, you managed to actually force yourself to play slowly and without errors, which is, as you say, indeed easier said than done. And two, you can play along to a metronome. It gives me the creeps, but I *know* I will have to learn to do it at some point.
My aotw is that I have a new job starting after the summer as a cook in a restaurant. It is located between the concert hall and a shop selling sheet music. In the middle of the restaurant, there is a grand piano.
Sounds awesome. I have a sister currently living in Amsterdam. If you tell me where the new job is, maybe I can get her to invite me for a bite to eat at your workplace. And if we're lucky, who knows, we might even be able to sneak in some playing time on the grand
.
There were a few spots that need some work but I was able to pull it through for the most part. This really surprised me.
Your teacher seems to know you better than you know yourself. Or perhaps she just knows that you are prone to chronically underestimating yourself, and understands when to push in order to help you overcome this. Which, to me, is one of the hallmarks of a good teacher. So kudos to your teacher for being that good, and kudos to you for having found her
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My Achievement is playing it at 72 with the 7/8 time and the triplets. It is so cool. Maybe by piano recital time in May it'll rhapsody even faster.
If you're half as excited about playing this piece as your post makes it seem, then I have no doubt that you'll be rhapsodying circles around everyone else by recital time
. I look forward to it already!
... only having practiced more than usual ...
I disagree that there's anything 'only' about that. In writer's circles, they say that good writing comes from 1% inspiration, and 99% transpiration. I strongly believe that something similar is true for playing the piano: beautiful performances come from 1% talent, and 99% perseverance. So every extra minute of focused practice you can squeeze in now will pay off doubly down the road. Way to go!
An A- is way better then I thought I was going to get.:)
An A- is great! Congratulations!
I'm keeping on with the Bach minuet. Got bar one quite nicely done and working on bar two.
Working on it ... one bar at a time. Now that, that's perseverance. My hat goes off to you.
I have no sheet for it so just played it from memory and came up with a left hand accompaniment for it.
That, sir, is not trivial at all. That's huge! It may have been basic, but it's a great start. Now continue on down the path your on! You'll be composing on the fly before you know it ;-).
My scales and my broken chords are steadily improving and just may be ready for the exam on June 1. Hope hope.
I'm helping you hope!
My ATOW was to make my recording of Schumann's Melody and submit it to the Piano Bar. I'm really pleased that I had two pieces ready to go so close together. This certainly tells me that I'm making progress with the learning curve!!
And it was lovely. It must indeed be great to feel your learning's speeding up.
Or you can pick the nicest sounding Alfred tune and submit that. Participating is just as valuable when you're just starting out as when you're performing concertos.
+1.
It's called the Adult Beginners Forum Recital, remember? Most of the participants in it are so advanced that they scare away the real beginners. Don't let it happen to you. Instead, be one of those who encourage others to come out of the woodwork!
... but you continue to attack life with the humor and verve that comes across so clearly ... your presence is so much larger than that number would suggest!
Two great compliments in a row (especially the first one). Thank you. I will cherish your kind words for a long time to come. I'm also genuinely happy for you that you managed to jump over the hurdle that was keeping you from learning song #2. And that life has calmed down enough that you were able to come back to us (not to mention, back to playing the piano more frequently!)
I have not had a very good week due to some hideous family issues and so haven't had much of an AOTW.
My guess is, you do have an AOTW -- probably several of them. They're just not piano related. My advice: when life throws you lemons, cut yourself some slack. And if you have something you want to talk about that doesn't have to do with piano, well ... I've found this place to be quite hospitable to that
. Or, there's always PM, which I know you've figured out how to use now. Don't hesitate.
I go back to musical exploration mode in the hopes of finding that next original composition.
Awesome! I'm sure you'll let us know (and hear) what the exploration brings. I'm looking forward to that already.
Finding it very hard but its good practice for hand seperation.
Yep. It is. And once you can do it in one piece, you'll be able to do it in others too. So keep at it. We'll gladly listen to your recording whenever you're ready to make one (well, I will, anyway ... I shouldn't speak for other people ;)).
She encouraged me to keep on with the lessons.
Parental approval of your choices in life ... what more do you want?
. Of course you should keep on with the lessons. But you knew that already. Right?
It's kind of mind over matter to stay calm even when a mistake is made.
Mind over matter, huh? Sounds like you've pretty much got it down pat. And with a Chopin piece, no less. Color me impressed.
On Saturday night, for the first time, I tuned an entire piano in one sitting!
Are you for real? I mean, not only are you one of the best pianists around here, but you can tune your own piano in three hours? I'll repeat what I said above, but this time with a little more vehemence: Color me very impressed. Any pointers on how to get there for us mere mortals?