Recital #29 is now open for submissions!

Believe it or not, our 29th quarterly Piano World Adult Beginners Forum recital approaches! The recital will be posted some time on the 15th of February, which means that the submissions must be in by 9:00 pm Eastern Time, February 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 TIME on February 14, 2013.

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!

Okay, I decided to go ahead and open up the recital tonight, because we've got an inch or two of snow falling with no sign of it stopping. And if there's going to be a snow day tomorrow, I'm sleeping in.

Have at it, gang.

Oh wow, Mr Super-Hunky, that put a lump in my throat, but I bet it's beautiful.

And three of my favorite piano players right off the bat! This is gonna be good.

Cathy

May have to sit this one out thanks to a turbulent few months and marital collapse

I can assure you that it is my intention to re-join the recitals, with daughter, once again just as soon as I have a Piano, a residence to keep it in and some significant time with daughter.


<this post makes me sad>

I'm in at No. 5 - the spot I had at my first ABF recital 3 years ago.

Crap - that sucks, dude.

Hmm, I'd like to enter, but I don't think I can play anything worth entering.
I'd also have to figure out how best to record my acoustic, not tried that yet.
I take it the next one is in April?

Neil.

Ack, wishing you light at the end of tunnel.

Neil.

I'm in at number 9.

And DadAgain, this is sad... Keep the focus on what's the best for everyone.

I'm in at no. 10 - argh, what did I do?

DadAgain - I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through. May the future be brighter!

I am in at No. 12. Now I can get back to just practicing, instead of trying to get that perfect take! Glad that is over with... until the next time!

DadAgain .... that is very sad, I hope things improve for you very soon.

I'm in at 13 !

Mr. Super-Hunky - what a wonderful way to start the recital! I can't wait to hear your tribute!

Sorry to hear that... Best wishes. Did you have to sell your grand?

Dad Again... I'm really sorry to hear your bad news. Stay strong! It all works out in the end.


SH obviously did not read my post on the other recital thread. By posting first he now must be flogged.

DadAgain
So sorry to hear of your losses and hope that healing can happen for all of you.

Maybe I'll get one recorded this weekend. I don't have any one particular piece that is ready since I've been studying several. Let me see what comes together to share with all of you.

I don't know how Monica knew, but she opened this up 5 minutes after I went up to go to bed. Sigh

Who cares about Valentine's Day? It's February 15th we are all waiting for now ...

Sorry, Andy!

I'm in at 20, after a long and delicious morning of sleeping in until 9:30 after the promised snow day arrived.

I'm in - at #21 for now. 11 1/2 minutes of Schumann, with lots of little mistakes! Also at no extra charge - two loud cat meows.

Sam

Managed to record on time to be #8! Nocturne Op.27 no.1 for my first participation to the recital!!! There's already alot of good uploads i can't wait to listen to... *hyped*... See you on the 15th!

I am sorry to hear that DadAgain. I look forward to hear you and your very talented daughter play at the next recital.

Yes that's a long piece, and it sounds pretty hard. I'm looking forward hearing your version.

Does it have to be total piano? Cos if you go digital, other instruments sometimes muscle in . . . .

You can add in other instrument, but the main instrument should be the piano.
There are several folks - often those with "jazz" in their names who have both real and virtual bands that they play with in the recitals.
It is quite fun to listen to the multi-instrument pieces.

Thank you Casinitaly!

Hmmm...I wonder who those could be?

BTW -- I expect to resubmit so practically everyone will move up!

We are already up to 33 entries! Wow, and still 11 days to go!

Looks like there are a few new comers to the e-cital too - and that is always exciting!

Everyone after #6 just moved up a slot! It never fails that after I record a piece, I can suddenly play it just a little bit better. I couldn't resist the temptation to re-record and submit this slightly improved version.

If I`ve gone beyond the border wi my little orchestra, I`m happy to comply . . . .

No - nothing sold, nothing really sorted out as yet - just I'm not longer living at home. Still pretty raw and difficult for everyone concerned.

Right now I'm visiting the house (and kids) 3 or 4 days a week when she's at work, so I do get 'access' to the piano and kids - but its not the same as having them there all the time!

Who know's what'll happen long term with any kind of settlement. I doubt she can afford to buy me out of the house, and I would struggle to buy her out - so we'll probably end up selling. Whether I can find somewhere to live long term so I can keep the piano remains to be seen. (Australia has 'no fault' divorce law - so settlement is likely to be close to 50/50 division of combined asset pool)

There's an outside chance I can put together a rough recording of something just in time for 14th - but it'll be tough, last minute, out of tune and under-prepared.

Oh, DadAgain, this sounds horrible. I'm so sorry for what you and your family are going through. I can't imagine that trying to record a piece for the recital is anything like a priority right now.