It was a great party! I will write more later.

Well I thin you have to go to the piano party section of the forum. I don't know how to adds a link here.

Thank you for posting! It looks and sounds like it was wonderful! More pictures!

Cathy

I was amazed to meet so many truly talented artists! This should become an annual (or more often) event.

What fun!!! I KNEW you would all have a wonderful time!
It is so neat to have faces to put to the forum names!

Thanks for such a great party Farmgirl. Everyone seemed to have a great time and Farmgirl was a fantastic host.

The only problem was the level of playing from the participants was nothing short of ridiculous. It started out with Farmgirl performing an incredibly beautiful piece in which she seemed to completely immerse herself in the performance. She plays at a much higher level than what I had expected (and I had high expectations!)

Next performing was both Carey and Sam Rose. It was at this time I realized that I was in a one story building and so throwing myself out the window would not end the suffering of my ineptness compared to these guys. I considered drowning myself in the backyard pool but Farmgirls two beautiful dogs were out there and it wouldn't be fair to them to witness that so I just had to sit and listen to the most incredible piano playing I have ever heard realizing that there is NO WAY I could ever play at this level. EVER!

Carey has a lifelong wealth of musical knowledge and experience and it shows every second he is at the bench.

Sam Rose is stupid talented. It is just so ridiculous that for only playing around 2 years, he can literally play just about anything you ask of him at any level. At one point I asked if he could play any new-age type music so he just quickly made something up on the fly and it (literally) gave me goosebumps it was so nice. I even physically interupted his playing just to show him (and Farmgirls teacher) the amount of raised goosebumps that were on my arm. I have NEVER had this happen before.

All in all it was a wonderful time and I have been incredibly humbled, yet incredibly inspired at the same time at the level of playing from these ABF members. I look forward to meeting again at some point in the future, hopefully with even more ABF members attending.
'
Here's a group shot of the performers.

That is an outstanding looking group. Wish I could have been there to hear the performances. Someday, we will have to get the Colorado group and the Arizona group together!
Carl

Jeesh SH, I can't figure out which one is you. No one has a speedo on.

I think Sam is a shill!!!! I guess it would not have done any good throwing him out the window if it was only one story.

How lovely! Wish I could have been there- it's a long way from Liverpool LOL. However I would not have gone to play just to watch and mingle. Isn't it wonderful how people make friends on this forum? Pianos are bringing people together just as they did 100-200 years ago.

I have been following Sam's journey for a while now, and the thought has crossed my mind, but for now, I am going with MSH's stupidly talented. We have "Hawgdriver" in our group, that could also fall into the that category.

Indeed!

Glad to hear everyone is even awesomer [sic] in person than these recording we submit. I think secretly we're all wishing we were there too, and also would have been throwing ourselves out of a first floor window with MSH.

Many thanks to FarmGirl for hosting this wonderful event at her home in Phoenix. Not only did I get the opportunity to meet Mr. Super-Hunky, Amateur Bob, the gifted Sam Rose and FarmGirl herself - BUT there were several other talented folks there who contributed greatly to the success of the evening. Of course, the hit of the evening was Sam Rose with his rendition of Chopin's Ballade #1 - which was noteworthy given that Sam has only been playing for a couple of years and is largely self taught (such talent!!). Everyone else provided unique contributions as well (Mr. Super-Hunky's beautiful new age compositions, FarmGirl's sensitive performance of a Brahms intermezzo, and FarmGirl's teacher's playing of Rachmaninoff and just about anything else.) But the party was not just about the piano. We got the chance to get to know each other and discover how much we all have in common (the "six degrees of separation" thing). Am so looking forward to our next get-together - and would encourage those of you in other cities/towns in the US and wherever to organize similar gatherings of like-minded piano lovers.

Cheers !!!!

Well, I'm back at home in Los Angeles, and what an adventure it was. I'd like to congratulate myself on getting ZERO speeding tickets on my first interstate drive (and I sure deserved one).

Thank you so much to FarmGirl for hosting (and playing really beautifully, but I was expecting that), and to everyone who came and played. And thanks for all the compliments. They are not at all deserved. My playing left very much to be desired, but it was really nice to play such a long and difficult piece and not forget any notes (this was the first time I'd tried something this long and this difficult). The technical issues will be worked out in due time, hopefully.

Carey and Chris (FarmGirl's teacher) have that amazing musicality that comes from a lifetime of experience and complete freedom from worry about the technical aspects of playing. I was inspired by it, and I hope I'll get there one day.

Super Hunky really lived up to his forum persona. Despite all his arguments about being a hack, he plays with great musicality, and it's just a pleasure to listen to. I could listen all day, and I'm jealous of his ability to do that (weird fingerings included )
And by the way, I can't improvise at all like you do. The new age stuff is just music I've heard and spent a bit of time memorizing. I WISH I could just make something up like that, the way you do all the time. Maybe one day...

All in all, it was a wonderful time, and maybe someone will organize something like this in Los Angeles so I won't need to drive 6 hours each way to the next one

I look forward to the day when my playing will be great just because it's great, and not only because it's good for x years of playing. I hope that day comes within a few years, or I might take up rock climbing instead

Sam -

Glad to know you made it back home safely !!

Hold off on the rock climbing - not good for your hands. You'll definitely get to where you want to be with the piano in a few years !!

And if you have any fingering questions related to the Opus 25 No.1, just holler !!

Sam, glad you made it back safely as well.

Lets be clear however, Sams a 24 year old guy who just happens to be cruising around in a spotless brand new Corvette with removable roof panels. I don't feel bad for him. I ENVY him! He paid for it himself doing business deals too.

I told him whatever he is doing to not change a thing. His recipe is really working out well.

It is so great to read the input from the individual participants. How cool would it be to have the Arizona group and the Colorado group together?

It would be super to be able to join you - as that isn't possible, the next best thing is reading about it and seeing the pics!

Sounds like a fabulous time in Arizona...do you have recordings? Getting together f2f makes PW that much better. It is indeed wonderful how piano is bringing us together to share music. Maybe we'll have to Skype these get togethers to include some of our global friends

Wait, so now you're saying that not only is he stupidly talented he also drives a Vette? And you didn't toss him out the window? Obviously we deal with envy in different ways....

Ahmm, I was gonna keep it quiet but he was just about to sleep with my doggie. I have a shocking pic to prove it. I am going to blackmail Sam when he is playing in the Carnegie hall.

Yes, blackmail!!! Now we are talking.

Careful Farmgirl as I think someone may have a clip of us slapping our legs and hands together while repeating the phrase "Eat your goddam spinach"' over and over.

Don't ask! Lol.

Mr. SH, that's funny. No worries. I won't blackmail any of you. It was a good party.

I will forward an invitation to a home recital of a well known amateur classical pianist to all of you if you would like. It's on 3/23 Sat. Yes, he lives here in AZ. I would not spill more detail here since he is not a forum member. You may recognize his name once you see his name. It will be great if you can make it. If you can't, no prob since its not our piano party(smile). It's free of course but it's one of those bring your own chair kind of concert. Let me know.

Indeed! When we looked at the pictures, my wife said of Carey, "OMG! He looks just like you in ten years!"

Well - more like in 15 years - and, for your sake, I hope not !!!

+1.
And yes, someday in Italy!

I suspect that had something to do with getting the rhythm for 3 over 4 patterns (don't I sound knowledgeable...it is amazing what you can learn in these forums )

Yes! I have my thinking cap on.

Jealous ... but, where were the speedos?!

I know posting this defines 'shameless' however if you knew how many years I had to eat tuna out of a can (packed in water) you would understand.

Our hobbies and passions may change over time as we get older but the flame that inspires them doesn't have to.

This photo is getting too outdated and I am getting too old and out of shape to even remotely be associated with this pic anymore. But maybe if you strain hard you can make a positive ID. Possibly.

p.s I know Carl (Strings & Wood) has a pic of HIM like this as I've seen it. $5 bucks to whoever gets him to post it!

Nice build SH. I think you must have been doing more lifting pianos in those days than playing them?

Why did I ask?!

Well, ...you look fab, and I can imagine how much work it was to keep all those muscles toned.

If there is one of Carl like this maybe we have the start of a collection and should consider making a PW calendar. ... you know, like the firemen do?

We could have everyone pose beside (or behind!) their pianos.

First full day back on the forums after a 3-year break, and the first thing I see is a picture of S_H posing in his speedos. Yup, nothing's changed around here, then

Cheryl, Great idea! I'm sure Steinway, or in his case, Mason Hamlin will sponsor it to be published. Let's make it men only. Just because it's not something us ladies would like to be part of. We (women) shall manage the profit and fly us all to Italy for your piano party.

Well, I *think* I remember a picture of Euan in his kilt - that was pretty handsome, too. Welcome back, Euan!

Cathy

I remember the kilt too. Hope you stay around for a while Euan as you've got three years-O-splainin' to do!

It's good to hear from you again.

Sounds perfect to me!
And now we have a kilt in the collection? So, that's 3 - only 9 more to go

Thanks for the welcome back

The Arizona piano party sounded like a great evening. Was good to see the pics and read the report of the evening. A lot of talented musicians sharing their music and friendship

Euan - so nice to see your second post. I love Edinburgh. Two years ago I had a plum assignment to evaluate internal control and operational process of our supplier located in Grasgow. I stayed in Edinburgh and commuted to Grasgow by train every day. People are very nice there. I was constantly lost in the street and several people always come to help me. The supplier did not have process issues so I won't need to go back there (happy sigh with a grin).

Hi, glad you enjoyed both cities

message for Sam:

Hi Sam,
I ran into you at the Piano Gallery in Scottsdale a few weeks ago and you mentioned this forum and the get together you were going to. I finally found this thread and thought I would say hi. Hello to the rest of the group too. I just got my new piano so maybe next time there is another event I can make it. Now to get practicing. Good luck on the Chopin..