Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Can we kick some people off the Quarterly Recitals already??

The last recital was the first time I've participated in the ABF quarterly recitals. Yet I've been lurking/intermittently posting for a few years.

It obviously took me a while to do it. At first, I was overwhelmed by the great talent. To be perfectly honest, I also felt overwhelmed at the thought listening to so many pieces and commenting on them(that's just what I feel obligated to do if I post my own piece). It didn't help that one of my biggest weakness in learning piano is polishing a piece. I probably wouldn't have even participated in the ABF quarterly recital if I hadn't been peer-pressured(hehehe) into filling in a spot in a themed recital. But I'll tell you what - the kind words and encouragement I received from forum members after posting my first recording made me want to participate more. It's certainly a confidence builder - after you post your first piece, warts and all, you find that people are still supportive. I've always known what a great bunch we have here, but taking that first step is such a major hurdle!
I don't think we need to separate the quarterly recital. It's fun listening to the different levels, and it's a great way to expose yourself to different styles and different composers. But another option, maybe, would be for a beginner to perhaps start an ongoing "true beginner" thread dedicated to people who feel overwhelmed by everyone else but want to try posting a piece. ( I know we have a monthly piano bar that's casual, but everyone there is super talented too!). Obviously a true beginner will have to step up and start it, but I think if you can get people past that first hurdle, it won't feel like such a big deal to participate in other things.

And that's my 2 cents. Feel free to toss it over your shoulder or stick in your car's ashtray for later:)

AimeeO, I really like your idea. An ongoing "first recording" thread could very well be the low pressure and supportive environment that could be the tipping point to encourage newbies to participate. It would also require no extra work on anybody's part; all it would take is for somebody to start a thread. We could have such a thread stickied in the "Important Topics" thread as well.

+1!

Even though I jumped way ahead and volunteered for a task that hadn't even been created yet not half a page ago, I actually agree with the "it ain't broke, so don't fix it" assessment of the quarterly recital as it exists today.

I do recognise, however, the intimidation factor involved in participating in the recital for the first time. An ongoing "first recording" thread could help alleviate that, by letting the 'newbies' experience first-hand what a supportive environment the ABF really is. And it would have none of the complications of trying to decide who goes where if we started a second recital.

I like the thread idea, too - it could be pointed to in lots of other threads when people are posting how new they are - informal, but definitely a "first timers" place.

Cathy

I love it... great idea AimeeO!

Could one of us cheat and create it despite having recorded and posted previously?

Well, for the record, I was completely kidding about kicking or tossing anyone out of anything. I hope that was clear.

The non-fluffy, real feedback I rec'd was greatly appreciated! (although I have been remiss in getting back to the thread to convey that in more detail than a general statement I made a couple weeks later)

I have never managed to actually make a submission to the online recital, but I would like to be kicked off please....barred for life if possible.

Then I won't feel so guilty for not participating.

Two other random thoughts:

1) This is a very dynamic group, meaning someone just starting out will improve an awful lot over the course of a year or two. Same with restarters just picking it up again. The concept of "beginner" is a moving target and can't really be defined. People are better than other people (at the moment)who are better than other people (at the moment) etc, etc....so what?

2) Simple is good. There's the piano bar for everyday stuff. There's quarterly ABF recitals if you're so inclined. And there's the Pianists Corner and Member Submission threads for truly advanced players, or people who would like to argue the finer points. If you don't feel you fit in anwhere in the current scheme, there is nothing stopping you from starting the "Play in Our Own Sandbox" thread for whatever purpose it would serve.

I think AimeeO should create it. Even though she has already posted her first recording, it is her idea and she could introduce the idea and invite folks to post their first recording in PW! --- but only ONE as it has to be the first!

We could link it with a thread for instructions on how to record and upload- we certainly have a number of those!

Folks could be invited to re-state a bit of their personal history too, say how long they've been playing, what kind of piano--- similar stuff to what we put in the recital info when we submit.

Then just ast BBPlayer to sticky it!
Bingo! Voilà ! Ecco fatto!

Well, we have an Ecco Cafe here that serves gelato, and it certainly makes me fat! Don't know how it's connected to first recordings, tho

Cathy

Ecco Cafe would mean "Here's the Coffee" (though it would be written "caffè" in Italian. Ecco fatto means "There, it's done!"

So it's related,I bet, to "Ecce homo", no?

Cathy

Absolutely.

Very apropos... I hope AimeeO is game for doing that.

I hereby retract all my stupid ideas suggested above.

Is it too late to change the name of this thread to something less obnoxious?

You could report the post and ask a mod to do it, or you could write directly to Greg (BB PLayer) and ask him.
.....but what will the new title be? Ah , there's the rub.

Well I am a true beginner and have only recorded myself on my mobile, and then found out I have a sound recorder programme on my netbook so recorded myself playing the first bar of the Bach minuet I am working on and it'd be AGES before I can play the first page let alone the second! But I do hope I will be able to play this piece and one day upload it. Or you can have me playing an Alfred's piece - badly!!

How about this for a new title?: "Skip to Post# 2067157... please"

Maybe those of us who have been playing for some years rather should spend our efforts on themed recitals like the upcomng Mendelssohn recital. At least this can not be reserved for beginners only. I'd like to see a beginner (adult or not) playing the "Spinnerlied".

Or maybe a Veterans' Sandbox should be created. We are facing challenges different from the newbies, meeting the inevitable consequences of age. We can't expect to continue improving for ever, but more likely we'll have to face decaying skills.

Just some thoughts....

Wow! I'm glad you guys like the idea. Monica and Cas, you've actually taken it in more directions than I was initially thinking, and I think they're excellent ideas that should be implemented. I have no problems starting the thread.. just give me a few days to finish and recover from the Mendelssohn recital(I am procrastinating as we speak!). I want to make sure I word it properly and have all my links in a row!

I was thinking about naming it, and think it would be kind of fun to take from Cas and Cathy and name it Ecco Fatto Cafe, because I think we all know those weird feelings of dread and relief after we submit, and the phrase "There, it's done!" sums it up quite nicely on many levels.

Any other suggestions anyone may have, whether they be related to name or ground rules, are more than welcome.




The themed recitals are fun! But I would rather see you more experienced players spend time on both, when time allows(it can be hard!), than rather. The variety of levels and genres make the quarterly recitals successful, and it would be missing something important if you stopped participating. After all, many of you have built it up to where it is now, and that's something to be proud of.

Ragtime recital?

AimeeO --- great! I will look forward to seeing your thread launched - and I think it is cool you're thinking of "Ecco Fatto Cafe" as the title. Of course it will take some explaining, but it sounds extremely friendly and inviting

I think now that we've seen several themed recitals appear there's a good chance that more will come along ----Whizbang ---a ragtime recital would be a hoot -and there are a lot of folks who play a bit of ragtime, at various levels. Why not start up a thread?

Gandalf, I don't think our vetran players should be restricted to the themed recitals - but the Vetran Sandbox has a certain logic to it. It is inevitable that a general thread talking about ...vision issues for example, might get a lot of replies from all and sundry -but if the word Vetran or senior is in the title that should flag it to those it is meant for.

Seems to me that this thread has brought about a delicious number of positive comments and great ideas!