Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Achievement of the week - what got you excited?

AOTW was tiny but maybe important. I learned to put some "give" in the wrists for chords some time ago, and thought by "uncurling" the fingers I'd solved a habit there too. But apparently I'd simply substituted curled unmoving fingers for straightish unmoving fingers - I guess like a newborn deer tottering about on stiff legs. This may make a couple of things a whole lot easier.

Ragdoll, that actually sounds huge!

ElleC, Torquenale and Andy - thanks for the encouragement.

Though I would enjoy participating in a recital, I really don't feel that this is the right atmosphere for me. I'd have my hubby, maybe, and then all the parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins of the other musicians - Italians really come out for these evernts. All of them sitting there expecting an adult to play well. Nope,it isn't going to happen.

If I were playing a duet with one of the kids,...maybe - and I can talk to the teacher about that for next year, but this just isn't the recital for me.

(There is only one other adult , and he doesn't want to play either).

Ragdoll - great ear improvement! Good for you!
Keystrings - clearly you're being very attentive to what is going on with your body as you play- excellent! You can nip problems in the bud!

Casinitaly, I know what you are saying. "Atmosphere" is important for me too, and playing piano it's not just to press the keys. I think your decision is appropriate.

I love reading all your AOTW's here, I have to resist putting one in every second day when something good happens.

Casinitaly, my wife was coerced into playing several live violin children recitals and even although she did no solo pieces I think the stress was unproductive.

Casinitaly - I certainly understand how you feel about the kiddie recital - Now that I hear all of you talk about not wanting to do it for a bunch of kids and their relatives I know why I was so darn nervous that first time. Well, at least we usually have 3 or 4 adults to go with the dozen or so youngsters.

I've agreed to do it again this year and still have the same feeling of impending doom. Not quite like the first year, but it is still there.

My teacher has a new student (adult) this year who contacted me yesterday. She wants to host the piano get-together/pre-recital recital practice for adults that I hosted last year. I'm all for it and glad to have someone else take the reins while I focus on actually learning how to play my recital piece.

Here's a nice narrow little AOTW - yesterday at lesson I was having a devil of a time doing this little series of descending three note sequences from the Scarlati piece. They were supposed to be really fast 32's with a little pause between each group. I tried and tried, but my fingers just were not cooperating. Then I sat back, looked at my teacher, and asked her to demonstrate it. She leaned over and played it once. I thought, gee just use the weight of your hand. And that's just what I did and it was absolutely 100% better right away. I had been doing it with "finger muscle" and getting nowhere. If I just let my hand weight fall into the three notes they fell right into line at full speed. Bada bing. [insert headslap icon here] Sometimes this stuff is so much easier than I make it.

CarolsCC, Earlofmar, JimF --- you've all got it. It just isn't the right place, or worth the energy. I hope there will be another chance, but I'm willing to wait as long as it takes. I'm not particularly shy about performing - but this just doesn't sit right with me.

Jim- that sounds like a real Ah ha! moment -- lovely to see something you found challenging sorted out in a flash!

I can sure understand you people not wanting to or attending a recital with children. I wouldn't. It's like you are automatically taken as not serious. The distractions multiply.
I myself don't really have any wish to post stuff here on a recital. The only way I even think of here is if I have something special. Something that turned out good. Entertaining for others. I'm a person who isn't much interested in performing for others. I can only think of it in a way of sharing an experience. That's all it is to me. If it isn't an experience worth sharing. I'm not interested. That's just me.
I appreciate the input on the Italian, Cas. I only know what I heard as a kid. Is interesting. Would like you all to know. Even though my Grandfather was from Sicily. He hated the Mafia with a passion. Said they were a bunch of punks. His favorite show on TV was Elliot Ness. Called it the Italian hour.
I have an AOTW coming up today. Will let you know.

This thread lightens up any day for me. You all show such dedication and sensitivity. Every little brush stroke creates the masterpiece.

I'm wanting to have an AOTW but can't quite land on one. I'm ear training using an online site where I can set the intervals that I want to test. For the life of me I can't seem to consistently get the descending 3rd, 4th and 5th. It would be funny except that's part of the level 5 exam. Well...I'll study up til test day and it'll be whatever it is. Maybe my AOTW is not stressing too much over the whole thing while maintaining a study schedule. LOL. It's reaching, I know.

So many achievements! Everyone is doing great. Congratulations to everyone.

Rnaple - I am happy for you for finding a good teacher. It is so important to find someone you can work with well.

Ragdoll - More effective practice is what it is all about!

Augustina - Congrats on completing Hungary. It sounds like a major piece!

Saranoya - Sorry to hear your Moonlight part 2 and Bürgmuller didn't cooperate this week. The two steps forward, one step back seems to often be part of this journey.

CarlosCC - Good luck on the office contest. That is really cool.

Toastie - Getting back on track with practice is always an achievement!

earlomar - A full day at the piano sounds like a wonderful way to spend a rainy Saturday.

Wisebuff - Congraulations on your Mendelssohnn submission. That was a major undertaking. I can't wait to hear it.

FarmGirl - You must have a lot of stamina with your packed schedule. I am duly impressed! You must be becoming quite comfortable with performing now. That is wonderful.

Casinitaly - Being able to relax and just play in front of your teacher is a monumental step. It took me a year with this teacher to relax enough to play reasonably well. Now he can give you better feedback because you are able to work on the real problems. I don't blame you for not playing in a children's recital. That would be very uncomfortable.

Ragdoll - It is good that you and your teacher are clear about the direction you want to go. It should make your lessons more fun and productive. It sounds like your ear is developing quite nicely too!

Keystring - This sounds similar to something my teacher has been working with me on as well. Figuring out how to blend relaxation with proper chord attack is quite a challenge.

JimF - It is great that you could see your teacher demonstrate a technique and then execute it. That is huge.

Well my AOTW was making a Youtube video of the Chopin Nocturne in F Minor and sending it my teacher for evaluation. As a result, we had a very productive lesson pinpointing where improvement was needed. She gave me an honest critique and I learned a lot. It was very energizing to get this kind of feedback to focus my efforts.

Really? I am using the score, watching the video ( it's slow so can see the fingering) and hearing it played so with all that it makes it easier I think. Bar 2 is coming together and I'm on bar 3 now. I even played a measure more smoothly today that I had fumbled over previously this afternoon when I was showing my friend how far I was up to on the Minuet. I must have played in total an hour today. And I even uploaded my first recording ( a little tune I made up on the spot).
Done ok considering I have a bit of a squiffy tummy today.

Well done to everyone's progress- read the posts- got behind on reading them.

SwissMS, I look forward to hearing your post of Chopin Nocturne in F Minor

My AOTW. I ruined my financial budget! Yay! I'm excited.
I was looky looing through CL. There was a Kawai M8000 Midi Controller on there. It's 20 years old and originally sold for $1500. Along with a midi synthesizer: a Korg 05R/W. He wanted $300 for it all. That's in line with what this is selling for.

I asked in the Digital forum. Answers were that this is a really good old midi controller (keyboard). Also look at other opinions via Google. Looked really good.

I wasn't expecting to buy anything. But from what I learned. This is one to not pass by.

So the guy said he was coming to Rapid today. I said I'm interested and want to look at it. Well...I bought it. These keys are definitely high quality. No entry level stuff here. Much higher quality mechanics of the movement of the keys. All kinds of adjustments on velocity, sensitivity, aftertouch and all. It does have weighted keys. So I'm happy as can be with my new keyboard.

Also...I finally got me a Kawai!

My grand AOTW is my first recording on PW!!!!

Looks like a bargain have fun with your new gizmos

Congrats!! Though I can't seem to play it...it just keeps on loading for some reason but I'll try my computer later.

That's cool you feel more relaxed playing in front of your teacher casinitaly. I'm flubbing all the time in front of mine- now I can let him hear my recordings which have less flubs LOL.

I know what you mean re the recital- I wouldn't be keen on that myself either.

ElleC, the music doesn't start until 19 seconds. I wasn't quite prepared for it to actually "RECORD" when I hit the record button!!

Yep me too, sometimes when I don't see immediate results of a new method I try something else. Focused practice has really helped me a lot whatever method I use. I won't allow myself to just play at the piano until I have done at least 30 minutes of real practice.

I have found the practice suggestions of a few here ( I think it's referred to as "chunking" with limited repeats) very helpful lately in that the new piece I received at my lesson Tuesday I already have under my fingers and have started to polish it.

It's admittedly a short, simple piece but I'm enchanted by it because it's so musical and pretty. I guess that's my AOTW. Without my focused practice I'm sure this would have taken me at least 2 weeks to get this far with it. What's more, I picked it and not teacher which I think helps.

I am happy this morning. I don't have back to back business meetings starting at 7:00 am today for the first time this week. I can eat breakfast, practice a bit and go to work late (9:00 am). What a beautiful morning.