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I'm a little bit late for the party but I'll try to keep up. I started playing piano couple of months ago, so there are going to be a lot of easy pieces here.

1. Joseph Haydn - Minuet No 3 in B flat Hob.IX:3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdztTzHc454)
2. Pyotr Tchaikovsky - Op.39 No.1 'Morning Prayer' from Album for Youth

Remchi, welcome aboard!

Look, Americans are a staid lot. . . it was the bikes that weren t covered up. . !

Updated!

"Staid"!?!?!?!??!?! I'll have you know that I'm a proud, retired streaker! The 1970s was a very good decade!

1. What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor <Recording> (arranged by Jan Koláček)
2. Greensleeves <Recording> (arranged by Jan Koláček)
3. Träumerei <Recording> (by Robert Schumann, No. 7 in Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
4. El Condor Pasa <Recording> (arranged by Jan Koláček)
5. We Are The Champions <Recording> (by Freddy Mercury / Queen, arranged by Jan Koláček)
6. Erster Verlust (First Loss) <Recording> (by Robert Schumann, from Album für die Jugend, Op. 68)
7. Summertime <Recording> (by George Gershwin)
8. I Won't Hold You Back <Recording> (by Steve Lukather / Toto)
9. The Hobbit - Theme <Recording> (by Howard Shore, arranged by Jan Koláček)
10. The Godfather Love Theme <Recording> (by Nino Rota, arranged by Jan Koláček)
11. Nachklänge aus dem Theater <Recording> (by Robert Schumann, from Album für die Jugend, Op. 68)
12. Happy Birthday (Blues Version) <Recording> (arranged by Jan Koláček)
13. One Year Of Love <Recording> (by John Deacon / Queen)
14. Luzie, der Schrecken der Straße (Lucie, postrach ulice) <Recording> (by Angelo Michajlov, arranged by Jan Koláček)

The #14 if from a Czechoslovakian/German children's comedy co-production for TV/cinema from the early 80s called "Luzie, der Schrecken der Straße" in German (or "Lucie, postrach ulice" in Czech, an English translation would be something like "Lucie, menace of the neighborhood"). It was produced in West Germany and Prague and was shown in Germany in 1980 as a 6-episodes series, in Czechoslovakia as a single movie, in 1984.

Hero of the series is Luzie, a 6 year old girl who's about to have a her first day at school. To gain the acceptance of the older children in her street, she has to do a series of dares, one of which is shoplifting, where she steals a pack of children's modeling clay. From this green and orange clay emerge two living clay figures who become Luzie's close friends. After the manufacturer of the clay, Luzie calls them Friedrich and Friedrich. Being made of clay, Friedrich and Friedrich can transform into whatever shape they like, which has many advantages during the adventures that they have together with Luzie - but the two are also often the cause of quite some chaos.

The show was produced with real live actors in live sets, using 80s-era special effects (no computer animation!) to combine this with the stop-motion animation of the two clay figures of Friedrich and Friedrich.

If you were a child in Germany during the early 80s (or in Czechoslovakia, for that matter), you'll probably remember Luzie, Friedrich and Friedrich fondly. And maybe this tune from the show will cause you some nostalgia...

You played very well on "Luzie...". I enjoyed it.

Much, or perhaps, all, of that melody was used in the United States for a famous song titled "All of me", or something like that. It's a nice, attractive melody.

I'm shifting focus, away from the baroque pieces I have been centered on, and toward what I consider more modern music. Specifically, I am trying to get comfortable and competent with broken chord, left hand accompaniment. I just completed my first (and simple) tune with broken chord left hand part and am adding it below. I'll be concentrating on those for a while:

1. Menuet KV.2, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Soundcloud
2. Bagpipe, anonymous Soundcloud
3. March in F, Daniel Gottlob Turk Soundcloud
4. Minuet, Alexander Reinagle Soundcloud
5. Old German Dance, Michael Praetorius Soundcloud
6. Sonatina, C.H. Wilton, I. Allegro Moderato Soundcloud
7. Sonatina. C.H. Wilton, II. Minuet. Andantino Soundcloud
8. Promenade, Alexander Reinagle Soundcloud
9. Waltz Op. 82, No. 18, Cornelius Gurlitt Soundcloud
10. Lyrical Piece, Op. 101, No. 39, Ferdinand Beyer Soundcloud
11. Waltz, Carl Czerny Soundcloud
12. Minuet, Cornelius Gurlitt Soundcloud
13. Trumpet Tune, Cornelius Gurlitt Soundcloud
14. Allemande, Johann Hermann Schein Soundcloud
15. Minuet, Georg Phillip Telemann Soundcloud
16. Minuet, Jean-Philippe Rameau Soundcloud
17. The Village Prophet, Jean Jacques Rousseau Soundcloud
18. Minuet, Johann Sebastian Bach Soundcloud
19. Minuet, Leopold Mozart Soundcloud
20. Minuet, Johann Christian Bach Soundcloud
21. Minuet, James Hook Soundcloud
22. Minuetto, Johann William Hassler Soundcloud
23. Dance, Daniel Gottlob Turk Soundcloud
24. Morning Song, Anton Diabelli Soundcloud
25. Minuet, Alexander Reinagle (from Essential Piano Repertoire, Level 1) (different from above) Soundcloud


26. Melodic Tune, Louis Kohler Soundcloud

Back in the saddle after moving halfway across the country! My new teacher is very much on board with working on multiple small pieces, and one larger piece at a time, and really likes the Masterworks Classics books. Woo!

1) Carefree, Daniel Gottlob Turk, Recording
2) Determination, Daniel Gottlob Turk, Recording
3) Prelude in C, J.S Bach, Recording
4) Melody, Louis Kohler, Recording
5) March, Daniel Gottlob Turk, Recording
6) Roman Holiday, Alfreds Book Two, Recording
7) Morning Has Broken , Alfreds Book Two, Recording
8) Melodic Tune , Louis Kohler, Recording
9) Laura, Alfreds Book One, Recording
10) Loch Lomond, Alfreds Book 2, Recording
11) Andantino, Louis Kohler, Recording

joename, welcome back. I'm glad you found a teacher. Have you connected with the Chicago area piano group yet?

I just got to the computer to post my work for today, Andantino! I then noticed that you had posted the same just a couple of hours ago. Small piano world!

Have fun!

20. Bicycle Built For Two (Daisy, Daisy) - Favorite Melodies
the World Over (Bastien
21. On the Bridge of Avignon
22. Light and Blue - Alfred AIO Book 2
23. Ta-ra-ra Boom-der-e - Favorite Melodies the World Over (Bastien)
24. O Moj Rozmarynie - Polish Trad. - Gmajormusictheory.com
25. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 - Alfred AIO Bk 2
26. Showboat - PA Performance
27. Take Me Out to the Ball Game
28. Ice Cream - Piano Adventures 2A
29. Rock of Ages
30. Sonatina in C - Latour
31. Morning Has Broken - Alfred AIO Book 2
32. Alexander's Ragtime Band - Alfred AIO Book 2
33. Come Thou Almighty King - Hymn
34. My Daydream - Piano Adventures 2A

Well, I'm into day 2 of my broken chord journey, and it's starting to feel more comfortable. I'm reading the score as much as I can, but, the parts get memorized well before the point at which I'm satisfied with my performance. So, the broken chord parts are coming from memory.

I'm suspecting that the broken chord work would be easier if I was already conversant with the left hand chords. I think I am going to incorporate some chord/arpeggio practice into my usual practice. If I concentrate only on the keys that my current music is in, the practice should be relevant to my current efforts, and not so readily forgotten.

I finished another today, and here it is:

1. Menuet KV.2, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Soundcloud
2. Bagpipe, anonymous Soundcloud
3. March in F, Daniel Gottlob Turk Soundcloud
4. Minuet, Alexander Reinagle Soundcloud
5. Old German Dance, Michael Praetorius Soundcloud
6. Sonatina, C.H. Wilton, I. Allegro Moderato Soundcloud
7. Sonatina. C.H. Wilton, II. Minuet. Andantino Soundcloud
8. Promenade, Alexander Reinagle Soundcloud
9. Waltz Op. 82, No. 18, Cornelius Gurlitt Soundcloud
10. Lyrical Piece, Op. 101, No. 39, Ferdinand Beyer Soundcloud
11. Waltz, Carl Czerny Soundcloud
12. Minuet, Cornelius Gurlitt Soundcloud
13. Trumpet Tune, Cornelius Gurlitt Soundcloud
14. Allemande, Johann Hermann Schein Soundcloud
15. Minuet, Georg Phillip Telemann Soundcloud
16. Minuet, Jean-Philippe Rameau Soundcloud
17. The Village Prophet, Jean Jacques Rousseau Soundcloud
18. Minuet, Johann Sebastian Bach Soundcloud
19. Minuet, Leopold Mozart Soundcloud
20. Minuet, Johann Christian Bach Soundcloud
21. Minuet, James Hook Soundcloud
22. Minuetto, Johann William Hassler Soundcloud
23. Dance, Daniel Gottlob Turk Soundcloud
24. Morning Song, Anton Diabelli Soundcloud
25. Minuet, Alexander Reinagle (from Essential Piano Repertoire, Level 1) (different from above) Soundcloud
26. Melodic Tune, Louis Kohler Soundcloud


27. Andantino, Louis Kohler Soundcloud


Next up will be another Kohler piece (on the next page in the book) that seems to be a dressed up version of the "Andantino" I just finished. I've seen multiple episodes of this in these early level pieces. The "Dance" piece by Turk, listed #23 above, is an expanded version of a simpler, shorter piece I saw and played last summer.

Hi Raubucho,

Yup, already connected with the Chicago area group! Looking forward to meetups and music.

Andantino was the first piece I played for my new teacher. Figured I should use it to get back on track with the challenge. So excited she and I are on the same page for repertoire and practice material.

Updated list with two new pieces

1. W. Gillock, Dragon Fly (RCM Etudes 4) REC
2. Gurlitt, Cradle Song, Op. 101 no. 6 (RCM Etudes 4) REC
3. Haydn, Gipsy Dance (Alfred’s Exploring 3) REC
4. Bartok, Children’s Song (Alfred’s Exploring 3) REC
5. Le Couppey, ABC du piano no. 14 (Pianist 88)
6. Stanford, Lullaby, Six Sketches no. 5 (Pianist 88) REC
7. Rhené-Baton, A Little Song (Alfred’s Exploring 3) REC
8. J.S. Bach, Minuet in B Minor, BWV 814 no. 5 REC
9. Maykapar, Quiet Morning, Op. 33 no. 13 (Pianist 88) REC
10. Schubert, Waltz in C (D. Gray - Classical Duets)
11. Mozart, Lullaby in F (D. Gray - Classical Duets)
12. Schumann, Waltz in G (D. Gray - Classical Duets)
13. Weber, Arioso (D. Gray - Classical Duets)
14. Schubert, Waltz in F (D. Gray - Classical Duets)
15. Weber, Minuet in Bb (D. Gray - Classical Duets)
16. Bartok, Under the Tree (For Children, vol. 2 no. 3)
17. Schubert, Ecossaise in G Major (from D 145)
18. Czerny, Etude in G Major, Op. 823 no. 53 (RCM Etudes 4)
19. Gillock, A Faded Letter (RCM Etudes 5) REC
20. J.F. Dandrieu, Gavotte en Rondeau (Alfred’s Exploring 3) REC
21. Kabalevsky, Prelude, Op. 39 no. 19 (RCM Etudes 5)
22. Beethoven, German Dance (Alfred’s Exploring 3) REC
23. Glinka, Russian Dance (Alfred’s Exploring 3) REC

Remchi, congratulations on your recordings, you're playing beautifully and with ease and confidence. How you can do that after two months, I don't know. My recordings are much slower and inaccurate, and I've been learning for 4 years. Just wow.

sinophilia, thanks. Well I got a funny story. When I was in elementary school I desperately wanted to play piano, but I didn't have an instrument and there was no possibility to buy one. So I took some textbook on piano, draw keyboard on paper and tried to learn it this way. Surprisingly I failed and then a little bit later music teacher in my school told me that I've got no sense of rhythm and no voice so I can forget about music, because - no talent. And I forgot till now. Maybe that paper-drawn keyboard is the reason

So thank you for kind words, they encourage me a lot.

And I listened to all your recorded pieces - you play beautifully. Hope I'll be there in 4 years.

14. Dennis Alexander : Reflections
from RCM Celebration Series Piano Repertoire Level 4

https://youtu.be/M2ippvsnFyY

Welcome aboard, Remchi. I listened/watched your recordings. You are doing a lot of things right, very impressive for only 2 months. Keep up the good work.

Sinophilia, I really liked both of your dances, particularly the Glinka. And, your piano sounds really nice.

Well done, scorpio, that was nice.

Thanks for recording and posting, everyone. I really like listening and watching.

Happy pianoing, all.

...
21. Moonlight Sonata (1st Mov) (Beethoven) (AR)
22. Strawberry Malt (Faber) (OC)
23. French Minuet (Lully) (OF)
24. Mazurka In F Major (Faber) (OC)
25. The Spy (Faber) (OC)
26. Silver Rain Etude (Faber) (OC)
27. Polka (Primo) (Hummel) (OF)
28. Dance in F Major (Mozart) (OF)
29. Minuet in C Major (Mozart) (OF)
30. Mazurka (Szymanowska) (OF)
31. Springtime (BrianDX) (OC)
32. In The Garden (Gurlitt) (OF)
33. Soldier's March (Schumann) (OF)
34. Happy Farmer (Schumann) (OF)
35. Old French Song (Tchaikovsky) (OF)

Latest list with four pieces added. Not perfected mind you but they are under the fingers.

2016 Piano pieces learned
1. Don't know much (Mann, Web, & Snow arranged by Phillip Keveren)
2. The Rose (McBroom arranged by Dan Coates)
3. Prelude in B Minor Op. 28, No. 6(Chopin)
4. Toccatina Op 27, no 12, Kabalevsky (RCM Level 6 etudes)
5. You are so beautiful (Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher arranged by Phillip Keveren)
6. Fantasia in E Minor, (Georg Philipp Telemann)
7. Musetta’s Waltz (Giacomo Puccini arranged by Phillip Keveren)
8. Toccatina, op 27, no 12 (Dmitri Kabalevsky)
9. Air in D Minor HWV 461 (George Handel)
10. Minuet in D Minor BWV Anh 132 (J.S. Bach)
11. Rigadoon in A Minor (William Babell)
12. Mandy (Barry Manilow arranged by Phillip Keveren)
13. Sarabande French Suite #1 (J.S. Bach)
14. Holy Ground (Christopher Beatty)
15. As the Deer (Martin Nystrom)
16. Viennese Sonatina #6 Allegro (W.A. Mozart)
17. Viennese Sonatina #6 Menuetto (W. A. Mozart)
18. Viennese Sonatine #6 Adagio (W. A. Mozart)
19. Sonatina Op. 55, No. 2 (F. Kuhlau)
20. The Twelfth of Never (J. Livingston)
21. Fluttering Leaves Op 46, no 11 (Stephen Heller)
22. Cry Me a River (Arthur Hamilton arranged by Mike Springer)
23. As Time Goes By (Herman Hupfeld arranged by Bernadine Johnson)
24. Stardust (Hoagy Carmichael arranged by Preston Keys)