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

Those are some wonderful achievements SwissMs!

Congratulations!

Well, they say learning and instrument, a new language, or giving up retirement keeps you young. I and still learning what feels like a new instrument every time I start practice, am linguistically challenged even in my mother tongue, but can attest to the third suggestion. Mind you there is another saying that I feel is appropriate - Never worked and never will. Although we have never worked harder in our lives, it remains a joy to be involved with what we have created. But to get back on topic, I had the best lesson ever last week. The first after about 8 weeks by now. I really had only played about 2 hrs after an extended absence so really wondered about even going and I am so glad I did. Beethoven's Sonata No15 is almost there. Into the last 10% was what my teacher proclaimed. Phew! Now for the fun bit.

I started the Aria from the Goldburg Variations for a change of pace and was pretty pleased with my weeks work on it. A lesson helped simplify bars 21 and 23 with the really funny squiggles, which different people on Youtube play differently! But now I'm out of town so practice time is down. I know I could have nailed it this week. Will have to skip a lesson too so maybe I'll be back on track by then.

My AOTW is resuming lessons after almost two months off. It's good to get back to lessons, though (sigh) they never get easier nerves-wise.

I hear you Stubbie! I have THREE months off every year and it drives me absolutely insane. I won't get back to my teacher for another six weeks.

My AOTW was to see that my new pieces have not fallen apart after a week away from the piano (traveling for a little holiday). In fact they sounded pretty good.
I am pleased.

I have also found that these pieces are giving me more scope for being expressive - or maybe I've just picked up new skills that are letting me make the music sing in a fuller, more stirring way. Whatever the case, again, I am pleased.

I's great that you're becoming more secure in your technique! But beware of playing OVER-expressively. There are examples on YouTube of concert pianists performing horribly over-wrought versions of a 'lollipop' like 'Minuet in G. They seem to find it hard to accept its simplicity. As we say when an actor is doing too much 'acting' - trust your material.

Thanks! Your point is well taken. I've seen /heard some over-the-top performances too. I don't think I'm at risk for the moment simply because I am just starting to feel able to give a bit more For the future, I will trust that my own sense of good taste will keep me on track --- not to mention the fact that my teacher will be quick to set me straight should I even be tempted to get carried away!

oh, and btw... I'm actually working on 2 minuets in G (though they aren't my newest pieces).

My AOTW is that on returning to the 40 piece challenge after neglecting it horribly between March and June, I've seen a dramatic improvement in my ability to get to grips with easier (for me) pieces.
Last year I took a bunch of my pieces for the challenge from Classics to Moderns Book 2, and they took me typically 1-2 weeks to get acceptable for the challenge.
This year I stepped up to Book 3, and over the last couple of weeks I've got a number of them to the "acceptable" point in 2-4 days, along with a couple of pieces from Faber Jazz & Blues Level 4 in a similar timeframe. Now admittedly I have also prioritised the challenge so the pieces are getting more time per day than the Book 2 pieces that were taking 1-2 weeks last year.
All the same, it's definitely the case that I'm taking material that's a bit more challenging, and I'm getting it basically playable more quickly, which is really encouraging.

Excellent! Trust your musicianship, and trust the composer.

After all, you're hardly an 'adult beginner' any more. You've been posting here as long as I can remember. Time to graduate? :-)

Well..... technically, having started to play as an adult, I will always be an adult beginner.

On the other hand, it is true, I am not at a beginner level anymore.

I am certainly not Pianist Corner material either.

I am just one of the many who will continue to hang out here because it is the friendliest place to be.

It is a comfort to know there are those of like mind out there!

I am off to my next lesson later today and I think things have changed quite dramatically lately. I am going with very specific questions for help in several pieces I am working on. It isn't just a weekly 'progress report' anymore and worrying about what Teacher thinks.
It's more about what I want to achieve and where I have got stuck. I probably can work through on my own but I know that he will immediately have a solution or suggestion that will make such a difference I'll hardly believe it. Guess that's why I pay the guy!

Palmpirate I hear you! There's not always a good reason to struggle with figuring out something when you know that your teacher can sort you , and it, out in a flash.


My AOTW is that I played, for an audience.....and did really welll. I have NEVER played so well with someone listening.

It was my friend who helped me pick out my piano . We have decided to work on a duet, so he came over to work on it.

Before trying the duet he said he wanted to hear me play.

I played my Diabelli sonatina, 3 minuets, my 2 new pieces and Morning prayer.

I played so well that my husband came into the room to double-check who was playing. He said he'd never heard me play so well. (And he hasn't !)

My friend hadn't heard me play for about six months and he was impressed .

I am tickled pink. I feel this is a significant breakthrough.

Cas, that has got to feel just wonderful! Congratulations! That kind of experience is like a booster rocket that puts you in orbit. Enjoy!

Wow! Cas, that's great!!!

Congratulations Casinitaly! That is quite a long program to play for an audience, and it sounds like you did fantastic!

CasinItaly, that made me smile very widely. Congratulations, that must be a great feeling!
What got me excited (like so many others here) is returning to lessons but even more than that, two things:
- with my teacher, a plan to work towards overcoming my performance anxiety
- and he has me moved me on to Grade 8 pieces :-) :-) :-)

The first is Mozart K309, starting with the Rondeau which I'm coping with very well.

So - I'm back to where I left off 38 years ago. Perhaps I will get to be good by the time I'm 60 after all.

Congrats C. Sounds like you have really made a big transition in playing for other people. All those recitals and EPP's are paying off bigtime, as they should, in allowing you to relax and let your musicality come through. Sono molto felice per te!!

My AOTW is getting back to the bench after nearly three weeks away from the piano. Vacationed hiking and sightseeing across six western states. Had a fantastic time, culminating in my favorite niece's wedding in the Seattle area. It took a few days to get the Liszt and Bach pieces back to where they were, but the layoff has me hearing it better than before.... hoping that also translates into the playing as I resume work with my teacher this week.

I haven't contributed much around here lately, but I still read all of the posts.

Jim

Three year pianoversary is today.

Boy those three years have gone by fast. Started at age 57, now I'm 60. Have probably played 500+ pieces of all sorts in that time frame.

Started with playing Mary Had a Little Lamb, just finished a Beethoven Sonatina in original form.

Goes to show what happens when you combine a great teacher, relentless work ethic, a great instrument, and spousal support.

And yes... The ABF has helped me along as well