Here's the group of people who have committed to practice an hour a day in February. Lesson and recital time do not count.

It was a little hard to tell who was in and who was taking a pass, what with the Markb's Calvin Klein underwear poses and all the rap speak. Add yourself to the list if I omitted you.

***********************

Cindy
Markjps
Dgoddard
JerryLuke
SAS
ScottPrell
SusieQ

*blushing* Yes, I did participate in the rap speak but was unclear about my intention to participate...how embarrassing!

Cindy
Markjps
Dgoddard
JerryLuke
SAS
ScottPrell
SusieQ
AngelJade

I'll decide if I'm in by February 27th.

ah, cindy, 1680 hours = 100800 minutes or 70 days!

Now where did I put that Flux Capacitor? hmmmmm

In that case, I'm out.

Man! I am smokin!

I am almost 13% of the way to 1680!

215 minutes today!

so far that is! MuWaHaHa! MuWaHAHA!!! MUWAHAHA!!!!!!

Looks like the only way I'll be able to compete is to flat-out cheat.

Well, a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do . . .

I was pretty happy I got in 70 minutes today. I think that's a record for me. I am so gonna lose. Cindy, how's that cheating thing work?

Cindy
Markjpc[/b]s
Dgoddard
JerryLuke
SAS
ScottPrell
SusieQ
AngelJade

Good luck, guys! I'm gonna pass on this one! The next season of American Idol has started... Uh, what I meant was, there is this really great new educational show on the History Channel that I must watch! I follow that show with one on the National Geographic Channel...

A very well-read and highly educated tk signing off!

I know you have a higher sense of ethics than that Cindy! You are not fooling anyone.

You would only cheat yourself after all!

I know what you mean, SAS.

:lowers voice:

Don't these people have to work for a living or anything?

I do! I do have to work for a living! I just work about 20 feet from my piano!

Well, you'd better watch it in March, Mark. Yeah. Uh-huh. I'm coming after you in March.

:slinks away:

Seriously, I remember a long time ago you mentioned that your practice many hours per day. Now that I can actually see you (and the other Serious Practicers) doing it, it creates an all-new sensation of awe.

Kind of like the sensation of awe I get when I see Fitty Cent's tattoos.

Cindy -- going to bed. Really.

g'nite Cindy.

I think I can do that. I got off to a good start yesterday. Count me in.
Cindy
Markjpcs
Dgoddard
JerryLuke
SAS
ScottPrell
SusieQ
AngelJade
leebea

Now wait a minute. What's all this talk about losing? At the beginning of this thread, the bet was about averaging 60 minutes a day. I consider the outcome totally binary. At 60.01 minutes a day, I WIN! At 59.99 minutes a day, I demand a recount and take it to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Doug

:D

Has anyone noticed that posting volume has dropped precipitously around here? People could cut out any other activity (reading, TV, sleep, nookie) to make time for more piano, but they cut back on AB forum. Bummer!

I've just been focusing my efforts on launching my hip-hop career.

I've been busy at work (yes, some of us like Cindy and I have real jobs!), and just got back from girl's night out, so not much posting or practicing. I hope I make it through this month! 70 minutes yesterday, 30 today. I better get busy or I won't make it. And I'll LOSE! ARRGGHH!!!

Cindy: Not sure I'll make it this month. Just had a appendectomy yesterday! Hopefully, we'll try again in March.

I'll see if I can make up my practice time next week in order to stay on track at an average of 1 hour per day...

Good heavens, Scott! You just had surgery, and you're able to even get to the computer?

Everything OK?

Bummer Scott - take care of your self.

Take care Scott! I'm sure Markjpcs will donate some of his minutes while you are out of commission.

Doug

I would like to be in. Where do I log my time?

Cindy
Markjpcs
Dgoddard
JerryLuke
SAS
ScottPrell
SusieQ
AngelJade
leebe
Frank R

Here you go Frank.

http://www.pcsincnet.com/PW_Practice_Club/

Mark

Thanks Mark,

I'm there.

OMG, markjpcs!!!
970 minutes as of 2.4.05!

In 3 or 4 more days you'll have finished the challange. Where do you find all this time?

At this rate you're going to CRUSH the competition and end Feb. with 5820!!!

Actually, the whole leader list is pretty amazing so far. A little compulsive, are we?

Doug

A little!

I am trying to get motivated to hit 1,000 before midnight!

Cool - go for it. I wish i could get that much time in.

YES!

40 minutes in under the wire for a total of 1,010!

My required festival piece is really coming along thanks to all this practice!

I'm back in the saddle after my surgery. In fact, got the piano tuned today! Rarin' to go for Feb.!

I, for one, can't believe how fast my pieces are coming along with all this practice...although I can't put in as much time as some of you! *bows, chants "i am not worthy"...*

This challenge has become a real motivator. I feel compelled to practice at least an hour a day in order to make the 1680 minutes that I committed to. Great idea! How mny others are maybe practicing a little more than they otherwise would have were it not for the challenge?

Me!

Do you think an IV and a catheter installed by the piano would be too much??

Perhaps if it were enclosed in a tasteful French polish ebony case...

LOL!

While doing my 2 hour session this morning I asked one of my daughters to refill my coffee cup. I then jokingly asked if she could bring me the porta-potty!

I heard Beethoven's wife (must be a tale since he didn't have one) drew the line at a porta potty!

Compulsive? Who me? Just ask any member of my family and they will tell you that couldn't possible be so. Competitive? Yes! Haven't checked this morning to see what the standings are. Too many chores!

Here is my "self talk" every time I pull up the standings:

Not looking at the top 2.

Not counting the top 2.

Don't look up to the top of the list.

The top 2 don't count.

You're not like them.

You are exceeding your goal by 2 minutes.

Twelfth place is not bad.

Cindy is way ahead of me.

Twelfth place is not bad.

I changed the calculation for the Daily Average.

It will not advance the number of days until after 1:00 pm. This way you will see a more accurate average. It used to turn over at midnight.

I need to make some additional changes to the interface and hope to get to them sometime this week.

Jerry:

Ooooh, there's a ranking now! Great idea, Mark. I gotta tell ya, I'm getting obsessed with watching the horse race between Mark and Teachum. He has her by something like 3 minutes at the moment. Too close to call!

The rankings have given me an idea for something we could do in March, if you guys think it would be fun. Here's how it would work . . .

Let's say Mark and Teachum finish first and second in February. They will be the captains of their respective teams. Mark will be captain of the team consisting of everyone with an odd number ranking at the end of February, and Teachum will take the even numbered players.

New players and people who did not participate in February will be assigned to a team randomly by our Master of Ceremonies Markb, unless he can be coaxed onto a team himself.

The team that finishes March with the most practice time will be the March champion and will win . . . well, nothing really. Unless someone thinks of something, anyway.

Sound like fun?

BTW, I'm awfully impressed the Unsung Heroes, too. There are several of you who are handling 90 minutes a day without missing a beat: Cathy, Susie, Andi, Frank, and NewPianoPlayer. Dang!

As for me, I have new motivation. I'd like to play in the Adult Music Students' recital in April, which will require me to be ready with a new piece. I'd better take it up a notch to get there . . .

MC Markb would accept such an assignment. Would this entail having to wear a tux?

Cindy,

Are you implying that I am odd[/b] or not even[/b] keeled?

Sounds like it could be fun, Cindy! And don't forget folks, for all of us playing regularly, that's the real prize. I am the first to admit I am a bit obsessive. FOrtunately I don't have any where near the problem poor Howard did. Referring to Aviator!

Teachum - I think I share some of your obsessive qualities. At first I thought it was new pianoitis but its been nearly 2 years since we got it and my obsession hasn't waned a bit. Today I'm sicker than a dog in bed but managed to stumble downstairs and play for a bit more than an hour. Was totally exhausted and just stumbled back into bed.

Cathy

I'm not using Mark's database (sorry, I already type in my log on a non-internet connected computer as I practice) - but I'm at 1167 minutes so far this month. looks like mark is kicking my a**

Log your time!

You are in 3rd place!

I didn't know this was a race

I think I did (but may have been in a delirious state and just thought I did).

I know; it looks like apple is slacking (jk - apple) but man Mark you sure have turned it on.

Cathy

where do you compare people's times.. Is there a chart?

Apple - When you first log in there are two links toward the top in red. One is to view other logs, the other is to view total time for the month for everyone.

Cathy

PS Was just kidding in earlier post

Apple, as soon as you log in, you click on "Time Total."
Here's the URL:
February Time Chart

Eh, it's a race only for those for whom racing helps with motivation. For most of us, it's not a race.

Cindy -- not telling whether she's racing, but way irked that Doug just bumped her out of 8th place

I just wasn't thinking race..

MARK!!! is that
Mighty Avalanche Opus 25 #12?

that is fun to practic!. Right now I'm Baching. I have a piece - Fugue for Organ transcribed by Lizst that I work on off and on.. It's like a difficult fugue only it's 10 pages long and it ends in thundering Liszt fashion with crashing octaves..... that I work on occasionally.. I alternate it with 25/12 which is why I mentioned it. I have this circle of 4ths thing I'm learning that would make a great etude... If I create a piece, I record it on the tape recorder and will 'write' it down when I get an electric and a software program. I'm off on that tangent while concentrating on the left hand, with it's two voices, of the fugue #14 from WTC 2.

Just in case anyone is interested.

I feel myself flagging - Mark is pulling away.

No worries teachum!

I am off to hear Katie play in the jazz band. They are having a spaghetti dinner so I will be away for a couple of hours.

Yes, Mark. What is this monster beast of a piece you're doing? I want to listen to it on ClassicalArchives.

Unless, uh, you're ready to upload a recording of it . . .

should be Chopin Etude Opus 25 #12.

It's nothing really. It's a required piece. I will record it soon. It is pretty fast but not too terribly difficult.

The one I am most worried about is the Prelude in E minor. I know it's a relatively easy piece but it is full of nuance and I am obsessed with getting that aspect of it right.

My goal is to make the judge shed a tear.

apple,

I have not worked on that at all. I want to but I need to get through the festival first. I have also been busy going over some other pieces that I have been neglecting since Mr. Chopin stole all my time on the piano.

I have been re-learning/polishing:

Beethoven:
Moonlight Sonata 1st and 2nd Movement.
Pathetique 2nd and 3rd Movement

Joplin
Maple Leaf Rag

Mozart
Sonata k545 1st 2nd and 3rd Movements.

I used to know all of those from memory except the 2nd movement of the moonlight sonata that I never knew at all and the Maple Leaf Rag which I only knew the first page from memory.

The 3rd movement of the Pathetique is a monster!

dadedade dadedade dadedade DangDang

If it's a race, I haven't left the start line yet! I am getting my a** kicked. I know it's early in the month but I just don't think I can get in more than 30 minutes a day on a regular basis. Too many other fun things to do. I haven't thrown in the towel yet, but it's getting close!

Mark - I'm sure you can make the judge cry. That is just about my favorite piece! My dog cries everytime I play it. So I play it over and over because I am sick and sadistic!

SAS - It's really not a race!

Here is the required piece called Mighty Avalanche.

http://www.pcsincnet.com/music/MightyAvalanche.mp3

and the Prelude in E Minor.

http://www.pcsincnet.com/music/PreludeEMinor.mp3

Oh yeah, I will hit 1680 minutes tomorrow sometime.

I never heard the MIghty Avalanche.. I know the Prelude... Is that you playing it?

Yes

I recorded my last practice session.

Mark - you play both pieces beautifully. How long have you been playing?

Thanks SusieQ!

I have been playing a total of about 13.5 years. Only the last two have I had any formal training. Everything before that was self taught.

You are doing awesome. thank you for recording and posting.

very nice Mark..

Thank you apple!

it's so hard to record.. just like having an audience.

It's different though. I get a buzz when playing in front of people. Cordogan's party was a new experience for me and I was floating on air during the performance and after I played. The buzz lasted a long time afterward. I think I still feel some of it!

Recording is just frustrating!

Mark, I like the Avalanche. Fabulous. How hard is it, would you say?

I think I'd like to try that Chopin Prelude. I have the music and I've goofed off with it a few times, but I've never put my back into it.

Again, beautiful job!

It is not too difficult. I tend to rush getting things up to speed so I had to back off the speed for about two or three days to get everything as even as possible. It still needs a bit of work IMO.

Thanks!

By the way...

1680 minutes was reached at 4:27pm c.s.t today!

Congratulations, Mark!

Now, can you help me out? I can't seem to log my time for today in the database. I keep getting the message, "your record was not added successfully please try again."

Are the gremlins too worn out from recording your minutes that they can't handle my measly little ones? Please straighten them out.

Make sure you don't have a blank entry for any of the date fields.

Other than that can you take a screen shot and email it to me?

PM me if all else fails.

Mark, again thank you for sharing your beautiful work. Makes me want to practice more and harder so I can get out of "Adult Preschool" and up to the "Adult Beginner" level.

Mark,
I filled in all the date fields (they were all filled in). Still the same error message. How do I take a screen shot and send it to you?

CG

Mac or PC?

Mac command(apple)-shift-4 produces a picture file on your desktop. OS X produces a pdf file. just email that to me.

PC hmmm, thats a good one. Try ctrl-print-Scrn if you have one.

I do not use a PC daily so maybe someone who does can comment?

shift+print scr

This copies it to the clipboard. Paste it into Wordpad or Notepad and save it as a file. Then attach it to an email.

Irfanview (the link below) is freeware program that does a LOT of things nicely, including screen shots (CtrlF11 puts it on the clipboard and then you can save that as jpg, gif, tiff or about 130 other formats. ) I know it works on PC, don't have any idea if the Apple's can use it or even need it.


http://www.irfanview.com/


Jerry has changed his tune a bit. When I PM'ed him with the same problem he told me to hit [Ctrl][Alt][Delete] twice and "all your problems will go away" . Ya suppose that horse that horse screwed Jerrys hat on too tightly? :p

Bob

Sounds like fun! I'll wait until the Estonia arrives, however . . .

No, I said all of MY problems would go away. (I'm kidding!)

Thanks for the help Jerry and Bob! I didn't need to send the screen to Mark this time, but if it happens again, I know what to do. FWIW, I was able to enter my time today with no problems.

Jerry, looks like we're holding up the middle of the group along with plays88. Solid, stable, reliable, priorities in place. The world needs us.

Excellent perspective! We stand shoulder-to-shoulder, in the spirit of the contest, dedicated to achieving balance in our lives and in the 1680 contest. I am in great company.