PianoTell Recital #1 Is Now Live!

Nightowl
Your playing isn't "below standard," you're exactly right on the money for your playing level. You get the feedback you deserve based on your playing, not because anyone is fluffing you. That would be a cruel thing to do to anyone.

The arrangements in the method books are meant to teach, not play for entertainment. That's why they're awkward and don't sound very good. You only need to practice them until you can play them all the way through and have learned the technique they're teaching with that piece. That means being able to play 75-80% of a piece without mistakes, at tempo, is good enough to move on.

I believe that a piano student should be doing 3 things:

1. Their lesson pieces on a weekly or semi monthly basis, 75-80% learned and played to tempo.
2. A performance piece that can be learned and polished to PW/PT recital submission quality within 2-3 months.
3. A stretch piece that can take as long as 6-8 months to learn and polish which can be played without mistakes at a "formal" recital. (Not that you have to do that, just be able to play it to that standard.)

You're trying to make your lessons pieces into #2 and #3. It's not necessary or desirable to do that. Learn what the lesson piece teaches and move on at a consistent pace. For #2; find something just a bit beyond where you are and split 2 or 3 sessions per week for both your lesson and this piece. The stretch piece is supposed to be special and something you really want to learn to play. You have to do a little bit of research to find something in this category because you have to gauge your playing progress and then project where you think you'll be in 5-6 months so you will have most of the skills to play the piece you select. This is hard but not impossible. You have to add 1 or 2 extra sessions per week for this one.

So, a plan emerges. You're (I think) around midway through book 2. Look at the last piece in the book. You can start learning the original score for that if you want, or find something equal to it by checking all of the internet sources for similar grade level pieces. That's your #3. You have 6-8 months to learn it. By the time you do, you'll be at or near the end of your Alfred's book so the timing will be right.

Now look through your supplemental books and find something midway through one of those. That's your #2 piece. This should be equivalent to 3 or 4 lessons pieces ahead of where you are. You can also check the various internet sources for grade level stuff to find something in this range if there's nothing appealing in your supplemental books.

If you get stuck, ask for recommendations. There is so much knowledge here that not taking advantage of it is almost a crime. For instance, I think you could easily learn the original score of Bach's Minuet in G Major (Petzold) by Thanksgiving if you put your mind to it, certainly by the end of the year even if you got lazy in your practice sessions.

This got too long winded. Sorry.

Nightowl
Thanks for your comment. I spent a few months away from home. Came home exhausted with jet lag. I've been working on the pieces I submitted to online recitals before but nothing new. I didn't expect to participate in an online recital until I came across the Air in D minor by Henry Purcell.
Practiced it for a few days on a Yamaha keyboard at a slightly slower tempo. After the first recording decided to redo it at the conservatory where I have my lessons at the current tempo. Sounded just right.

Nightowl Well played and the lyrics made me smile. I enjoyed the first verse but was less keen on the imagery conjured up by the second verse - it really made me cringe, but no doubt it would make children laugh. Thanks for an entertaining performance.

My original version had a lot more blood! I think the lyrics were something like "his finger fit with ease / and blood splattered the keys" It looks like I made the right choice!

Sophia WOW!!!! For a moment I thought I had entered the movie Toy Story - I love, LOVE, LOVE that theme. Your singing has improved SO MUCH, wow, a HUGE leap from the previous recital. And the piano complemented it so nicely... I could listen to that type of music for hours! Love the lyrics too, did I mention it should be used in a movie? And who can help but smile back when a performance ends with such a happy smile... loved it from start to finish!

Aw thank you! I want to smile more, but I'm afraid of ruining my mouth shape that I've been working so hard at. It's like I have cotton balls in my mouth. Hopefully soon I'll figure out how to sing and have human expressions at the same time!

PS check out Trout Fishing in America. It sounds like it's up your alley. Here are a couple more bangers:
My Hair Had a Party Last Night
The Window
Sam's Last Boogie

Nightowl Thanks P1, I think you're right, I do tend to linger too long on some pieces. I can play the piece a little faster, but when I do that the mistakes happen. I feel that playing it so slowly makes it sound a bit dirge-like and in truth it's a bit painful to listen to - something I should not really inflict on people! My recital is way below the standard of all the other submissions, but that is understandable as most of them have been playing much longer than me - some of them have played for decades! Everyone is very kind though, so it's a positive experience for me.

It might make you happy to hear that everyone cringes listening to themselves. I certainly do. I hear all the silly mistakes I wish I hadn't made unless I force myself to be less critical. The good news is if you keep doing it, the mistakes seem less harsh, and you can start enjoying what you produce. Also, your recordings become like a diary, and you can listen to old recordings and hear how much progress you've made over time. Also, my enjoyment of listening to these kinds of recitals is very different from my enjoyment of hearing a professional. I am not super interested in immaculate, perfectly recorded pieces. I like hearing people who have made progress through struggle.

twocats you made me laugh out loud with your special lyrics! But seriously, I'm so impressed that you improvised all that AND sang along.

Thank you! I had finally gotten a handle on improvising, but singing is really putting my brain on overdrive, so I'm glad you recognize my struggle!