PianoTell Recital #2 Is Now Live!
HeartKeys No problem. You can say whatever you're thinking. I'm still on a break from lessons so my last two recorded pieces I learned without any teacher feedback. Also, I keep waffling on how to record and so I constantly feel biased by the sound and need to know if it's in need of adjustment (to have more reasons to obsess over it). Now I'm starting to post multiple versions since I can't figure out what I'm doing.
WieWaldi β Quick Five Blues
Nice job with your playing of this piece. It's very easy to enjoy so I actually caught myself listening to this more than a few times. A nice recorded sound that you're getting from the upright sample and I think it's a sensible choice for the style.
I love how you present this performance in your video. It's an ideal camera angle to watch you play and the added bonus of the top-down keys. And I want you to know that I noticed how you match the blue text and the blue color used for the keys. 
Can you share what software you use to capture the keys?
Nightowl β What A Wonderful World
Nice job on your progress in your first year of playing. Even more so since you've done this on your own without a teacher. When I listen to you play, I hear the vocals right along with your melody. I think you do a nice job capturing the spirit of this classic.
rogerch β Slow Steps
You play beautifully and it shows that your playing comes from an inspired place or from a source that was pleasing to your ear. I want to take a similar direction but every time I want to work on improvisation or original content I slide back into the deep backlog of music I want to learn. Oh well, it's not like it's a problem either way.
I wonder what your thought process is regarding what style you will improvise in or how to approach rhythm? Is that something that you specifically work on?
thepianoplayer416 β When You Wish Upon a Star
Oh this is nice. And once again I have piano envy with this nice instrument you're playing. A nice touch to include the lyrics that follow the melody as you play. I wasn't quite inspired to sing along but the option was there. 
Sam β The Never Finished Piece
That was gorgeous. Especially the last section until the end. Having heard it again now, I think the piece unfolds beautifully from the beginning. I didn't get to hear this on PW since I was away during that time.
I strongly believe in this kind of creative process where you continue to return to something over time and there is a continuous evolution. While this is sounding like a mature work that you can be proud of, I bet it's still satisfying to return to it from time to time. The recording can at least serve as a completed work for this point in time.
MarieJ β Waltz in F minor
Ah, this is really relaxing. I think the piece gains a lot of depth starting around 1:30. It went from relaxing to interesting and then mysterious before returning to the opening material. Overall there's lots of introspection going on here. Nice work with the art and movie production and I also appreciate you sharing the production process a bit. I return to going solo somewhat recently and I love the freedom to play whatever I want and take as long as I want. I'm sure I'll return to lessons again eventually but honestly I mostly like having an ally and an opportunity to perform.
Player1 β Ashokan Farewell
You know your progress is going well when you quickly pick up a piece that used to be too difficult. Nice job learning this one in a short time!
I couldn't give it a second listen because the ads on that platform were kinda brutal.
Pathbreaker I love how you present this performance in your video. It's an ideal camera angle to watch you play and the added bonus of the top-down keys. And I want you to know that I noticed how you match the blue text and the blue color used for the keys.
Can you share what software you use to capture the keys?
Thank you for your kind words, and listening more than once is the biggest compliment. Thanks for noticing the matching colors, I really did. Color code is 00A5FF, blue like Blues. The software I use is called MIDIculous. I don't want to hijack this thread with details, but you can find more details in this one: WieWaldi
iternabe - O mio babbino caro - Your interpretation using a singer's point of view has raised a simple Faber arrangement to something extraordinary. Well done!
keff - Over the Rainbow - A stunning arrangement and very well played. I love the sophisticated chord voicing.
MarieJ - Waltz in F minor - What a delightful waltz perfectly accompanied by the moving ballerina pictures.
javiercorre β Sonatas K. 208 and K. 380. Wow - Iβm sure you simply nailed your recital/exam with performances like these. Iβm so impressed with the outstanding progress youβve made in just 5 years!
SalmonJack β Bliss Ten. (My comments are over in PianoWorld.)
rsl12 β I am the very model of a modern Major-General. That WAS very fun, rsl12! I thought the piano overwhelmed the voice a little at times - microphone placement? How amazing that you were able to learn the piano part in just 3 weeks, and present the whole package so professionally. Take a bow!
Sgisela β Do Tebe (to you). Iβm so glad he did, too. That was an absolute treat in every respect - the appealing composition, the beautiful setting, your magnificent Estonia - oh, and did I mention a superb performance? Standing ovation!
ShiroKuro β Reminiscence. Nooo β¦ donβt take it off the program! I didnβt hear any mistakes and itβs such a beautiful piece. Superbly played, as always, on your pristine C2 - I loved it.
Pathbreaker β Larghetto. (My comments are over in PianoWorld.)
diretonic β Chega de Saudade (No More Blues). A pleasing arrangement and a great performance, diretonic! I hope that your arthritis is manageable and not limiting your enjoyment of the piano.
navindra β The Entertainer. Memories! But it never sounded as good as this when I tried to play it - and I never looked as good performing it, either! 
Youβve put in an enormous amount of work to bring out the best audio and visual elements, Navindra - a treat!
keff What a delightful and surprising arrangement of an old classic! Great sounding piano too. I really enjoyed your delicate interpretation and how harmoniously you played this. 
Pathbreaker Very interesting piece, I wasn't familiar with it, so thanks for sharing and well done! I enjoyed your storytelling.
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Beach L168, Wish, baCh, WOW Petrof, Fake Steinway, VS
TIME
HeartKeys Go for it!
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BicBic Interesting! It's clearly Scriabin, but I haven't heard a Scriabin piece this slow. I think it's in better shape than maybe you think. I like your phrasing and you apply rubato well. I personally would try and lighten the right hand when the left has the melody. But as it is, I enjoyed listening!
javiercorre K208: so warm and confident. I really like the trill at the end. K380: really beautiful. The time and effort you put into both sonatas really shows. How did the recital go?
plop_symphony - The Midnight Ball - Great job on that! I tend to get obsessed over grade level, but the most rewarding sign of progress is what you expressed - where a piece comes together easily after being unable to play it in the past. You made that lively piece look effortless.
Rubens From the first measures I knew my ears were in good hands. Your performance was rich, clear, and warm. I listened before reading your description, and felt the same thing you seem to have intended--great sudden despair, followed by hope. Thank you for sharing the piece and working so hard on it!
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Cratersmash Sounds like fun. The way you play is very exciting! Are you playing this for a performance? It's a lot to have memorized. You're understandably playing very percussive in the first section, but I'd like to hear more smoothness in melody. The second part is much nicer with the smoothness, but I'd prefer an even softer touch (easier said than done, I know). Allegro section: The whole thing sounds difficult. I hate playing repeated notes! The build-up to fff is a little too soon for my taste. In general, you're much better at playing fff than ppp (I was the same when I was younger) so I would work on the softer sections more. Thanks for sharing, I hope you participate more on this site!
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Thanks! I bought my digital piano on a whim, without knowing where it will lead me. Iβm glad 10 months later I am still enjoying the journey. Having furry listeners is a must!
Smaller battles are easier to win! And thanks to Faber for arranging study materials that way. One of the YT teachers I follow said something to the effect that itβs best to just love whatever piece on the music stand and try to play it as beautiful as one can. I take that advice to heart.
Thank you for listening and your very kind words!
Thank you! I set the camera in a way to best show my wrist/hand/fingers to spot any problems (and it has!) So itβs a nice bonus that people seem to like the video end product, too. Itβs in fact not difficult to setup at all with OBS software. I mounted all my camera permanently, so I can always record by simply pushing one button.
In the first recording, every note was exactly on the beat. Also there was a lack of connection/flow between notes. It sounded percussive when I listened to it. So I paid more attention to the legato, and in the second phrase, I tightened the first measure just a little and lengthened the second measureβs long note to have some push and pull in rhythm. I am glad you feel the effect subtle - it felt more when I was playing, which seem to corroborate some forum post that sometimes one need to exaggerate to make the effect come out just right.
Thank you. Keeping the left hand soft is something βLetβs Play Piano Methodβ YT teacher always saying. It does not come natural for me. And I still find myself not doing it enough when listening to play back during practice.
plop_symphony iternabe β O mio babbino caro
Wow, that's a really nice piano sound. It seems like you're very good at controlling your touch.
Itβs Pianoteqβs BΓΆsendorfer straight out of the box. I like the sound, too.
When I started the companion book, I did not expect to play every piece in it. But then I quickly realized finishing method book one and being able to play level one pieces are not the same thing. The challenges in each short piece just pulled me in. I am really glad I learned them all.
I have just started Faberβs Adult Piano Adventures All-in-One Book 2. The journey continues!
Thanks! I am a fan of Faberβs arrangements, too!
Sgisela I listened again to your Pianoworld Recital #71 recording, and I agree that this recording is better. I felt mystery, drama, and introspection.
To me it almost sounds Latin, though I'm not sure why--it doesn't have characteristics I associate with any of the Latin jazz styles. But it has the drama of a Tango.
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