PianoTell Recital #3 — Meta Feedback

rsl12 Congratulations on finishing the book! Are you moving on to boogie-woogie finally?

Thanks! Actually, technically I haven't finished it yet. There is still a huge Bach piece (this one). But I never liked the piece and it's even more horrendous on piano than I anticipated, so...... I might cave and call it quits

Yes still moving towards my boogie woogie goal... but I realize I just need to go through all the steps in between, so I'm now following Christian's Easy Blues course (after I finished his Beginner's course).

But I also want to continue with all the regular "stuff", so I'll probably go back to my John Thompson books and continue with those, in conjunction with learning blues. Because I was raised in the old skool thought of "only classical music is proper music" and I find it really hard to shake that - despite knowing better of course

I think it's a good idea to attack both classical and other genres! I do both as well, as you will hear in a month...

rsl12 as you will hear in a month

I can't wait!

rsl12 Also: I'm announcing Recital #4 on r/piano, to give them a month to prepare.

Oh gosh, I guess I should participate this time and play the Bach Italian Concerto! I will have to get out my "proper recorder" and it's a whole production to "properly record", honestly I dread the recording process more than anything else!

I had sort of forgotten that the next recital is in May, which is now just around the corner! Well, I think I should aim for Hana Bi… we’ll see.

@Sophia which version of the Toccato in Dm is that? Is it this one?

ShiroKuro which version of the Toccato in Dm is that? Is it this one?

That's the one, Shiro Four pages of it, so give me one good reason why I shouldn't skip it

Sophia Four pages of it, so give me one good reason why I shouldn't skip it

Joking aside, I think it's an awesome arrangement, and it looks very challenging, so I have no doubt it's a great thing to work on for pedagogical purposes.... But if you hate it....

Yeah, sigh. It definitely reminds me of the "spinach and brussels sprouts are good for you" days...
Apparently this is not an arrangement, the Alfred books says

Or do you mean it's adapted for piano, because originally it was written for organ? Either way, I'm not loving it. So now I face the difficult decision whether I want to be a Serious Pianist who Plays Bach:

Or have fun with more frivolous stuff...

Hmmm mmm m that's a tough one

Sophia it sounds like it's an organ transcription for piano.

You can be both serious and fun! But if you're hating it, then maybe it's not for you (for the moment, at least)

Sophia If you listen to the video I posted and don't like how it sounds, then I would say it's ok to move on from this piece. If you listen to the video and think it sounds cool, then there's probably some benefit to sticking it out a bit more.

But I am firmly of the belief that life is too short to play (or study) music I dislike.

Or, if you like the piece well enough, but working on it feels like a slog, put it aside and plan to come back to it (but I think you actively dislike it, right?)

Sophia Four pages of it, so give me one good reason why I shouldn't skip it

The first 30 seconds is the most iconic keyboard intro of all time. And still holds today. But you should really play it with organ sound, makes it more dramatic!

WieWaldi most iconic keyboard intro of all time

Yeah, right. That's what June Cleaver told Beaver... he didn't buy it either.

Sophia, how is Wie Waldi supposed to understand a Beaver reference?????? He was born at the wrong place AND at the wrong time.

So was I

Congratulations Sophia. Welll done!!

Now remember, never again "spinach and brussels sprouts". There is lots of healthy food out there, choose whatever pieces you enjoy!!

About the Bach piece, it is Piano Syllabus level 9. Completely outrageous of Alred's editor to put that in their book.
Have you heard of Piano Syllabus? You can check the level of pieces there, in case you wonder if a piece is too easy or too difficult for you. Of course, the level of a piece is always a subjective judgement, and not all pieces are in there, but I find it helpful.

rsl12 Haha, true. Still, there is the internet to look up. Expanding my mental horizon whenever possible. Nobody can say, I don't learn something from Sophias comments.

Sophia
It is here: https://pianosyllabus.com/x-default.php

I use it all the time when choosing my pieces.