PIYW #10 — Meta Feedback

rsl12 · 2026-07-16T08:05:24+00:00

Update 2: 15 September 2026 "Play 'Last Song' Your Way" is now live! Click to listen. rsl12 Platybat KevinM TulipAcid TC3 You can continue to use this thread to discuss your preparation of the piece, or to discuss any other matters regarding Play It Your Way. Update 1: 16 July 2026 PIYW #10: Play "Last Song" Your Way Play It Your Way is a quasi-monthly event for beginners, professionals, classical, jazz, or pop pianists and everyone in between! We are starting work on "Last Song" by Alexis Ffrench . Use the links below to find the sheet music you like, and when you are ready, post your performance in the submission thread. Perfection is not expected! Previous PIYWs: PIYW #9: Play Chopin's "Wiosna (Spring)" Your Way PIYW #8: Play "How Long Blues" Your Way PIYW #7: Play "Over the Rainbow" Your Way Full List of Previous PIYWs Thanks to KevinM for this month's selection! Please suggest pieces for future "Play It Your Way" events by using the suggestion box. The theme of the next PIYW (to be announced in August 2026) is "Jazz or Ragtime", but feel free to submit good ideas across all genres. Guidelines This is not a contest! It is meant to be a casual and fun event. You can use this thread to discuss your preparation of the piece, or anything else related to PIYW. To submit a recording of your performance, go to the submission thread. All PIYW submissions will remain hidden from public view until 15 September 2026. However, there is no deadline for when you need to submit your performance. Although most participants submit their recording before that date, you may submit at any time. Use the recital schedule to plan your participation in future recitals! "Last Song" by Alexis Ffrench (2009) From Wikipedia: Alexis Ffrench (born 1970) is a British classical-soul musician, composer, producer, and pianist. Ffrench's music has more than a billion streams and his albums Evolution (2018), Dreamland (2020) and Classical Soul Vol. 1 (2024) reached No. 1 in the Classical Music Charts. From the footnote to the ABRSM edition: [Ffrench] says of this piece: "Last Song was originally written for my daughter, Savannah, when she was a very young child, as a piece to accompany her early ballet dances. For me, it recalls the innocence of childhood and the wonder of possibility. I hope it resonates with you too and becomes part of your story. Happy piano playing." Links to Sheet Music / Lead Sheet You are not limited to only the music linked below. Feel free to find or create your own version. You do not have to complete or perfect the piece to submit it, and don't be afraid to simplify or shorten the piece. Improvisation, backing tracks, and backing humans are all allowed. Sheet music: Note: This is a Grade 6 (intermediate level) piece, but we have come up with some easier options. See this post. USA https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/446751/Product.aspx?utm_source=halleonard&utm_medium=referral&campaign=search (3-page version, $6) https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/1555674/Product.aspx?utm_source=halleonard&utm_medium=referral&campaign=search (2-page version, $4. It's the same as the 3-page version, just more crowded on the page!) UK https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/last-song-d12063 (£2.50)

TC3

rsl12 Thanks for sharing! I'm going to mess around with that tonight.

rsl12

rsl12 Oops--33 should be "mf, but mp on beat 2".

TC3

As of tonight, I have the first 16 measures "under my fingers," as I like to say -- that is, I can sorta play it, haltingly, pausing a lot to look between the score and my fingers, and hitting more of the notes than not. 😃 That's a big milestone for me in a piece, though. I might just very well have at least this first half down by next month. As for the rest ... 😮

ShiroKuro

I’m currently working on tempo and consistency. I would love to have a recording finished before the first week of September, because I will start my fall piano lessons then and it would be nice to start with something new.

On the other hand, it would also be nice to take this into to lesson (I’ll have a new teacher) and see what kind of feedback and advice he/she would have.

Ok, let’s be honest, that wouldn’t just be nice, it is probably necessary. 😃

twocats

One month until this goes live!

rsl12

Thanks twocats! Pinging everyone that I think is working on this: @TC3, @ShiroKuro, @KevinM, @TulipAcid, @diretonic, @Platybat, @Bahamut_Harmony

So far, there is only one submission (I hate bragging, but it's mine 🧑‍🎓).

TulipAcid

rsl12

I’m working on it.

Likely my submission will be as shambolic as my recital submission, but I’ll do it anyway as having an audience, even virtual and asynchronous, is a good skills builder.

Platybat

Thanks for the nudge @rsl12. Just made my submission. Had a go at recording what I thought was a really solid rendition only to be very disappointed when I watched it back. That camera really doesn't give you anywhere to hide! Took a second recording which I am happier with even if there is a couple of minor blemishes and one very wrong note.

Platybat

Might be worth mentioning that my video was flagged on you tube for claimed content. Apparently it isn't a problem and is still viewable but may limit my earning potential from it 🙃

rsl12

Platybat Had a go at recording what I thought was a really solid rendition only to be very disappointed when I watched it back. That camera really doesn't give you anywhere to hide!

It sure doesn't. Hopefully you're finding the recording process useful for spotting things to improve in your performance! I certainly have.

Platybat Apparently it isn't a problem and is still viewable but may limit my earning potential from it

If that's the only issue you get from YouTube, then it's better than I was expecting. I was worried someone would claim a copyright, and then ads would be attached to it. If the only effect is a lack of ability to monetize, that's not bad at all!

I uploaded to gumlet, which gave me no copyright trouble.

Platybat

rsl12
I had forgotten just how incredibly useful it is to be honest. Just having the camera on instantly identifies the pressure points and then watching it back really changes the musicality of it. I am learning that I really need to turn up the expression. What I hear as emotive and evocative while I am playing sounds dead pan and mechanical on the recording. Probably doesn't help that I have a wonderfully supportive wife and kids who always say it sounds lovely 🙂

Hadn't heard of gumlet. Thanks for that. I will keep that in mind if I start having problems.

TC3

Working through a bit further, mostly deciding on fingerings and such. About 3/4, the first measure of the key change, I come across this beaut:

As Captain Haddock would say ...

I don't think my left hand will make that shape. Roll it I guess? But I also don't like playing the two Gs in a row like that, thinking about skipping the G in the chord and just rolling F-C-A ...

rsl12

You're overcomplicating it! Play G and A both with your thumb.

TC3

rsl12 You're overcomplicating it!

I'm complicating it just enough, thank you very much! 😃

rsl12 Play G and A both with your thumb.

I always forget you can do that. Are you sure the fingering police won't come and take me away?!

ShiroKuro

TC3 I meant to come back to this post.

Just for the record, I am not playing that top A. It makes my hand hurt to create that shape and get the G and the A with my thumb when my pinkie is on that F. I can only barely play that 10th if I’m not trying to get any other notes, and even then, it feels like I’d injure myself if I try to grab that 10th in context.

TC3

ShiroKuro Yah, it's a bit awkward. I'm focused on trying to get at least the first page in decent shape by the deadline, so I'll probably worry about that (and the whole second page ... ) a little later.

rsl12

We are up to three submissions! Myself, @Platybat , @KevinM . There is still lots of time.

ShiroKuro

rsl12 You guys are fast! I will probably be posting at the last minute (it probably doesn't help that I work on so many pieces at once... 😃

TC3

ShiroKuro Same boat here. I'm enjoying learning this piece, but it's actually at the lowest rung of my piano priorities at the moment. I think I can get something passable for the first half with the alternate ending by the due date. After that, I have every intention of continuing to work on it, and plan to post the full version at some point!

KevinM

My version is very likely to be updated. I am not happy with it. I think the amount of work it still needs means I don’t have time to start thinking about I don’t know why which is a pity.

But it is more than I can do with stuff from my teacher as well.

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