Player1 Thanks P1, that's a lovely piece and I enjoyed both versions. I like most waltzes and luckily many of them are within my reach. 🙂

@Sophia I take your point about the difference between improv and composition, and although I admire the skill of jazz players that style of music is not my thing. To me jazz music is just a bundle of random notes, but I can understand that for some people that randomness is part of the appeal. Luckily the piano is such a versatile instrument that it can accommodate many styles of music. Talking of pianos, I posted on the other thread about novelty keyboards... I won't repost it here but I had some thoughts about the options.

"Don't let's ask for the moon, we have the stars." (Final line from Now,Voyager, 1942)

      Nightowl Luckily the piano is such a versatile instrument that it can accommodate many styles of music.

      For sure!

        Well, I just started Love's Greeting. It's hauntingly beautiful. but I know for a fact that it is going to take me a long, long time to master learn! Even at a fraction of the speed of this teacher's demo:

          Sophia It's a beautiful piece originally written for violin, I think. You should look it up. Go for it! Can't wait to hear your rendition.

            Yes, this is a very lovely adaptation. It's very thrilling that the pieces are sounding more and more beautiful, instead of the horribly butchered renditions of early Alfred (shudder, Brahms Lullaby in book one).

            Yes, there are certainly some nice pieces in book 2, among the mundane stuff. I'm still working on Calypso but I've recently started the Div. in D piece and it's not too bad - I don't love it but as an exercise piece it's fine.
            There is no version of the B Lullaby in my version of book 1, but it appears soon in book 2. I'm not keen but I'll give it a go (that phrase seems to be my mantra at this stage of book 2). Hokey Pokey is also coming soon, but I'm swerving it - I saved one of my free passes especially for that hideous aberration. 😁

            "Don't let's ask for the moon, we have the stars." (Final line from Now,Voyager, 1942)

            Haha I fully embraced my crude side there and loved Hokey Pokey! All jokes aside though, I think it is a good exercise in many ways - especially the parts where the left is staccato throughout and the right hand alternates between staccato (easy) and legato (hard!). Plus it has a lot of syncopation and other tricky parts. It's probably quite a bit trickier to play than you'd expect from such a silly piece!

            The Lullaby version is the second book is a lot nicer than the one in book 1 - you missed nothing there. But yeah, hang in there, the latter part of this book really has some gorgeous pieces and they are not ALL excruciatingly hard to play. I expect that this new piece is going to be hard though... but completely worth it. Definitely not something I'll be able to play flawlessly anytime soon. It's probably something I will not be able to perfect in one go, and will have to continue to get back to it even after I moved on to other pieces.

            Sophia, from what you said I think that Hokey P is that deadly combo - tricky but annoying! I really dislike the strident tone and style of the piece, which seems to scream "You WILL enjoy yourself! This is FUN!" As I type this I'm suppressing ancient memories of wedding receptions when this piece was played and everyone was encouraged onto their feet to perform the hideous dance that went with it.... shudder. Now, as then, I reserve the right not to participate in this annoying abomination! 😬
            <Flounces off and ponders how it's possible for someone with such innate musicality to enjoy inflicting such a horrible sound upon herself, unless she has masochistic tendencies.>

            "Don't let's ask for the moon, we have the stars." (Final line from Now,Voyager, 1942)

            Hehehehehe.... You be careful now... if you keep going like that I might record a version that doesn't involve kittens and play it on a loop for you 😂

              That's fine Sophia, I really enjoyed that video, especially when I muted the sound! 🤣 The kitten seemed determined to sabotage your performance - I can't think why?!? 🙃

              "Don't let's ask for the moon, we have the stars." (Final line from Now,Voyager, 1942)

              Well, you asked for it.... here's my new toy in combination your all time favourite tune. I even added some improvisation at the recommendation of @rogerch. Plus a sneak preview of our screened in patio for the cats (and ourselves) to enjoy. Life doesn't get much better than that 😂🤣🤣

                Sophia Very fun! Sophia you're a natural!

                  There are no words... 😂

                  "Don't let's ask for the moon, we have the stars." (Final line from Now,Voyager, 1942)

                  4 days later

                  Player1 I blame you P1, Sophia has always been your favourite, you've never been as stern with her as with the rest of us, so it's not surprising she's gone completely off the rails.

                  "Don't let's ask for the moon, we have the stars." (Final line from Now,Voyager, 1942)

                      Nightowl

                      Me?????? No way. She even said it was rogerch whodunnit.

                      See this is how bad reputation start. Not that I don't deserve a bad reputation, but I'd like to get one on my own instead of being saddled with someone else's.

                        Hehehehehe!!! But I'm having so much fuuuuunnn!!!

                        Actually, I was about to post some progress (or lack thereof) in the blues thread, but I'll do it here. I'm still trying to get Salut d'amour in my fingers. It's a slow progress, as expected, but I can now play the first half okay-ish, albeit ever so slowly. The second half is still very much a WIP! It's such a pretty piece though that I don't mind spending a few weeks with it... it'll be worth it.

                        Alfred book 2 is nearing its end, but as with the last pieces in the first book, these seem quite a bit harder all of a sudden. I might have to spend as much time on the last 5 pieces as the entire first half of the book 🤔 I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there isn't a Laura type piece hidden within those last pages!

                        The blues lesson (yeah I know, I should report it in the other thread) is a very long one, with no less than four new licks to master. There too I'm about halfway now - two licks mastered, two still to learn 🙂

                        The REAL bad one was @Rubens - he filled my big head with kitten pianos. That simply proved irresistible. Though @rogerch is to blame for talking me into improvising, that's true 😃 Of course you were the one who made me feel welcome in the other forum @Player1 and caused me to stick around - so you're definitely not without blame! 😛

                          Sophia

                          Guilty as charged! I take full blame. May the others be freed immediately and may I endure the punishment that will be for Sophia to choose. I know it will be a difficult choice. (Sophia's Choice, get it?).

                            Haha ohhh my punishment is severe... 😃 How about you treat us to a little performance someday in either the recitals or the Member recordings section?

                            Seriously though: no pressure 😃 I'm teasing all in good fun!

                              Sophia
                              Your wish is my command. Your desire is my order. I will participate, someday 😅.