What Piece(s) Are You Working on Right Now?

Pallas · 2024-05-31T12:42:16+00:00

I've been posting my progress inside an Alfred thread for some time now, but I'm interested to know what other people are working on, not just us method book...

thepianoplayer416

A piano version of the Led Zeppelin "Stairway to Heaven".

Also working on the last 2 pages of the Haydn "Surprise" Symphony 94 - Andante. It's usually performed as an orchestral piece but does have a piano part.

ShiroKuro

Gooseberry
Thank you again for the info! I was able to download the version in Pianist Magazine, which is soo much easier to read than the IMSLP version I found. I am planning on trying it out this evening!

BTW the recording in Pianist Magazine is really nice. It's slower than the recording in the video you linked above, and IMHO I think the slower tempo really brings out the compelling aspects of the piece. (And no, I'm not just saying that because I anticipate being unable to get the tempo up... although I do anticipate that. 😅

But also, in the score in the video, it shows the tempo, Andantes as MM=76, while in the Pianist Magazine score, it still says Andante, but the tempo is set at MM=52.

That's a significant difference, and an interesting one.

Can't wait to get home and try it now!!

Gooseberry

ShiroKuro in the score in the video, it shows the tempo, Andantes as MM=76, while in the Pianist Magazine score, it still says Andante, but the tempo is set at MM=52.

Yes, I've noticed that too. The score in the video is the one from Shirmer's LIbrary (dated in 1884, so maybe it was marked that way originally by the composer?). The Pianist Magazine put it in the Beginner/Intermediate section, and maybe that's why they changed the tempo?

ShiroKuro

P.S. I wish there was a way to share that Pianist Magazine recording here... off to Google....

ShiroKuro

Ooh this performance is gorgeous.... do you think I need to start a new thread for all of this?? 😅

Interesting, some of the recordings on YT are under a minute! That must be very fast! OTOH, the Pianist Magazine version is about 1:44 and so is the video I linked here (could it be the same pianist?)

Anyway, I'll aim for 2 minutes. (she says, foolishly, given that she's not even tried the piece out....)

Gooseberry

ShiroKuro Anyway, I'll aim for 2 minutes. (she says, foolishly, given that she's not even tried the piece out....)

I really don't think you're going to have a problem with the tempo! I can play it now at MM=52, but can't keep the sextuplets even throughout... 😟
I'm so excited that you're going to learn this piece! Looking forward to hearing you play it! (Now we've hijacked this thread for good 😆)

Pallas

Gooseberry (Now we've hijacked this thread for good 😆)

My learning style is observational osmosis. The more you experienced pianists talk about what you do, and how you do it, in an open forum where everyone can benefit, the happier I am.

ShiroKuro

Gooseberry (Now we've hijacked this thread for good 😆)

😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
I'll report back later tonight (I'm actually in my office right now, in theory finishing up something, but half the time I'm online ... like right now... 😅

JB_PT

Gooseberry I'm so excited that you're going to learn this piece!

I have downloaded the whole opus as well, to review soon...this is a lovely piece, thanks for sharing it!

Player1

Yay, after only a few days I can play the first 4 measures of the new piece. I'm super slow but it's not just picking notes, the melody is clearly audible.

Only 44 more measures to go. (Of which I already can play 2 but very poorly at this point.)

lilypad

I'm in the last week of a community college class that I've been taking since April. Finishing up the following:

Arrangements:
Don't Stop Believin' (part of a 4-part piano ensemble arrangement)
We Are the Champions
Maple Lear Rag (simplified and in C maj)

Original form:
Burgmuller - Arabesque
Petzold - Minuet in G
Clementi - Sonatina in C major Op. 36 No. 1, 1st movement

ShiroKuro

lilypad I'm in the last week of a community college class that I've been taking since April.

Cool! Is this a one-on-one class or a group-type class?

TC3

I mostly work on blues, so I learn various LH patterns, RH licks, etc., and work on improvising. However, I do learn specific songs as well: some I think of as etudes to build technique, others to play (and sometimes sing along with) for real.

Right now, my etude is "Blue Waltz" from The Joy of Boogie and Blues. Here's a nice version by Julian Lambert - to be clear, this is NOT me playing!

And then I'm working up my own arrangement of Floyd Rose's "On the Road Again" that I hope to play with my spouse (drummer) and a buddy (guitar). Here's the original, with some really tasty piano, and amazing vocals I only hope to approximate:

lilypad

ShiroKuro It's a non-credit group class held once a week with around a dozen people.

rogerch

The ABF Fast Pieces Recital is looming, and playing fast is not a strength for me.

I've been working on the second movement of Beethoven's Sonata #13 (Op. 27 #1). I first learned it several years ago but I never got it up to performance level. Now with just a few weeks to go I'm not sure I can have it ready in time. Actually I'm not sure if I'll EVER be able to play this piece well enough to share! I haven't given up yet though.

As a backup I've been working on Heartsounds by David Lanz. I've played this one before as well. While Heartsounds is much easier than the Beethoven it has a couple of tricky spots. I think I can have it ready in time.

As a backup to the backup, I've been pushing the tempo on my improvisations. I may end up submitting a somewhat fast improvisation. 🙂

ShiroKuro

lilypad Oh wow! That's great! How do you like the group class set up?

Pretender

So many beautiful pieces! Thank you, all.

I'm still picking away at some RCM prep B stuff; currently "Carillon" and "Leaping the Waves with Dolphins". My teacher also has me doing some Dozen a Day exercises and mixes in some bits from Alfred's Basic Adult Piano. Some of the local teachers get student's together a couple times a year for a recital. I was working on a simple duet arrangement of Ode to Joy by Timothy Brown for the next recital, coming up soon, but it turned out that my partner will be unable to attend. I'll be doing the Carillon piece instead. It's a bit daunting to have so many of the young student's playing so much better live, but at least I'm not the only adult beginner there.
edit: Almost forgot another piece, an arrangement of Piano Man, but I'm struggling with the rhythm in it.

lilypad

I'd probably learn faster with private instruction, but I love being in the company of other piano players and the ensemble work is fun. The class size is small enough that there is ample time for the instructor to address questions or difficulties that any of the students may have. I have to admit that I'm looking forward to the end of the semester in a few days when I can get back to working on my own stuff.

TC3

lilypad That also sounds like a great way to work on the nervousness some of us feel playing in front of others.

SouthPark

lilypad I'd probably learn faster with private instruction

You played jurassic park in one of the 'pw' recitals, right? I had never heard the jurassic park music before that, and the way it sounds ... progresses ... the 'chord' sounds/sequence combined with the piano timbre is very very powerful indeed. As in totally captivating. Every once in a while, I run through those sequences. It is amazing.

Update : just checked in google (lilypad jurassic park abf recitals. Thanking goodness my memory hasn't failed me hehe. Yes indeed ... that was you!

lilypad

TC3 I don't get too nervous in the class because we mostly play all at the same time. I'm pretty dedicated to practicing what the teacher has assigned and am relatively well prepared to play on the rare occasions that the teacher asks for a volunteer to play something. If no one else comes forward, I'll volunteer.

I'm also in a Meetup group of Portland (Oregon) Piano Players. I'm one of the least accomplished players there and I try to play first or at least early on in the meetings.

ilovepianocanada

I am working on Sonatina in G by Muzio Clementi - also known as "Groovy Kind of Love" . I am just finishing up Page 3 of 4 and have been working on this since the end of January. I feel like I am never going to complete it!

Also working on an intermediate version of Sound of Silence. At least that one is a little easier for me!

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