TheBoringPianist with competitions over for the year, finally getting around to some of the pieces in my backlog. I guess I'll usually have a larger piece that will take on the order of a month or longer to learn — in this case, the Scriabin Fantaisie in B minor, Op. 28. I'm still trying to even finish reading through this to be honest lol. I've got the exposition mostly figured out and can read slowly through most of the rest, but the recapitulation B theme and coda A theme are giving me fits and I just end up skipping them every time in favor of the "easier" (read: less insane) parts. I'll probably need to dedicate significant time to each one separately.

Meanwhile, have been working through some smaller pieces as well over the last couple weeks:

  • Blumenfeld - Etude for the Left Hand Alone, Op. 36
  • Medtner - Fairy Tale in G# minor, Op. 31 No. 3
  • Scarlatti - Sonata in G Major, K. 14

"You're a smart kid. But your playing is terribly dull."

      In keeping with the upcoming change in season, I am working on my best imitation of Sangah Noona playing Autumn Leaves. (South Korean jazz pianist).

        Pallas

        I wish my Faber stuff was only 2 lines. Or less.

          I am working on Romance in G Major from the (translated) 6 Very Easy Pieces Op 52 by Johann Nepomuk Hummel. Very easy pieces my foot! Maybe for some, but definitely not for me. I thought a piece with many broken chords would be simple. Again, not for me!

          Also working on River Flows in You by Yurima. I specifically asked for this piece and it is kicking my butt almost right away. I love the piece, so hopefully I will eventually get it.

          Sometimes I wish for the days when I was doing the Faber Piano Adventures for the Older Beginner. Then at least I felt I was making progress.

          Player1 Those of us on the lower levels also have lesson pieces to contend with. These weekly or bi-weekly pieces, plus a short term piece, and a longer term piece, usually makes 3 things going on at once. Which for most people is manageable without burning out.

          3 pieces would be my ideal instead of the 5 I've been doing lately.

          I hope to finish the last of the Piano Adventures method book pieces next year. If the Dr. Molly Gebrian method works well for maintaining my mostly jazz standard repertoire, once I've relearned them, I'll only need to play through them and address any issues 3 days in a row every 2 weeks. That would leave just 3 pieces at a time; a sight reading quick study piece (some of them can be knocked out in a single session), a classical piece and a non-classical piece.

            kanadajin In keeping with the upcoming change in season, I am working on my best imitation of Sangah Noona playing Autumn Leaves. (South Korean jazz pianist).

            Yes! Next month, I plan to relearn Vince Guaraldi's "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" for a piano club meeting. I hope the section with all the octaves is more comfortable this time around.

              I've learned both hands for the first page of Balestrand. Amazingly enough I can carry the melody, on tempo, for most of the page! Yay!! There are a couple of spots giving me a bit of trouble but I'll get them worked out. Page 2 swaps the melody to the LH and that's harder for me to finger out for some reason. I'll get it, it'll just take more practice and I'm in no rush. It's such a pretty piece that I really want to play it properly.

              Always On My Mind is coming along. I'm not working on it that hard, 2 hours per week, but I can play 1 1/2 measures of the first line to tempo and make it sound like it should. Unfortunately, I can't make the second half of measure 2 sound like it should and that's creating problems with going on to measure 3.

              This is what I'm learning:

              You can see the treble 8th notes at the end of measure 2. When I play those and the F# in measure 3 I can't make my keyboard sound like the video does. Played alone, my F3# doesn't sound "correct." It's probably the difference in sampling but it throws me off because I always think I hit a wrong key. My mid-range bass never sounds quite right.

              The Faber stuff is still 🤮. I turned to a new page and it's an arranged Leopold Mozart piece - Minuet in F Major. Blah. At least I can concentrate on spotting and knowing my key signatures and spending some time practicing the FM scale - I need the review.

              12 days later

              Three new pieces since I last posted.

              quick study piece - Tansman - "Dreams" from Happy Time Book 1
              Piano Adventures piece - Hassler - Allegro in A minor.
              Non-classical piece - Michael Giacchino - Married Life from the movie, "Up".

              It took me a while to find an arrangement for "Married Life" on the musicnotes site. There were 4 pages of arrangements that were looked either too easy or too challenging for me before I found one that was a good fit.

              Pallas Yes! Sadly, I had to pass up a number of arrangements with all sorts of trills, chromatic scale runs and other assorted challenges for a far distant "someday'.

                5 days later

                I slacked off again for another short break and only returned to playing a couple of days ago. The good news is that page 2 of Balestrand is now under my fingers, without pedal. Unfortunately, I'm no further on either the Willie Nelson piece or my lessons. 🙁

                  The secondo part to a duet arrangement of Schubert's Serenade and a jazzy version of Over the Rainbow. Both are for my next piano group meeting towards the end of October.

                  I finished up the pieces I was working on when I last posted here, including one which I submitted to Recital #1.

                  Currently I'm working on probably too many pieces at once, though some are easier than others and so will get played to my satisfaction faster than others:

                  "Blind Mouse Dance" by Jakub Metelka - @lilypad was also working on this, I believe. The tempo indication in the RCM version is quite a bit slower than the tempo Metelka himself plays it at, so ultimately I'll just go with what sounds nicest to me, which is somewhere in between. My teacher also recommended alternate fingering in the last couple of bars.
                  Aria in D minor, K. 32 by Domenico Scarlatti - probably the easiest or second-easiest piece Scarlatti ever wrote, but it's also so lovely that it's part of many recordings by professionals.
                  "Ostinato" by Lowell Liebermann - the first atonal piece I've ever played. Because it's, well, an ostinato, it's a bit easier to understand than other atonal pieces.
                  Allegro in F major (arr.), Hob. III:73/4 by Franz Joseph Haydn - this is a bit of a nightmare. It's an arrangement (it's not clear who arranged it) of a movement from a string quartet and it features some terrifying jumps as well as a sequence of melodic chords that's difficult to voice properly.
                  "A Hermit Crab Surfing" by Akira Miyoshi - this piece really does sound like a hermit crab surfing, I'm not sure why. Some challenging work with phrases that share melody between the hands and lots and lots of thirds.
                  "Ticklin' Toes" by Florence Price - from the ABRSM Grade 4 syllabus. By far the most difficult piece and will probably take a few months. It's a bit longer than the other pieces, has multiple distinct sections that each have their own rhythmic challenges, and it's meant to be played blazing fast.

                  Here's the Liebermann piece (note: this isn't me playing), which really defied my expectations about atonal compositions.

                    plop_symphony
                    That's nice but it's not an atonal piece. The piece uses some atypical chromatics because it's in the Phrygian mode. A lot of Gypsy and Spanish music uses the Phrygian scale and it sounds a bit exotic.

                    Nice work! 👍

                        BartK Interesting! What parts of the piece make it clear that it's in Phrygian mode?

                          Player1 Good to know you are back. You've been a long time away from this forum. Tremor issues again?

                              WieWaldi

                              I've just been a slacker with my lessons. I do read the forum every day, I just don't post much because I haven't had much to contribute lately. I can only say my method book lessons suck so many times.

                              I managed to play the entire piece yesterday, including pedal. I have flow issues I need to smooth out before I can record it. When I do I'll probably upload it and maybe post it in the performance section.

                              Right now I'm playing off tempo, and very slowly, so that I can try and get the notes continuous. For example, the piece starts with 2 quarter notes in the LH to 4 eighth notes in the RH with a tie for all of it. The flow problem is that I'm adding a tiny bit of time between the LH and the RH while I switch my mental focus. It's not a hesitation or pause, it's a longer time period between notes while my head switches gears. When I try to shorten that space I start to rush the 8th notes and that only makes it worse because now there's 2 problems to deal with.

                              I'll get it fixed and be on tempo eventually. Maybe a week, maybe a month, maybe 6 months. It all depends on how discouraged I get over how much my method book lessons suck.

                                  I was just watching a video by DariaPiano on YouTube. When short of time or discouraged to practice, she recommends just do some technical exercise to keep fingers moving. But better to have even just a little practice every day than long gap followed by trying to make it up.

                                    Player1

                                    Adding to the above

                                    Listening to the piece on youtube and I can hear that Sideris (the performer) doesn't like the space either, he starts rushing the switch over from LH to RH. The LH D and the RH B aren't on the same beat but that's how he plays it.

                                    The video performance isn't exactly as written either. The sheet doesn't emphasize notes yet the performance clearly does. You can hear him emphasize the RH B at 32 seconds. The sheet isn't underscored for that B at all. That measure for the RH is a dotted half note and a rest.

                                    What I end up with will probably be somewhere between the video version and the trash can

                                      iternabe

                                      I'm of a different mindset on this.

                                      When discouraged and not wanting to play, forcing myself to sit down and play isn't the solution to the problem. It may work for some but it's a guaranteed non starter for me.

                                      I also think this might be more viable for those who have teachers than for those of us who self study. After all, you're paying for the lessons and not being prepared is a waste of money and everyone's time so you should at least try to do something between lessons even if just 2 minutes of scales.

                                      The solution for this, and it happens in every hobby, is to somehow get re-engaged with your peer group. For music lessons with more than 1 student; a small impromptu get together/party/field trip/something might work to get minds active and excited again. But, for solo/self study students this is harder to do because often there's little time and usually no one to enjoy the break with other than spousal units who, let's face it, are really just the cheering section.

                                        I try and play on a reasonably consistent schedule, but that doesn't necessarily mean every day. Sometimes there's just no time. I don't really sit down and play when I'm not in the mood because I won't really accomplish anything. But sometimes the reason I'm not in the mood is just because I don't feel like practicing what I'm supposed to practice, in which case I might still go and play piano but just do something else entirely.

                                          plop_symphony I don't really sit down and play when I'm not in the mood

                                          I think that was the point that DariaPiano is trying make. There is no need to be in the mood to sit down and play some scale, or arpeggio, or Hanon, for even only a few minutes. And that's better than not playing at all.

                                            Ok, Balestrand is under my fingers with pedal and sounds halfway decent. I still have some polishing to do in the last 2 lines (those longer spaces between LH/RH notes need ironed out some more) but it's not heading for the dust bin at this point.

                                            Maybe a few more days to a week to get it polished and uploaded.

                                            I really want to play this on the baby grand I discovered in the entry lounge at the local hospital. It would sound awesome in that space. I need to check and see if they'll let me and test to see if I can play the piano. It seems I prefer a very light action to play my best.

                                              Player1 I really want to play this on the baby grand I discovered in the entry lounge at the local hospital. It would sound awesome in that space. I need to check and see if they'll let me and test to see if I can play the piano.

                                              and also see if they'll let you take a video!

                                              I'm looking forward to hearing you play!

                                                  Working on "Theme from Don Giovanni (Là ci darem la mano)" in the Faber Classics book. I love how learning these pieces make me look for the original performance - often a delightful find. Here, a lovely duet by Luciano Pavarotti and Sheryl Crow.

                                                  rogerch

                                                  There are a couple of things I'll have to have ready to go before I can even ask. One is absolutely knowing the piece I want to play. Another is having a backup piece to play to an acceptable level. I'll also need a "camera man" for action shots while I'm playing rather than just a static recording.

                                                  Once I have those ducks lined up, I can ask about playing on their piano. Hopefully it's available for anyone to use at any time.

                                                    I have a video. No you can't see it. I don't even want to look at it except to analyze where the problems are. And there are lots and lots of problems. The biggest of which are uncontrolled harsh notes and those extra bits of time between notes that I mentioned earlier. Right now I'm running about 25-30 seconds slow so the tempo is off a little bit too.

                                                    But, I have a video so that means I'm making progress.

                                                    I have a doctor appointment this afternoon and then I have to go do some grocery shopping. The grocery store is near the hospital where that baby grand is sitting in its alcove so I might stop in for a quick conversation about playing it. Unless I chicken out because it really is too soon to be asking.

                                                    Well, I didn't chicken out so I stopped by and asked about playing the piano at the hospital.

                                                    No dice unless you're a hospital employee. They told me the piano used to play by itself (pianoteq I assume because it's a newer piano) but that failed during a power outage 6 or 7 years ago and no one has played it since. I suspect it's not been tuned in that time either.

                                                    The hunt for a public piano to play continues!

                                                    Oh, and I have a better recording of Balestrand that shaves 15 seconds off the time from the last one. Still some issues, but I'll get there.

                                                    I'm working on a couple of piano pieces by Rossini (and they do share many of the characteristics of his operas, notably the humor) from his large collection from about 1860, "Sins of my Old Age".
                                                    If I can get them sounding presentable, I'll record them and link them here.

                                                    TheBoringPianist The Scriabin Fantaisie is finally starting to come together 😔 still not up to speed and very prone to stops and starts but I feel like the technical challenges no longer seem insurmountable.

                                                    In the meantime, am working through some other small pieces:

                                                    • Lili Boulanger - D'un vieux jardin
                                                    • Lili Boulanger - D'un jardin clair
                                                    • Messiaen - Prélude pour piano (1964)
                                                    • Takashi Yoshimatsu - Piano Folio...to a Disappeared Pleiad (heard Tomoharu Ushida play it at the Leeds)

                                                    "You're a smart kid. But your playing is terribly dull."

                                                        @TheBoringPianist
                                                        The Messiaen Prélude - that's the fanfare-like short piece? I remember being surprised at how succinct its form is, certainly compared to the sprawling, to me disorienting nature of so many of his later works.

                                                          TheBoringPianist I'm not sure if I've heard of Lili Boulanger before now. I just added D'un jardin clair to my way in the future section of my bucket list. Luckily I have lots of nice sounding grade 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 pieces to enjoy on the way there.

                                                              lilypad I'm not sure if I've heard of Lili Boulanger before now.

                                                              She was a true genius. Unfortunately, she died at only 24 but had already achieved a lot by then. Had she not died so young I'm sure she could have been one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.

                                                                  pseudonym58 The Messiaen Prélude - that's the fanfare-like short piece? I remember being surprised at how succinct its form is, certainly compared to the sprawling, to me disorienting nature of so many of his later works.

                                                                  yup! I have a really hard time learning this kind of music, but I figured I should challenge myself, and it's a fun sounding piece!

                                                                  "You're a smart kid. But your playing is terribly dull."

                                                                    BartK Agreed, she could have definitely been mentioned along with Stravinsky or Poulenc had she lived longer. I don't like her piano pieces but her orchestral writing is exceptional.

                                                                      BartK Just from the two pieces I listened to, she reminds me of the impressionist composers.

                                                                        Recently an early Mozart piece came up duing my piano lesson.

                                                                        The last piece recorded was a version of "Happy Birthday" in F for somebody's special day in October. We all sing the song a dozen times a year. When playing it on piano, every rendition of the song is supposed to be different & original... even if you're following the sheet music you'd add in embellishments the last minute to sound improvised.

                                                                          thepianoplayer416 The last piece recorded was a version of "Happy Birthday" in F for somebody's special day in October. We all sing the song a dozen times a year. When playing it on piano, every rendition of the song is supposed to be different & original... even if you're following the sheet music you'd add in embellishments the last minute to sound improvised.

                                                                          I recently watched a YouTube video listing "Happy Birthday" as the 6th piece in "6 Famous & Essential Pieces Every Pianist Should Learn".