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".

                                          My latest batch -

                                          New pieces:
                                          Quick study - Jeremiah Clarke "King William's March" - I thought I'd knock this one out in 2 days max, but it's been giving me fits.
                                          Piano Adventures lesson piece - Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 1, 3rd movement.
                                          Heller - Study in E minor, Op. 47 No. 5

                                          Relearning:
                                          Vince Guaraldi's "Great Pumpkin Waltz"

                                          Still working on:
                                          Michael Giacchino's "Married Life"
                                          Arthur Herzog Jr. & Billie Holliday "God Bless the Child" (relearning)

                                          Pallas I get to study the first piece in Schumann's Album for the Young - Melody. This will be my first bucket list item, and I'm thrilled.

                                          I think it's really great to have bucket list pieces at all levels. Mine used to be all grade 8's and it was very discouraging, like I'd never get there. Now I have probably a dozen for each grade. I'm trying to go through a grade a year with a variety of pieces similar to yours.

                                            Pallas
                                            That's a great achievement! The first "real" pieces are always a big milestone.

                                            Schumann is a very good choice for pedagogical purposes. He is a romantic composer and uses the musical language of that era but his writing often has multiple layers and interconnected themes. It's great for developing both musicality and technical skills. Besides, these are pieces you can always go back to and discover new things or new ways to look at the music as you improve.

                                            Satie isn't really that hard. I wondered myself why those pieces are so high in the syllabus and I think it might be because of the large chords that might be too challenging for small children in the lower grades. For an adult they are technically easy and musically also not too challenging. I played Gnossienne 1 in my first year and Gymnopedie 1 in my second year.

                                              6 days later

                                              Working on the last piece in Faber Classics Book 1. This beautiful aria by Giacomo Puccini 💘

                                              I surprised myself yesterday by playing all but the last measure of the 1st phrase in Always on My Mind. I had to pick my way through the last measure, and I wasn't even close to tempo anywhere in my performance, but I'm slowly getting it learned.

                                              Turning the page in the method book today and hoping for something playable.

                                              There is an upcoming peace concert in 2 weeks as a fundraising event for a humanitarian organization. A chance for amateur pianists (piano students) to play 1 or more pieces. If I do attend I'd probably include a piece like "What a Wonderful World" that I worked on last year. Haven't decided yet.

                                              8 days later

                                              Picked one piece I really want to play from Faber Popular Book 1. Still working on dynamics and tempo, but at least I've got one recording that's passable.

                                                Faber did a great job on that arrangement. I sounds very authentic. Your recording does it justice even at the slower tempo.

                                                I tend to get too obsessed with tempo at the cost of a piece not sounding as good as it should.

                                                Let's see here ...

                                                I'm working on some tunes for my little garageband in which I sometimes play bass and other times keys.

                                                • learned but still very much practicing an arrangement of "Baby Please Don't Go" loosely based on the Them version, me on "organ" (Roland VR-730)
                                                • polishing my arranged / semi-improvised version of "How Long Blues" by Leroy Carr, me on piano (Roland RD-2000)
                                                • just starting to learn "Karma Police" by Radiohead so that a friend can guest-sing with us, me on piano again

                                                For my own stuff, I'm working on playing and singing a semi-arranged, semi-improvised version of "Worried Life Blues" by Big Maceo Merriweather. Like "How Long Blues" above, it's something I can do on my own or with the group as the spirit moves us. My feeble singing is really sticking out as the weak point right now ...

                                                Enthusiastic but mediocre amateur.

                                                Pallas Would love to! It may be a while yet. The "band" is me (bass / keys), the missuz (drums), and our pal Steve who just started playing guitar this year. As such, he's still learning a lot of new chords and it can take a while for us to get up to speed on things -- which is just fine since this is all in fun. I'll be sure to share when it's ready, thanks for asking!

                                                Enthusiastic but mediocre amateur.

                                                  2 weeks ago played 2 pieces at a piano meetup across town including a Bach chorale and "Sarabande" from French Suite 3.

                                                  There is an upcoming piano meetup on the weekend with the theme "peace". I'm working on an arrangement of "When You Wish Upon a Star" for the event in additon to the 2 pieces I'm already playing. Probably a simplified version of Bob Dylan "Blowin' in the Wind" which is a song written for the anti-war movement during the Vietnam war.

                                                  Pallas Melody is a lovely piece, very rewarding. I’m sure you will play it beautifully 😀

                                                  Pallas Oh no, I'm NEVER going to get this one! It's over for me!

                                                  I know that feeling only too well. My teacher used to tell me in moments like these: “I know you can do it, believe me”, and I believed him and did my best…
                                                  Now, since I don’t have a teacher, I tend to give up too quickly. That’s what happened a few weeks ago when I tried to learn Olafur Arnalds’ “Saman”. But maybe it was really too difficult for me, I don’t know. The constant changes of metre from 4/4 to 6/4 were intimidating and I couldn’t quite figure out the rhythm, which added to the overall difficulty of the piece. But I still love it and will get back to it sometime in the future.
                                                  Then I found a new piece, which I really liked, and it turned out that I could play it even in a shorter time than expected. Oh, what a wonderful feeling, what a comfort! It was “Pigalle” by Virginio Aiello - well, evidently the piece was a more reasonable choice for my current set of skills 🙂

                                                  Now I’m working on:
                                                  Patrick Doyle “My Father’s Favourite” from Sense and Sensibility (from the book “Jane Austen’s World” for piano),
                                                  "Down by the Salley Gardens" (from the book “Irish Folk Songs Collection” arranged by June Armstrong),
                                                  “Wild Horses” from Martha Mier “Keyboard Kaleidoscope 2”,
                                                  “Van Gogh” - another piece by Virginio Aiello,
                                                  each of them in a different stage of learning.

                                                  I have also fallen in love with the music of another Italian composer, Andrea Vanzo, and would like to learn his “Spring” and “Valzer d’Inverno”, but maybe in a year’s time, as both are still too difficult. Or maybe when I have a teacher again.

                                                      Pallas please tell me that "Minuet in G" is not an early beginner piece as opposed to what some part of the internet thinks. I've recently gave that version a go instead of the simplified version in my method book. And found myself saying "I will never be able to grok this". My hands are refusing to play together, even after disregarding the trills. I really like how it sounds though. So I'm not going to give up. But the progress is sloooow 🦥.

                                                          hebele please tell me that "Minuet in G" is not an early beginner piece as opposed to what some part of the internet thinks

                                                          The internet is stupid (except this forum of course 😉). The adjective "early" means that you have just started that level and "late" means you have been at that level for a while and are close to moving to the next level. So, "early beginner" means you just started playing piano. That piece is not something a raw beginner who just started is expected to play.

                                                            Pallas The local community college had this piece as part of a Piano III class. The teacher also taught it in his Piano II class that I took years ago. My guess is that it was either too difficult for some of the Piano II class students or he was teaching it again to add more layers to the onion.

                                                            As far as the internet and piece levels go, I recently watched a YouTube video where a concert pianist was recommending pieces for intermediate pianists. They sounded pretty advanced to me and when I looked them up on the Piano Street syllabus they were grade 10!

                                                            Baroque music seems to take up a lot more bandwidth for me than other eras. I generally have to learn in much smaller chunks. I've had good luck with just adding a new note each time I repeat a passage. I also discovered a close to painless way of adding "onion layers" of articulation or dynamics. When I do "X times perfect" repetitions I work on adding in whatever I can manage at a time with each repetition.

                                                              The last piece my teacher got her students at RCM level 3 to play was "The Elegant Toreador" by Seymour Bernstein. A modern Spanish-sounding piece like you're in a bull fighting rink.

                                                              In the middle are 2 notes (1 for LH and 1 for RH) with a wavy line "gliss.". The teacher did a demo in class how we'd use the finger nail on 1 hand and glide across the white keys. Be careful not to cause your finger to bleed.

                                                                iternabe Picked one piece I really want to play from Faber Popular Book 1. Still working on dynamics and tempo, but at least I've got one recording that's passable.

                                                                Finally at tempo now. Having a hard time keeping left hand quieter. And getting that arpeggiated chord at the end come out even is still hit or miss.

                                                                    The last piece was a simplified version of the Bob Dylan song "Blowin' in the Wind". It's for an upcoming piano meetup event tomorrow.

                                                                    iternabe Never watched Dowbtown Abbey, so I don't know its soundtrack and how fast it is played in the TV series. I listened to both your versions back and forth, and I like the slow one better. It has more musicality in it.

                                                                        thepianoplayer416 Be careful not to cause your finger to bleed.

                                                                        I was taught not to use tips of fingers/finger nails but to use the back of fingers. I find it most comfortable if I use three fingers to sweep up and down but also possible with one or two. This technique will not cause bleeding or be painful.