Alfred's All-In-One Level 1, No. 80 Raisins & Almonds

Pallas

I was focusing so hard that I forgot to turn the A/C off, dagnabbit. But I'm calling this sufficient and moving on, but I'm open to feedback because I can carry it forward into the next pieces.

Edit: I had a comment from another community saying I could possibly work on dynamics and play with a deeper touch, so I'm going to look into that!

PianoMonk

Pallas The AC does not affect your recording, nor your performance. Think of the AC like a ride cymbal played with a brush, by a tasteful drummer. This tune sounds rather East European, gypsy-like, maybe even like something left out of the final assembly of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, and you've played it quite well.

rogerch

Pallas Nicely played!

Pallas

PianoMonk Thanks for the reassurance about the a/c sound, and also for the comment about the piece. While learning it, I went looking for more information about it. Apparently, it's a Yiddish lullaby written in 1880. My favorite thing I found was this lovely vocal performance. I think I could have spent a bit more time on the dynamics, but maybe next time.

Sophia

Very nice! I always enjoyed that tune and I had fun learning it. Well played!

Pallas

Sophia Thank you. I look forward to revisiting it later. The comment I got elsewhere about "playing it with a deeper touch" has me intrigued. I have no idea what that means, so I'll have to go back to YouTube to figure it out.

twocats

Pallas I haven't listened (or watched) yet but "deeper touch" kind of means playing more heavily into the keys but in a controlled way. I was playing my pp chords with my fingers kind of flat and bouncing off the keys and the piano coach said to play deeper (curved fingers, pressing in with more intention) because while I can kinda float my fingers at home, if I'm playing on a piano that is harder to play, then no sound comes out!

I will listen to your video later and see if I can identify how to help you, maybe can demonstrate it 🙂

Pallas

twocats Thank you. I appreciate that very much. I look forward to hearing/seeing what you have to say.

twocats

Pallas I watched your video! I notice a lot of wrist bouncing with each note and I would try to play with your fingers instead of using your wrists so much. I think you're using more effort than you need to, which could contribute to pain. I think the "play more into the notes" might apply to the end, where you can try curving your fingers more.

Also wrist rotation in your left hand in a clockwise motion will help the motion as well as your tone, as you want to be able to hear the groups of three. A little more on the bottom note to lead (but subtle), and then lighter on the other two. I tried to show the motions sans piano. Hopefully this helps a little? (Fudging the right hand from what I remember from the tune)

If you send me the sheet music I can demo it on an actual piano when I get home later this week, hopefully can figure out how to film it in a way that shows my fingers. In the worst case I can do the two hands separately 🙂

Very nice and evenly played though! Most beginners don't play with this much control.

Pallas

twocats Thank you for all of this advice. I appreciate it. Your feedback is clear to me, thank you. I noticed the bounce too, which is the result of something I was trying, so because I introduced it on purpose for this piece, I don't think this bounce is causing the original pain. But I love getting that feedback, that you saw the bounce, and I will stop it.

The pain actually did not start with Raisins and Almonds. That one was painless, and I've been playing without pain for about six months now. The pain seems to be associated with fast pieces that have a lot of chords or a lot of stretching of the hand. I can play the pieces I mean, then point to where the pain is, so I can totally make a quick recording of that soon.

I don't want to put you through the trouble of making a video on Raisins and Almonds, as the pain started back up with The Entertainer and He's Got the Whole World in His Hands!

Right now, you need to recover from your grand adventure, young lady! 🤣

Pallas

twocats These demonstrations are very helpful, and I think I will be able to bring what you showed me into one of my next pieces! I think I can do that. Or maybe I'll post again, and you'll tell me not quite yet! Either way, Thank you! It's very kind of you to offer more help. ❤️

twocats

Pallas happy to help anytime!! And your videos are very short 🙂

It takes me only a few minutes to make a quick video and now I have a "burner" YouTube account for all my practice journal stuff and I can upload as an unlisted video which is very easy.

I thought of something afterward, think of the left hand notes like they belong to the slow movement of the Moonlight Sonata. You want to have a rounded sound and less mechanical. Of course they are also pedalling so it sounds different, but maybe listening to that will help your intention. You always want to lead the group of three notes with the bottom note.

I suspect that when you have to stretch out your hands that you're tensing up a lot, but tag me when you post a video and I'll make sure to take a look!