Monday, October 29, 2007
Who is your favourite composer?
In general if asked "who is your favourite composer" I would answer: Beethoven or Chopin. Then I start playing a Bach prelude and I think that Bach just trumps them all. Nothing makes me happier than playing some Bach. There's just something about it. Those harmonies and constant movement. Of course, the tricky fingering makes me curse. The beauty of Bach though is you can play it at an excruciatingly slow tempo and it is still musical!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Playing along and blocking things out!
I've been playing along with the downloaded files that come with the Connections series. The practice tempo is still a bit fast for me, so I have to scramble, but it is a lot of fun. The blues piece is especially fun with the band music in the background. Playing along really keeps you on your toes because you don't have time to stop and figure out your notes; you need to keep the rhythm and just keep going. I wish this type of thing had been available the first time 'round!
I'm also trying to learn Tiny Dancer by Elton John. The trouble there is I actually have to block some of the music out of my head. When you've been listening to a song for years, you can hear all of the band parts in your head and I just want to concentrate on the piano part so that I don't go crazy. Even with the music in front of me I have trouble because I want to play everything that I'm hearing in my head. As long as I get that signature rhythm/melody then I'll be alright. Just takes some practice!
To counter all of this "modern" music I thought I would also start learning a Bach prelude. I'll check with Peter tomorrow to see if it is feasible or will simply be frustrating!
I'm also trying to learn Tiny Dancer by Elton John. The trouble there is I actually have to block some of the music out of my head. When you've been listening to a song for years, you can hear all of the band parts in your head and I just want to concentrate on the piano part so that I don't go crazy. Even with the music in front of me I have trouble because I want to play everything that I'm hearing in my head. As long as I get that signature rhythm/melody then I'll be alright. Just takes some practice!
To counter all of this "modern" music I thought I would also start learning a Bach prelude. I'll check with Peter tomorrow to see if it is feasible or will simply be frustrating!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Catching up
I've decided that the trouble with blogging is I don't compose at the computer. I blog in my head while drying my hair, brushing my teeth, walking to work... times when you can't even jot down your blog for later posting. Oh well, will try to remember what I was thinking about while washing my hair.
Although I find myself somewhat rhythmically challenged at the piano, I finally have Pink Panther success (minus a few wrong notes from time to time). I should have played a stage band instrument in high school. We'll see what happens when I put my part together with Helen's saxophone part. I like accompanying, but I haven't done it in a very long time!
Rhythm is one of the things that I am working on this year. Frederick Harris Music has published a set of graded piano books called "Connections for piano." They are composed by Christopher Norton and although they have all of the technical requirements of the classical pieces, they are written as swing, bossa nova, blues, etc. You can also buy an activity book which points out interesting things about each piece and a recording so that you can play along with a band. Last week I learned "Fantasy Bossa" and this week it is "Nefertiti Blues."
Sally has purchased some more violin/piano music and I've started on Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (I'm noticing that sometimes I put titles in quotes and sometimes not. Hmmmm). It isn't very difficult but the arrangement is different than the one in my Christmas book so I have to pay attention. She also bought some Vivaldi but that may be beyond both of us at the moment!
The other thing that I want to work on this year is speed. I never really played fast pieces when I was younger, just slow and moderate. I don't know if this was intentional on Joan's part or just happened by chance. Anyway, if I ever want to be able to play the Beethoven sonata, I must increase my ability to play quickly! I'm learning an Impromptu by Schubert and we'll see how it goes.
An update on memorization: I have finally memorized my Nocturne and can play it quite comfortably. Now I have to work on making it sound like a Nocturne rather than a waltz. I think I'm concentrating too much on those left hand chords so that I play them correctly and losing myself in that oom-pa-pa rhythm.
Finally, I've discovered that the key to piano lesson success is making sure that you have at least 15 minutes to unwind between work and piano lessons. Leaving work at 3:45 to drive across town on a Friday to a 4:00 lesson is very bad for concentration!
Although I find myself somewhat rhythmically challenged at the piano, I finally have Pink Panther success (minus a few wrong notes from time to time). I should have played a stage band instrument in high school. We'll see what happens when I put my part together with Helen's saxophone part. I like accompanying, but I haven't done it in a very long time!
Rhythm is one of the things that I am working on this year. Frederick Harris Music has published a set of graded piano books called "Connections for piano." They are composed by Christopher Norton and although they have all of the technical requirements of the classical pieces, they are written as swing, bossa nova, blues, etc. You can also buy an activity book which points out interesting things about each piece and a recording so that you can play along with a band. Last week I learned "Fantasy Bossa" and this week it is "Nefertiti Blues."
Sally has purchased some more violin/piano music and I've started on Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (I'm noticing that sometimes I put titles in quotes and sometimes not. Hmmmm). It isn't very difficult but the arrangement is different than the one in my Christmas book so I have to pay attention. She also bought some Vivaldi but that may be beyond both of us at the moment!
The other thing that I want to work on this year is speed. I never really played fast pieces when I was younger, just slow and moderate. I don't know if this was intentional on Joan's part or just happened by chance. Anyway, if I ever want to be able to play the Beethoven sonata, I must increase my ability to play quickly! I'm learning an Impromptu by Schubert and we'll see how it goes.
An update on memorization: I have finally memorized my Nocturne and can play it quite comfortably. Now I have to work on making it sound like a Nocturne rather than a waltz. I think I'm concentrating too much on those left hand chords so that I play them correctly and losing myself in that oom-pa-pa rhythm.
Finally, I've discovered that the key to piano lesson success is making sure that you have at least 15 minutes to unwind between work and piano lessons. Leaving work at 3:45 to drive across town on a Friday to a 4:00 lesson is very bad for concentration!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
