What are you playing now?
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I've put the Schubert D664 aside. I have the first two movements, pretty much, under my fingers. The third movement is a beast, and, frankly, it's just not fun to learn.
If it's not fun, screw it.
I suggested a couple of things to my teacher - Pictures at an Exhibition and the Mendelssohn Variations "Serious". There are parts of Pictures (the last few bars of Gnomus) that are just, for me, impossible, so, again, if it's not fun.
Ditto the Variations. Variation #4 is something I could probably learn - after a couple of months. Not worth the aggravation.
So, something more up to my level.
The Bach Partita #1 in Bb. I was wondering about the ornamenation in another thread. I've always loved this piece, and it's within my reach. The prelude is about 60% there.
I love Bach (not @bachophile of course).
@George-K said in What are you playing now?:
The Bach Partita #1 in Bb. I was wondering about the ornamenation in another thread. I've always loved this piece, and it's within my reach.
Making progress. Prelude is mostly under my fingers - I can get through it without breakdown most of the time.
The Allemande is tricky, and my Henle edition has some atrocious fingering, making it all that more difficult - it’s an older (1970s) version. The A part is about 80% there, and I’ve started on the B section. A bit trickier than the A (especially at the end), but it’ll get there.
I love Bach’s music. He was such a wonderful craftsman.
ETA: The ornamentation in the prelude? I’ve decided to agree with what @Axtremus said - it’s supposed to be improvisational so I’m doing a turn, rather than a trill as indicated in the score. It fits my fingers niceley and allows me to keep the tempo, timing and rhythm going.
As Duke Ellington said, “If it sounds good, it is good.
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I need to engage a teacher again just to keep me focused.
I’m bouncing around between Schubert, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff.
"You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
-Cormac McCarthy -
I need to engage a teacher again just to keep me focused.
I’m bouncing around between Schubert, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff.
@jon-nyc said in What are you playing now?:
I need to engage a teacher again just to keep me focused.
It makes all the difference.
THe teacher I have now is the same one as I had when I returned to the piano (gasp) 19 years ago.
She is great for motivation, encouragement and engagement. Also, we interact, via text, when I encounter a problem.
I lesson every other week.
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I need to engage a teacher again just to keep me focused.
I’m bouncing around between Schubert, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff.
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I've got the Prelude and Allemande of the Bb partita pretty much under my fingers. Like so many of the P&Fs from the WTC, I'm sure they'll go away within a week of no constant practice.
Starting the courente - that's tricky AF.
Also, inspired by @jon-nyc , I'm taking another look at the Schubert Op 90 #1. I played with it (not "played" it) a few years ago. Gonna put that on my plate.
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Going to do a recital in a few weeks, brahms 118.2 followed by the c#m fugue from WTC1. Recorded it yesterday for my youtube subscribers.
Link to videoEducation is extremely important.
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I'm looking forward to the recital. It'll be at a church, so the piano and acoustics should be good. I think the other players will be kids mostly, but hopefully some other adults. My teacher has other adults in his studio, but he's not sure if they'll be playing.
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Going to do a recital in a few weeks, brahms 118.2 followed by the c#m fugue from WTC1. Recorded it yesterday for my youtube subscribers.
Link to video -
@Horace Very nice playing! I thought that those wolves that kick in around 5:00 were a particularly nice addition to the piece!
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Going to do a recital in a few weeks, brahms 118.2 followed by the c#m fugue from WTC1. Recorded it yesterday for my youtube subscribers.
Link to video -
@Horace Awesome job!!!
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Very nice, Horace.
I have a canine accompanist, too.
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Thanks, Phibes and GK. That's my favorite of Bach's fugue too, George, though now I don't hear it as well because of the repetition. My teacher's favorite is the E major from book 2. I'm trying to understand why it's so great. I think my ear is not refined enough. I will learn it one of these days.
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Messing around with some of the Guaraldi Christmas pieces. Also been noodling around with some old faves, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, etc. I've been in the house a month now and it's nice to play the real piano again, so I just pick stuff up and read through it.
After xmas I'll probably take on something new.
