Read this, if you're new to forum!

[janice]

Ok, there seems to be alot of new people on this forum.  SOOOOO how about if we start a new round of introductions.  Maybe someone can help me out here.  I can't seem to find where we had all introduced ourselves (a couple of months ago).  I thought that, instead of repeating ourselves, that the new people could just read that.  So, if you're new to this forum, how about if you tell us a little about yourself because we want to get to know you better because we're like one big, happy family around here!  ok, that was sappy!!
ALSO. I think that all of the new people should read"Most embarrassing moment at the piano" (under Miscellaneous), and how about if everyone posted their most embarrassing moment??!!

[mahavishnu]

Hello,

My name is Patrick and I am living in Alberta, Canada!    I am currently finishing up my highschool (at home) so I can have more time at the piano.  I am 17 years old and I have been playing for approximately 11 years.  

I have posted a few to the forum, but for those of you who missed who I am ...well now you know!  It is great reading everyone's posts!

Pat

[mahavishnu]

Ok Everyone,

I missed my most embarassing moment(s) at the piano.  Hmmmm....Well...let me see...
I have several times had problems with page turning...At my debut recital I was playing an Elton John piece (with the book) to warm up to the crowd.  Unfortunately, the book was brand new and it wouldn't stay open.  So, my friend in the crowd was sitting there wondering if he should come up and save me..So I ended up giving the most desperate look towards him (and the audience LOL) so he came up to help me.  Fortunately, the continuity was not interuppted.  I have it on videotape and it's hilarious to watch my facial expression...lol

Hmm..what else..I have drooled several times at the piano..(at home)  And my brother says that I play at concerts/festivals/recitals with my mouth open and my tongue sticking slightly out.

One time at a recital, I had prepared a piece I knew so well (Invention no. 8 bach...this was back in the days when I was in elementary) that I started playing and then I started daydreaming while I was playing and then I lost where I was and forgot which piece I was playing!    That was embarassing...Another time at a festival, I was playing a piece by memory and I had a memory block so I had to ask the adjudicator for the book.  Boy, was my face reddd!

[dskim]

Hello All,
     I just registered a couple of hours ago and quickly complained about my back pain in the other topic.  I guess I should introduce myself now.
     My name is David Kim.  I'm 25, and started piano piano at the rather late age of 12 or 13, having studied violin and cello before that.  I studied music at Harvard and graduated in 2000.  This spring I graduated from New England Conservatory with a piano performance masters.  I have studied with Randall Hodgkinson both privately in college and at NEC's masters program.  I'm continuing to take private lessons now -- he's by far the best I've ever encountered -- a truly great teacher (and terribly overlooked as a performer), so it's working well for me.
     I living back at Harvard (in Cambridge, MA) as a "visiting scholar" (not anything to be impressed by) and doing some teaching, at a community music school, and privately.  But mainly, I'm _trying_ to practice like never before.  I'm interested in trying some competitions for the first time in my life.  Any suggestions welcome.  And congratulations, Mr. Henry (if you read this) -- I've seen your picture on a few competition websites, I think.

     As for preferences, like most hormonal teenagers, I was a total Rachmaninoff junkie for my early years.  I still have to say, he gives a lot of bang for the buck, and the writing is just so natural.  Shortly thereafter, I really got in to Ravel (while totally ignoring Debussy).  I still prefer Ravel -- he's a favorite -- but I've found quite a bit of satisfaction in Debussy, too.  I'm usually practicing something by Chopin.
     My teacher is a Richter fan, and I agree.  Argerich is spectacular, usual criticisms aside.  She's a favorite, definitely.  I feel like I can really count on Zimerman for beautiful playing and a great sound, though.  I like Fleisher's old Brahms concertos.  And of course I love Rubenstein.  I've got a great chamber music CD.

     So I'll be practicing a lot for the time being.  Like I said, any suggestions about competitions welcome.  Enough about me.  I'll be looking out for your interesting messages.  If anyone is playing in the Boston area, let me know!

yours,
     David

p.s.  Any magical cures to back pain?  (See other post.)

[SteveK]

Hi there, everybody!
I'm fairly new to this forum as well! I'm in 11th grade, & I'm going to be 17 in 2 months!!! I'm working on Liszt, Brahms, Chopin, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff!!! I also play other stuff like Gershwin, Scott Joplin, and much more!!!

[megan]

Hello,
My name is Megan and I have taken piano for 12 years,and believe it or not, I have never had an embarrasing moment yet (knock on wood). I am 17 years old and I am looking to take piano as a career. I am currently working on Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu.

[Chopins_Fantaisie]

Hello to anybody out there that happens to be reading this.   I'm a newbie! (what a title... I don't think that should be something to be so very proud of ) A little about me:

I'm a student-teacher, highschool student. I've been playing the grandest of all instruments, the piano, for almost 11 years now. I find I can lose myself entirely in my music when I'm at the piano; I love being able to express any of my emotions with the aid of the different pieces of music. As Chopin once was quoted: "I thunder at the piano." as well as "Music is the expression of our thoughts with the help of sound." mmm, I've a number of quotes from the dear man. As you might observe, Chopin is my favorite composer - beloved composer! I never cease to be amazed of his works, nor tire of hearing them.

I'm currently learning his Fantaisie Impromptu (Megan, we should talk, since you say you're learning it, too!) and am loving every difficult technique part of it. I'm considering playing it for Festival in March, and that means applying serious attention to each trouble spot. (I've been working on it since June of this year...)


I'm looking into possibly getting my Masters (Doctorate if at all possible!) in Piano Pedagogy as I hope to have a career being able to pass on the fascinating love for music to others. I have a small number of beginner students and it's a good experience I think in getting to teach and put to use my knowledge of it all. I'm also kinda-sorta looking into a Performance degree, but am not sure just yet.

Anyhow, there's a little insight to me. Now I'm off to post!

[Rosa]

I should have read some more before I posed a reply to the Introductions thread.    
It is good to see that the introductions were kept up.