"Practise Videos"

[tompilk]

Who thinks that "Practise" videos, of our piano practise or section, that we do each day would be interesting? We could upload the videos and show just our day to day practising... any thoughts?
Tom

[emmdoubleew]

I absolutely abhor the thought of someone watching me practice myself, but if anyone is willing to do it, I'd be willing to watch out of curiosity.

[tompilk]

i hate people watching me, but it's different with a camera i think... and the thing is, with these videos, we could see how people really are and we could analyse them to help ourselves without picking and saying what was wrong. We could use the videos to everyones benefit, because no slating of peoples performance would be relevant. Do you not agree?
Tom

[emmdoubleew]

Yeah, I do, I just wouldn't do it  myself  . But I'd be glad to helpfully comment on other people's.

[letters]

yeah itd be good, could see how other people practice, how they go a bout memorising pieces - nice to see someone playing something that isnt polished to perfection! cept if i did it ud prob all think i have the worst technique/attention span ever...

[sissco]

Think it is great! It can tell you so much more than all the words here...

[Bob]

Someone showing a performance or their technique would be interesting.  Finished or unfinished. 

[henrah]

I'd love to do this! I'm going to borrow my brother's camcorder and film myself playing chopin preludes 4 and 6, and also my friends composition. Should I post the video in this topic for you guys to look at?

[tompilk]

I'd love to do this! I'm going to borrow my brother's camcorder and film myself playing chopin preludes 4 and 6, and also my friends composition. Should I post the video in this topic for you guys to look at?

that would be fantastic!
Tom

[gorbee natcase]

That a great idea Do an exagerated slow one and a fast one, and technique sollutions for people who are asking specific questions on a piece rather us writing notes all over the page like this
                                ~
           A C C# B B D F A   
           CA        DD               etc etc

[steve jones]

Sounds like a GREAT idea to me Tom. Only thing is it means I have get a vid camera!

[nedgerhart]

Wait a minute, practice vids are only the beginning. What would be even cooler would be live online practice video, done with a USB camera and mic attached to a laptop sitting on the piano! You could announce your practice schedule someplace like this, and provide the link for everyone to get at your webcam. Then at the appointed hour, the world could tune in for a live practice performance!  Egad, wouldn't that help focus the mind on one's practicing! Once everyone gets the idea of this, a special board might be set up just to track online practice schedules, and people could flip between various people's live practices one after another.  Progress could be tracked and commented on by dozens of musicians around the world!

Only problem I can see with this is that the European brothers and sisters might tend to practice mostly at 2 a.m.  so I might have a hard time tuning in...

Ned
...in Seattle.

[tompilk]

that would be awesome...
Tom

[henrah]

OK, I've uploaded a video of me playing my friends composition, and am currently uploading chopin preludes 4&6. Video can be found here. I messed up in my LH around 2:20 because I was concentrating too much on my RH, which I don't normally do and I have no idea why I was I also messed up very slightly shortly after that, explaining the sudden diminuendo. Also at 2:55, on the repeated octaves in LH, I faltered and played two too close together; and also a slight mistake in the last chords.

Please crit this to hell, as I don't think I'm quite there yet in terms of my own interpretation and general musicality of the whole piece. I can play it much, much better when I'm stoned; maybe because cannabis is an introrespective drug, and that I can get into the music a lot better. But yeah, please 'go to town' when criting my playing; the more detail the better

Chopin Preludes 4&6 coming soon!
Henrah

[henrah]

Here's Prelude No.4

I played this one twice because, after I finished the first one, I thought I played it too robotically and not very musically. Also got a couple of places wrong, near to the end.

Please crit this also; I need the feedback!
Henrah

[henrah]

Here's Prelude No.6

It's only bigger than the rest because I was testing the quality at that size, and it's not so good. I missed an acciaccatura at some place, too hastened to find it now so just listen out for a sudden hard note that doesn't sound right; or where you know there is one.

Must go cook,
Henrah

[tompilk]

thanks... im downloading them now... ill report to you with what i think when ive watched them!
Tom

[henrah]

Awesome, can't wait to hear what you think!

[gruffalo]

watched the first one, just downloading the 2nd. i cant comment much, i havent learned a Chopin Prelude. Good overall, but a few random jerky moments, and one or two random louder chords which dont fit in.

could you show something that needs technical working? would be good to see how you work around those kind of problems.

[tompilk]

the compoition is awesome...
thanks a lot.. is sheet music vailable?  what price? 
Tom

[henrah]

Thanks gruff! Could you give me the times of the jerky movements and the chords that dont fit in please so I can look at them and either conclude why they happen or try and fix them?

As for technical working, yes I can! I shall film myself trying Gnomenreigen. I have quite a few difficulties with it, and have not learnt all of it (2pages to go). I shall post that when I can.

Tom: sheet music is available! But I must phone my friend first to see if he will allow it to be shown publicly. And if it's possible to show it, it will most definately be free...methinks...
Henrah

[zheer]

henrah, you playd the chopin prelude  num4 really well,very expressive. Its not exactly easy is it. Nice piano BTW.

[henrah]

Thankyou very much zheer! And no, it sure isn't easy! Especially when it comes to keeping the LH volume steady, and all notes equal. Btw did you notice that during the first measure (before the RH changes to an A) I played it differently in the two takes? I keep forgetting which way it goes lol
Oh and the piano is a Fazioli 228, a lush piano but it is starting to falter. Some notes are very tangy, and it wanders slightly when holding down notes (I can hear a 'wowowowow' like change), but still a delight to play on.

As for the sheet music to the serenade, I am allowed to post it! However, I cannot find a way to save it out of Sibelius into a .pdf. Can anyone advise me how to do so?
Henrah

[henrah]

Ok, here is the Serenade in Sibelius 2 format. I don't know if it will be openable in Sibelius 1, but I do know that Sibelius 3 will open it no problem.

I shall see about filming Gnomenreigen tonight,
Henrah

[zheer]

. Btw did you notice that during the first measure (before the RH changes to an A) I played it differently in the two takes? I keep forgetting which way it goes lol

  I really dont give a dam about wrong notes, especially when someone plays with honesty and expression, and thats exactly what you did.

[tompilk]

yeah... im amazed by the performance... like a pro... (are you???). I thought you played them better than some recordings i have!
Thanks for sharing these with us... and for teh sheets...
Tom
PS Im glad someone posted a video.. now lets get others up! Ill put one up as soon as i have time... ive put a bit of my own arrangement of the not-so-strident parts of "United People Will Never Be Defeated" but it's, as i say, my own changes to the parts i play. Anyone interested? i suppose this is a "practise video" thread so it can't hurt, but i dont want to loose valuable "piano-street-cred" by me not playing the score...
Tom

[henrah]

I really dont give a dam about wrong notes, especially when someone plays with honesty and expression, and thats exactly what you did.

It's wonderful that you think so zheer! Thankyou again!!

yeah... im amazed by the performance... like a pro... (are you???). I thought you played them better than some recordings i have!

No I'm not a pro, but it's a delightful compliment to receive!

Thanks for sharing these with us... and for teh sheets...

You're very welcome!

ive put a bit of my own arrangement of the not-so-strident parts of "United People Will Never Be Defeated" but it's, as i say, my own changes to the parts i play. Anyone interested? i suppose this is a "practise video" thread so it can't hurt, but i dont want to loose valuable "piano-street-cred" by me not playing the score...
Tom

I'm very interested, I've never heard it before. And I'm sure that you won't loose any cred by playing your own arrangement; it would be a silly thing to loose respect over! In fact, I forgot to mention it as I hadn't looked at the score to the Serenade for a while, but I made quite a few changes to it! Some unconsciously making it easier for me, and some to make it more my own and sound nicer to me.

Thankyou again for your kind words guys, it means a hell of a lot to me!
Henrah

[steve jones]

Tom,

You know what would be cool dont you - if someone with SKILLS did some scales and arpeggios at various angles, so we could really get a good look at the movements.

I'd be fascinated to see the Etude 10-1 from various angles, as I have no clue how this technique is surposed to be performed!

[tompilk]

yeah. unfortunately im not near that standard at all... and my scales are far from perfect... and ive just done my grade 8 and therefore dont ever need them again unless they are in pieces... i vowed never to play scales again for the "kick"...
Tom

[henrah]

Yes, that would be fantastically educational to watch, especially in slo motion! If it's possible, someone who can whiz up and down through scales and arps- please video it and post it here!

[steve jones]

Btw, Henrah, you're playing is very good mate!

Im doing these exact same preludes (also 20 and 9). Prelude 6 featured in this years AB Gr6 syllabus, yet I didnt feel is was that difficult - whats your thought on this? Imo, 4 is harder (music considerations and all).

No 9 is harder than it sounds! I have the chords, but getting it all sounding right (with the right voicing and shite) is difficult.

[henrah]

I found No.6 fairly difficult as I hadn't yet come across a piece that involved the LH singing the melody and the RH playing quietly, so it was quite a challenge to get my RH playing softly. However, in terms of learning it, playing it and memorising it, it was fairly easy. I agree with No.4 being quite harder than No.6, especially keeping all notes of the chords even and at the same volume (disregarding crescendos etc).

I shall give No.9 a shot as I just can't seem to get myself to learn No.15- the Raindrop Prelude....but I'll get to it eventually...when the time comes ehhe...

Just gonna go film myself playing Gnomenreigen, then go through it and what I did to learn certain parts, and certain parts that still need learning.
Henrah

[steve jones]

Time for some recruitment 

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,16489.0.html

[steve jones]

Just gonna go film myself playing Gnomenreigen, then go through it and what I did to learn certain parts, and certain parts that still need learning.

How long have you been playing Henrah?

That pieces looks ruff! 

[tompilk]

yeah... gnomenreigen is hard until you have the funny notey thingies sorted out (sorry i dont do theory)
Tom

[henrah]

How long have you been playing Henrah?

That pieces looks ruff!

Well I started around 6 or 7 years old, but stopped after I think 4 or 5 years because my then teacher was mean, and I did no practice whatsoever. But then, during my GCSE's (when I was around 14 or 15) I met a few pianists at my school and I started again, but without a teacher. Just a month or two ago I got a new teacher.
And yes, the piece is rough, and has taken me a long long time to learn what I know. But I am still 2 pages from the end.

yeah... gnomenreigen is hard until you have the funny notey thingies sorted out (sorry i dont do theory)
Tom

You mean the acciaccaturas, or grace notes (the smaller notes with the line through them)? Yeah, they make it heller lame to sight read, but if you concentrate on learning the shapes they create it becomes a lot easier. Also the scale that Liszt throws at you near the end is a right beeyatch...if only I had 6 fingers

Just uploading the video to my brothers laptop (it's his camera I was using) which will be another 10-15mins or so, and then probably another 10-15mins to upload it to the internet. So in around half an hour or so the video will be up and ready, and I shall post the link when that time comes.
Henrah

[steve jones]

I must admit, Liszt scares the hell out of me. The Chopin Etudes look nasty, but the Liszt ones are just plain intimidating.

Btw, do you have the Cziffra vid of Gnomenreigen? Its pretty good, plenty of hand close ups.

[henrah]

Btw, do you have the Cziffra vid of Gnomenreigen? Its pretty good, plenty of hand close ups.

Yeah I've seen it; and it's an amazing technical feat, but I don't like it very much in terms of sound. When I first saw it I thought it was simply awesome, and loved it to bits; but when I got the music to it and started learning it myself, I found it sounded a lot nicer when played slowly. What peed me off though was at the end they showed his face and not his hands! ARGH! Wish I could have seen that last part of his hands...

0.4 minutes to go......
Henrah

[henrah]

And here it is!

I hope this helps anyone who decides to learn Gnomenreigen, or anyone else really...anyone who can use it, I hope it helps them.
Henrah

[steve jones]

Dont you just hate it when the camera changes at a critical part. It should be the hands, the hands, and nothing but the hands!

Just downloading your vid now. 

[henrah]

Sweetness, I hope it helps you if you ever decide to take on the Gnomenreigen!
Henrah

EDIT: Oh yeah sorry for the huge 89mb file size, it's around 20mins long and needs the high quality so you can see my fingers well enough. I haven't watched through it myself yet, so I can only hope that you can hear me well enough. I tend to mumble sometimes...

[jamie_liszt]

You tend to mumble and play the piano when your mumbling which makes it harder to hear.

[henrah]

Lol sorry Jamie...would you like me to do it again? Or can you hear what I'm saying even if it is hard? I think I missed out a few things and it wasn't very structured, so maybe I should...

[tompilk]

Lol sorry Jamie...would you like me to do it again? Or can you hear what I'm saying even if it is hard? I think I missed out a few things and it wasn't very structured, so maybe I should...

i think it is great... i can hear all the words, but if poossible speak up a bit more next time...!
I cant really talk cos i couldnt talk in front of a camera... im a bit shy, but ill play for the camera... i really need to try and improve my social skills...
Tom

[jamie_liszt]

No you don't have to do it again, I think your playing was great and I could hear you clearly! I was listening through headphones which wern't as loud as my speakers

[steve jones]

I thought his playing was very nice. Unfortunately though, Im to used to hearing at a more lively pace, so it lost alot of the pieces charm for me.

But then again, thats probably more a problem with me than it is with Henrahs fine piano skills.

Jamie,

You should do a couple of practice vids mate, Iv think you're playing is excellent!

[yamaha]

Wow 

Fantastic playing and gorgeous composition!! 

I cant load the Sibelius file    Is there any chance of you posting the composition as a PDF??  Please?

More vids of you playing would be cool too 

[henrah]

i think it is great... i can hear all the words, but if poossible speak up a bit more next time...!
I cant really talk cos i couldnt talk in front of a camera... im a bit shy, but ill play for the camera... i really need to try and improve my social skills...
Tom

No you don't have to do it again, I think your playing was great and I could hear you clearly! I was listening through headphones which wern't as loud as my speakers

That's great to hear, cos I was feeling very embarrased talking to a camcorder!!

I thought his playing was very nice. Unfortunately though, Im to used to hearing at a more lively pace, so it lost alot of the pieces charm for me.

But then again, thats probably more a problem with me than it is with Henrahs fine piano skills.

Cheers Steve!

Jamie,

You should do a couple of practice vids mate, Iv think you're playing is excellent!

I second that motion!!

Wow

Fantastic playing and gorgeous composition!!

I cant load the Sibelius file Is there any chance of you posting the composition as a PDF?? Please?

More vids of you playing would be cool too

Thanks Yamaha!! Unfortunately I have no idea how to save it as a PDF; so unless someone could instruct me on how to do it through Sibelius 2, I'm sorry I can't help.

Cheers for all your comments guys, it really means alot to me!! ;D
Henrah

[gruffalo]

how long do rapidshare downloads last for non- premium users? i can hardly ever get people's stuff from rapidshare. you couldnt upload the Gnomenreigen to yousendit or megaupload?

Gruff

[henrah]

how long do rapidshare downloads last for non- premium users? i can hardly ever get people's stuff from rapidshare.

For non-premium users, I think you can download a certain amount, maybe 20mb or something, every 40mins. Tis not very good, but it had a 100mb limit, which was perfect for my video.

you couldnt upload the Gnomenreigen to yousendit or megaupload?

Gruff

If their limits allow an 89mb size, then yes I can. I will check them out when I get home from school and let you know.
Henrah