http://www.lordcharlie.com/kerry_ryso_yac.wmv

YAY!  I performed last night in a local Young Artist's Competition, sponsored by the Roanoke Youth Symphony.  Twelve people played, on various instruments - mostly violins, then one flue, one oboe, a marimba solo, and me on piano.  I didn't win anything, but I think this is about the best I've ever played it, and that's more than enough for me. 

One of my friends performed Keiko Abe's 'Prism Rhapsody' on marimba and got 2nd place...it was AMAZING!  I think he deserved 1st place, but that only goes to seniors. 

Soooo let me know what you think, if you think had any business performing a piece like this, and what aspects I need to improve...
Thanks!
-Kerry

p.s.  I posted a recording a while ago, it can still be found at http://www.lordcharlie.com/pol_op53.wmv - if you feel like taking the time, let me know if you see improvements! 

Wish we could see your hands...

Well for someone who looked to be about 16 or 17 years old, you did an admirable job over all and in front of an audience too!

Just keep doing what you are doing and you'll be well on you way to concert pianist status.

Man eventhough I didn't like the song, it sounded very good, very rare that I see people at such age playing that good...For how long have you been playing?

there was a pencil on the strings int he second recording.  very interesting.

In the beginning you need more clarity (indeed throughout the rest of the piece as well).  You're not using enough of your fingers and that's what's causing the notes to run together.  Try practicing the beginning slower and lift your fingers high before striking the notes. 

I don't think it's very robotic, but you don't seem to understand what's important to bring out to your audience.  You seem to be focussing on the harmony in the RH and not the melody -- bring that out, don't just shrug it off.  The LH is not going to do anything for you if you play it as loud as you are in places (like the octaves in the middle, which should be MUCH quieter, by the way).

Make sure your rhythms are very crisp and that the hands are playing in ensemble with one another.  Like in the very beginning, after the first couple measures when you're playing the Dd - C - F# - E in the RH, the hands are not together, .  You might try playing the beginning without pedal a few times to make sure the hands are playing at the right time.

Notes....  yes, the notes are very important, and when you play so many that it distracts the audience from the music, then it matters.  An occasional slip of the fingers is forgivable, but a slip of the fingers every measure or two is not.

Other than that, good job!   

What are your plans after highschool?

hmmmm plans after high school?  not quite sure.  i'm goin to Radford University for a year or two, since it's pretty close to home, and then i'll probably transfer somewhere else.  at this point, i'm planning on doing a double-major in computer science and music performance-- i do a lot of computer work and wouldn't mind making a living out of it, and i wouldn't be able to live with myself if i fell behind in piano and percussion.  i don't, however, plan on doing anything with music professionally.

[...]you don't seem to understand what's important to bring out to your audience.

this is more or less what i meant when i asked "did i have any business performing this piece?"  see, i stopped taking regular lessons about a year and a half ago, and i feel like i've really gotten ahead of myself since then, since i'm playing only what i want.  so perhaps i should tone it down a bit and play some less advanced pieces that are easier to interpret?

hmm...i knew piano made me play percussion more musically, but it never occurred to me that percussion might make me play piano more mechanically interesting...

leaving regular piano lessons was one of the dumbest things i think i've ever done, but there's no way i would have made it through the last year if i hadn't--i've been way too busy.  i've taken occassional lessons, primarily when my sister couldn't make it to hers, in which my teacher offered some guidance, but i haven't seen her enough to really make a difference.  i do, however, plan on focusing on piano in college--i figure that if i get a good, solid foundation now, i'll be more likely to continue it for the rest of my life. 

how much time does being a music major take?  is it significantly more than any other major?  one of the reasons that i chose to go to radford instead of a more..uh..prestigious school was so that i might be able to keep up with the work load more easily.  academically, i'm pretty far ahead of the average freshman at RU, so maybe i'll be able to keep up with a bit of extra work?