How do these people post so much?

[pianistimo]

oh.  yes. very hard.  piano.

i wasn't going on today - but i couldn't pass this one up.  wait. am i wrong.  i have to check. be back in ajiffy.  (i actaully don't speak any italian - just musical terms).

*i'm going to go on threads i normally don't, just today.  i think i'm going on the 'singing tour' thread.

[leahcim]

oh.  yes. very hard.  piano.

A question about word that means soft wasn't going to be very hard

(i actaully don't speak any italian - just musical terms).

It must be fun watching you order a pizza. Or describing the pasta you want by the shape

[pianistimo]

i don't understand.  do you order pizza in italian only?  you want to see me move my hands around.  italians use their hands a lot when speaking because it shades the meaning.  say, if i wanted pepperoni - which i don't - because i hate pepperoni.  too peppery.  i would put two fingers together and make motion of a circle indicating little 1" pepperoni to be placed on my big pizza (12" circle with fingers).  but, you can't do this over the phone. 

[leahcim]

i don't understand.

What is a pizza in music then?

Pizza - a term used by Baroque composers to give a suggestion for something else to do rather than hear another piece that sounds the same as the rest. Not often seen in modern times because Jazz is so rarely scored

[penguinlover]

Really folks!  I just read this thread. I agree that the Piano Forum is addicting, that's why I have to put a timer on myself.  My husband gets jealous of it I think.  Anyway, I was wondering about this obsession with the number of posts.  Is there a prize for who has the most?  If there is, maybe I should post more.

Here's a piano question that I probably should know but don't:  Are there any pedal markings in music that tell us when to use the soft pedal or the sostenuto pedal?  I have only been taught the damper pedal markings.

Great day!

[netzow]

Posted by: penguinlover
Really folks!  I just read this thread. I agree that the Piano Forum is addicting, that's why I have to put a timer on myself.  My husband gets jealous of it I think.  Anyway, I was wondering about this obsession with the number of posts.  Is there a prize for who has the most?  If there is, maybe I should post more.

Here's a piano question that I probably should know but don't:  Are there any pedal markings in music that tell us when to use the soft pedal or the sostenuto pedal?  I have only been taught the damper pedal markings.

Great day!

How long is the timer set for? This makes me think of a question every member sould ask themselves: 
How  long a time limit sould you set on your pianostreet browsing-posting. I personally am obsessed with this forum. I can't stay away for more than a day it seems. Try it I'll bet you can't

I just remembered the thing to remember when trying to stay away is I should be practicing I should be practicing. Speaking of practice I still have some more to do today.

[penguinlover]

Well, let's see.  Today I must have been here twelve times.  Somedays I keep in on, and just visit as I pass the computer. But when my family is home, I have to make sure I don't ignore them.  I don't actually "set a timer", but I try to stay aware of the time I spend.  I try for not more than thirty minutes at a time. It is almost impossible to do, especially if you are researching  a topic.  I am a visual learner, so I have to constantly go to the keyboard and try the things out.  That takes time too.

I am glad I am not alone here, and others find it addicting too.  Still waiting for an answer to my piano question.

[netzow]

What I'm doing right now is checking the forum during my breaks in practicing. Actually an amazing thing just happened I had a question I posted it on the board and 5 min. later I had an answer. I said to myself now that is just cool!!!!

[pianowolfi]

I am glad I am not alone here, and others find it addicting too.  Still waiting for an answer to my piano question.

The 'soft' pedal is often marked with 'u.c.' that means una corda (one string). on pianos in the nineteenth century this pedal had the effect that the hammers did touch only one string. On our pianos the hammers touch two strings in the treble and one string in the lower register. Also often is 'mezza voce' (half voice), that doesn't mean explicitely left pedal use but it suggests itself. The middle pedal is indicated by sustain pedal or sust.ped. or sost. ped.

[penguinlover]

Thanks pianowolfi.  I have seen the UC marking before, but never the sustain marking.  They are not used much I guess.  I have been experimenting with them in the Rach's prelude in G minor.  My feet seem to be too big, I need to play barefoot.

[invictious]

That's cheating 

but, I use it when playing Debussy  , because I am as useless as that.

Otherwise no, I don't use it unless it's stated

[ramseytheii]

Posted by: penguinlover
Really folks!  I just read this thread. I agree that the Piano Forum is addicting, that's why I have to put a timer on myself.  My husband gets jealous of it I think.  Anyway, I was wondering about this obsession with the number of posts.  Is there a prize for who has the most?  If there is, maybe I should post more.

Here's a piano question that I probably should know but don't:  Are there any pedal markings in music that tell us when to use the soft pedal or the sostenuto pedal?  I have only been taught the damper pedal markings.
 

I dont think anybody spends as much time on pianoforum as they think.  You can click on your name above, and check out your "general statistics," which will tell you the total time in your whole life you have spent on piano forium thus far.  Looks lke u have spent about 2 days total.  Thats not really that mcuh :°>  There is no prize but good luck catching up with pianitisimo.  actually if you do catch up with pianitisimo, i think we can all pitch in and buy you something nice, like a steinway grand piano.

u.c. or una corda means soft pedal, also you see soetimes, II, or sometimes, 2er Pedal.  In german it sounds, zweiter pedal.  Sostenuto pedal usually is called sostenuto, like in Rachmaninoff corelli variations, sometimes, III.  mostly that pedal can be used for more imaginative purposes.  Most people just use it to hold down bass notes, but it can also be used to enhance sonority, as it adds a layer perceptible beyond just the normal pedal.  I use it for instance in Ravel Jeux d'eau to sustain higher pitches, not just low ones, because it adds to the sonority. And by the way it is very perceptible.  99.9percent of pianists dont know about this, and thnk it is just for bass notes, so allow me to be the first to mention it here!

Walter Ramsey

[netzow]

I dont think anybody spends as much time on pianoforum as they think.  You can click on your name above, and check out your "general statistics," which will tell you the total time in your whole life you have spent on piano forium thus far.  Looks lke u have spent about 2 days total.  Thats not really that mcuh :°>  There is no prize but good luck catching up with pianitisimo.  actually if you do catch up with pianitisimo, i think we can all pitch in and buy you something nice, like a steinway grand piano.

Don't give me any motivation Does anyone know how they measure this? I mean just because you have a window open with pianostreet in it doesn't mean that you are looking at it. How do they tell how long you are reading each thread and so on?

[leahcim]

I dont think anybody spends as much time on pianoforum as they think.  You can click on your name above, and check out your "general statistics," which will tell you the total time in your whole life you have spent on piano forium thus far.

I think you're mistaken because what that statistic tells us isn't the amount of time we each spend physically sitting in front of the computer reading and posting on pianostreet.

e.g my stats show my irregular sleeping pattern, hence I've posted more or less equally at every hour of the day. According to the stats I've barely been on 20 hours.

In truth, I've probably spent more than 20 hours sat in front of the computer including at least a few browser tabs of pianostreet being open every week since I joined - with the exception of a few times when I've not visited.

If it's based upon "activity" i.e the time spent during which a link / button is clicked and pianostreet servers process a request from a user, then it's going to be a lot lower than the statistic you're suggesting it is measuring.

For example, I've clearly taken longer to type this reply than the time pianostreet will take processing the request when I clicked 'reply' and when I click 'post' but I suspect you'll find that the statistic only takes those two clicks into account and not the time between them when I was actually typing this response.

[Of course, if it did attempt to take the time in between into account that would yield falsely high figures since it would have no way to tell if we were just typing a reply or if the phone had rung or we went and made a coffee or whatever else]

[penguinlover]

actually if you do catch up with pianitisimo, i think we can all pitch in and buy you something nice, like a steinway grand piano.


Promise?!!!  I'd better get busy then.  I just may take you up on your offer. 

[penguinlover]

I dont' really know how to add a quote, I thought about just trying all sorts of ways.  Even doing it wrong would add a post to my total wouldn't it?   Penguinlover

[jpianoflorida]

....I've turned the computer off in my studio, went into my house and went to pianostreet website  and found  somehow i'm stilled logged on...i thought you would automatically be signed off if you shut down your computer???

[pianistimo]

it's the first stage of addiction.  they get you hooked.  you cannot log off without putting in your time.  after a while - it's just duty.

[netzow]

That's right a duty. You have to maintain or up your average number of posts a day. Pianistimo's average is up over 13 when I started this thread it was at 12.something. pianistimo is becoming more addicted. Pianistimo has also taken over the post lead in this time. If anyone want's to catch Pianistimo the will need to start posting at a clip un equaled in our modern era. Maybe someone could get a computer to think up posts for them or something.

[thalbergmad]

Pianistimo has also taken over the post lead in this time.

If you take away the "God" posts, she has had 9.

Thal

[penguinlover]

That just shows you Who's most important in her life.  She sure puts me to shame.

[jpianoflorida]

Good point! Truth is we are all motivated by one of 2 things:

our belief in GOD

our nonbelief in GOD

either way that will make a difference in the way you view everything!

[penguinlover]

So true.  And to those of us who believe in God, it is hard NOT to talk about Him.  It comes out in everything we say and do.

[pianistimo]

everyone is in luck.  i just went to church and i am talked out.  so, carry on - and penguinlover, never feel put to shame.  i think those that speak least say it the loudest.  it's always been a problem of mine to try to convince people one way or another - but really- it's in God's court.  we learned today about the incredible mercy of God in judgement.  otherwise, why would Christ have bothered to die for us.  we're sort of fearful for others - but the way he sees it - forget the 99 who are doing ok and go after the 1% and give them a huge bash when they get some things going in their favor.  it's almost like - don't be too perfect or you'll be overlooked.  but, that may be extreme in my interpretation.

also, today we learned about the days of awe or repentance (right around the time of judgement)  there is a 'sealing' spoken of - where people's names are written in the book of life (and also their deeds).  our deeds follow with us.  so, if we do evil and repent and God throws our sins as far as east is from west - others might say 'well look at them -they did this and this'  and God will say 'hmm.  i don't see it in MY book.'  that is because we took advantage of this time of living to repent and turn away from sin.  even if it is some sin that plagues us.  he always gives second chances and third chances.  the only thing i have not figured out is reallyhow much chance there will be at HIS return.  when he returns He wants to find us doing good.  we don't want to be shut out because we were 'sleeping.'  now is the day of salvation.  not to always be perfect - but to show respect for His great sovereignty over our lives. 

[penguinlover]

I guess we will never know how it will be at the end, it's not our place to know.  But God does, and that's all that matters.  I am so thankful for His mercy and unending love, and that He actually puts up with me.  He truly is a great God.

[netzow]

I guess we will never know how it will be at the end, it's not our place to know.  But God does, and that's all that matters.  I am so thankful for His mercy and unending love, and that He actually puts up with me.  He truly is a great God.

Yes he is! On a different note (not a note a note). (yes that was cheesy). Pianistimo Good post but on to the different note. I saw on another thread that you have a teacher. I thought wow a teacher for pianistimo that teacher must really be something. Is your teacher on Pianostreet? If not try to convert him/her such a teacher would be an invaluble source of information to the forum.

[pianistimo]

an invaluable source of information about what?  about me?  ahahahah.  ok.  more likely he would be an invaluable source of piano information.  he is a genius.

www.carlcranmer.com     i can assure you that i've only spoken good words about him.  i hope he returns the favor.  my luck is that he'll say that i have a bats chance in hell to be a concert pianist.  but, i never stop when anyone says anything like that.  first, i must get my piano in better working order.  i had to put it off for school clothes.  (not for me)  i did that last year.  also, my hammond organ is not working quite right. 

i adore mr. carl cranmer.  he is the cat's meow.  he plays everything just right.  if i could play like him (which i got a good start) i would be very happy in life.  unfortunately, i've regressed.  now, i must start again on my half finished repertoire - but i need to call the piano tuner.  maybe on the first of october.  payday. 

[netzow]

an invaluable source of information about what?  about me?  ahahahah.  ok.  more likely he would be an invaluable source of piano information.  he is a genius.

www.carlcranmer.com     i can assure you that i've only spoken good words about him.  i hope he returns the favor.  my luck is that he'll say that i have a bats chance in hell to be a concert pianist.  but, i never stop when anyone says anything like that.  first, i must get my piano in better working order.  i had to put it off for school clothes.  (not for me)  i did that last year.  also, my hammond organ is not working quite right. 

i adore mr. carl cranmer.  he is the cat's meow.  he plays everything just right.  if i could play like him (which i got a good start) i would be very happy in life.  unfortunately, i've regressed.  now, i must start again on my half finished repertoire - but i need to call the piano tuner.  maybe on the first of october.  payday. 

Wow nice Piano teacher. Hey you are a lot closer to being a concert pianist than I am. I'm just a little wanna be a Piano performace major might need an extra year after highschool to get good enough to get into a decent program to get a BM that's most advanced piece that has ever  worked(ing) on is Beethoven's Sonata in C minor. I wish I could play like you seeing as you are invariably alot better than me and might (do you?) have a degree. I probably wish I had your piano to come to think of it.

[pianistimo]

my piano is 21 years old, or more.  i doubt you'd want it.  but, it does stay in tune.  i tended to favor kawaiis until recently.  although occasionally i'll hear a really great sounding kawaii grand.  keep playing, netzow.  you'll probably go far very quickly.  all it takes is practice, right.  i kind of got sidetracked with three children - but it's all working out.  sometimes delaying one dream for another dream.   i always wanted a family -but it's pretty hard to practice with a baby around.  remember that, ok.  take a good 4-5 years and don't get distracted.  they come soon enough! 

[penguinlover]

I guess it's not giving up a dream, just delaying it.  Well, maybe it is exchanging one like you said, pianistimo.  Piano is rather like riding a bike, once you can do it, you will always remember how, the basics.  It's the "tricks" that you lose.  Like clean trills, scale passages, arpeggios, etc.  But if you never quit practicing, even if you can only get a little, it will good.  When the baby grows up, there will be time.  Pianos don't need mothers, babies do.

[netzow]

Upright or grand? You haven't seen my piano. It's saving grace is that it has good tone (for and old upright). If it had a tinney tone (I can't stand tinney toned piano's) I would hate it but it serves it's purpose. I don't know how far I will go I'm just tryiny to get good enough to major in it and get into a good school we'll worry about far later Thanks for the encouragment! The advantage of doing what I want to do (hopefully) is that I hopefully will be able to maintain practice.

[netzow]

By the way what I want to do is kind of a cross between Rebuilding and Refurbishing Piano's and Teaching Piano. In case anyone was wondering. (Not that anyone WAS wondering but anyway..............yeah.

[pianistimo]

don't go into music thinking only 'piano , piano.'  think in very broad strokes, imo.  that way - you can do many things with a music career.  even take a business class or two.  some computer classes.  maybe these would be part of your electives - but enjoy them and do well in them, too!

it is so neat to meet an all around musician.  usually they are conductors.  they understand how to play piano well, but didn't necessarily focus on it to the extent that some do.  but, the money is there in larger quantities faster, i think.  take a chorale.  you've got fifty or more students automatically.  or, a community college symphony.  those are paid students.  i don't know why - but it is always harder (and keeps getting harder) to find single piano students that are truly freshman level at piano and students that teachers want to teach.  so if you have a limited number of students for piano at first - you can also do other things!   

imo, you will lose time and money on refurbishing pianos.  people don't buy them that often.  you can spend countless hours on that - as with practicing - and enjoy the time immensely - but not get paid enough.  you need a job to really tide you through the bills that start coming at you.  and, a company that will pay your health insurance and take out the typical stuff you have to keep track of when you are self-employed.  self-employment isn't worth the time anymore - basically.  look at the the price of gas alone!  car repairs.  the list goes on.

a friend of mine had a shop in california (actually a real shop behind her store front and piano studio).  she and her husband sold instruments, repaired, she taught lessons, and also played for karaoke nights at certain places for fun.  between all of that - they eeked by - but didn't have a lot of extra spending money.  the thing is - when you really love something - you just don't care so much.  but - she said the work was hard and sometimes overwhelming.  a lot of music stores go broke.  even big ones.  it would all come back on you.  much better, imo, to work for a college or a school and just put in the hours and be able to come home, eat dinner, and practice - and basic things like that.

also, i think the idea is that if you do something well, you can teach it later.  say, with composition, music history, piano lessons, master classes, specialties in music. 

[netzow]

I'll try not to think piano piano. I'm going to take up the gutair so hopefully that will broaden my musical horizons. Yes I want to do well in and take a wide variety of courses-classes and do well in them. This is becoming more important as I have decided to shoot high (I'm trying not to let it intimidate me) and try to get into the Wheaton Conservatory of music when I apply to music schools. This collage is very top notch in terms of SAT Scores and the like. I need to do well in every part of my school as it will affect my music future as well as many other things. I have am considering minor's and or concentrations in the Music area as well Perhaps I should take a closer look at Conducting. Even if you don't go into it deeply as a career it would be a valuble experience and skill. Any Ideas for other things? What do you mean by freshman level at piano? Working at a collage as a prof. or even as a technician is also something to look into. Thank you for all the advice!!

[pianistimo]

glad to hear of your goals to get into a great college and take a lot of varied classes.  they all lead back into one another in some way or other.  conducting is GREAT!  i only took one semester, but i wish i had taken more.  especially if you find a good teacher.  there are so many 'secrets' to music hidden in conducting.  for one thing - it really teaches you everything that you're supposed to do with learning a piece of music for piano.  to scan the music - to develop a sense of fast reading of the score and putting meaning into it - to take the score home and study it/marking it up - to practice it in your head (tempos, dynamics, interpretation) - to bring people together around it (this is a big one with conducting) by explaining to others your interpretation and how to precisely fix the little details - to have pretty much perfect pitch and be able to hear chords - to know a lot about composers.

all these things are so important but rarely taken to such a high standard as with conducting.  why?  because so much is required of a conductor.  YOU are it.  you are the interpreter.  people look to you for instruction and tips on how to make it sound better.  that means - there is no time to be lazy.  with piano - sometimes at the beginning - freshmen students are absolutely lazy.  they don't go out actively seeking information.  it has to be dropped in their lap.  you are probably different - but take a look at some of your peers at school.  some are just 'doing time.'  this doesn't pay at all - especially with music.  you have to be putting in time in the listening library - on the computers (getting used to the newer programs that help with theory and composing) - becoming adept at using the library (personally i think this is the first thing i'd do.  check out the library! and ask someone to walk through and explain where everything is at.  preferrably a music teacher who has time).  to follow around and become a student-aide of a teacher you admire.  to take some summer courses (speeding up the time you can get the first degree).  imo, do everything towards your goal. even work.  don't work in the cafeteria.  work in the music library.  once you know where everything is - then you can start connecting the dots.   

[netzow]

Just more and more reasons to a complete full music education. I want to Major in performance but that won't stop me from having a coupe of minors or concentrations. I have considered the fact that getting a masters degree would be more likly to get serious students that are not lazy. I experienced this problem with my last piano teacher. I was the only student who practiced regularly. The rest put piano low on the prority list, they would call say hey I have to do this I can't come...........blah blah blah. I have never had to be told to practice, ever. Do you know anything about Wheaton or where you just going on what I said? I am looking to start doing more theory and maybe start some compostion as well. Would you mind taking a look over at the Repertoire section of the forum, the Thread Piano Literature Syllabus and telling me what you think of the levels for piano major's i.e. how far I need to go, what I should w ork on . Please do not feel obligated but if you could that would be great. Thank you for the advice!

[pianistimo]

i don't even know where wheaton is located - but from what the syllabus looks like - they are a competent music school in my book.  of course, i am a haphazard student (having taken a year off from my studies for my broken leg) and what do i know?  but, the thing is - whatever you start - FINISH.  that's my motto.  so even if you are not perfect the first go around (bachelors degree) - keep at it and just keep practicing and performing.  the goal isn't instant recognition (although certain recitals will make you feel like you are some kind of master pianist - only to be knocked down by other performances).  pick mean mean teachers.  they are nice mean.  if you know what i mean.  they are truthful and help you sort out exactly what you need to work on.  don't worry if they say 'you play like *.' just consider it a part of the training.  after awhile they seem like angels.  you see improvement that otherwise might have stagnated in the mires of common problems.

[netzow]

Was it your right leg or your left leg? Mean teachers right.

[pianistimo]

right leg. 

i only took so much and one day said, 'i'm going to kick you tommorrow.'  about three months later i broke my leg.  so much for that.  anyway, i usually forget by tommorrow.

[netzow]

Forget what? To break your leg? Was it one of those broken legs where you had to keep it above some point in your body or was there some other reason so you couldn't practice or where you just using it as an excuse. A year is a long time.