just kinda to say hi!

[dee101]

Hi everyone reading!

Just joined to the site today. I am preparing for my Grade 7 exam at the end of 2011. I'm from Ireland and I take my exams with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. The current curriculum for piano expires in December during the Winter sessions of Exams so I'm under a bit of pressure to pack in a lot of practise between now and early November when the exams start. I only started learning my pieces at the beginning of March so, like I said a bit of pressure. None of my close friends or my family are music mad like me so when I get annoyed for not getting as much practise in, it's difficult to explain to them why I'm annoyed.

I've finished college and still only work at weekends so my philosophy is that since I'm at home the rest of the time, still have housework to do, annoyingly so, I aim to try and get between 2-3 hours done a day, unless I've other plans and I work around them. I don't if this is a bit overkill with practise. But I've divide up my time between scale/arpeggios, sight reading, work a little on each piece and try and learn non-grade music. I never ever have gotten all that done in a day.

I'm learning the Allemande from Bach's French Suite No.6 (which after the Prelude in F minor, in WTC2, its a joy and easy enough), the Adagio, 2nd mvt from Beethoven's Sonata No. 1 in  F Minor and Ravel's Prelude (1913) which I've a skeletal hands together. My lessons conclude for the summer beginning of July, so if anyone has any advice for learning this pieces, it will be greatly appreciated. I'll probably be back on the forum during than, cos when I panic, I panic.

Also I'm thinking of taking a year out from grades after Grade 7. I want to go on an train as a music teacher in secondary (high) schools but I feel like I don't have a repertoire behind me. I don't just want only classical pieces cos I like Einaudi and other recent popular/rock music, that I want to learn to play. Is it a good idea to take a year out and learn a batch of pieces that doesn't required eagle-eyed attention to detail.

Thanks. Didn't actually mean for this post to be an essay but I've a feeling this forum may become a bit of a lifeline for me.

Deirdre

[pianowolfi]

Hi and welcome to Pianostreet. Of course you can take a while off from the grades, but only if you promise me to be back after one year!

Just kidding   seems you are on a right track If you are going to teach in secondary school it's very good to get to know also other repertoire, like you mentioned.

I can relate regarding people not being understanding or supportive of your practice needs. People who don't seriously play an instrument themselves often can't understand why one needs to practice. Recently I said to somebody that I am always practicing and she asked "For what?" They will understand if you have a concert ahead but they simply can't grasp that as a musician you need to practice consistently and even sometimes cancel your participation at family events or something like that. Also, people who know that I have made several piano diplomas look at me absolutely flabbergasted: "What?? You?? Practice?? You still need to practice??"    

[dee101]

Thanks. And yes I promise to be back after one year. I'll even do it exactly to the date and time if need be. 

I may seem to be strict because I fell out at the end of college practising. The maternal unit decided the house needed to be insulated on the outer walls and house turned into topsy-turvy land and no practise got done.

Any hints for keeping insanity away. Or am I already insane?

[pianowolfi]

Well I have painfully experienced what it means to live in a house that has no outer-wall insulation. Just recently I had the painters here in my flat because of that, and I could only practice on my e-piano and was afraid of what might happen to my grand while they were working inside of the living room...but now I got rid of mold and I don't need to pay for it because it's a problem of the building, which has not enough insulation, and because I live in a flat. So I'd say I understand both parts

[dee101]

Would you understand the part of if by the  the time work  had  been done in the house, I wanted to shoot the man who did it....it took that bloody long. 

Funny this was three years ago now and i can only say the resentment toward that man is still present.