Bach-Musette; Pleyel-Sonatina in Dmajor

[littletune]

Well I will be a little annoying...  and I will probably post these two pieces a few times. Because these are my Christmas recital pieces (which I will have on December 21). And I'm really worried about it. I mean I really really like these two pieces! Musette is really fun but it's pretty fast and Sonatina is really beautiful but it's a lot more difficult than the ones I was playing before. And besides I have so many things for school now that I don't have as much time as I would like for practicing!

So I think I will try recording them a few times and posting that (if I had a webcam I would go on ustream and have live recitals  , but I don't so... )

And here's my practice recital (recorded December 18):

This is from today (December 11):
Bach Musette:

Pleyel Sonatina in D major - it was kinda weird playing without the quiet pedal because the left hand sounded soooo much louder, so I was trying to make the left hand more quiet and didn't think enough about all other things (and I played it without the sustain pedal).

(This is from yesterday (December 10):
I recorded these today (I was playing with the quiet pedal), tomorrow I will try to record again (without the quiet pedal).

This is Musette

And this is Sonatina, first movement: Andante (without sustain pedal)

And then I also tried with the pedal (but I'm still getting used to playing with the pedal).

So this is for today.
Oh and I really hope I'm sitting better than I did before (I have a feeling like I am, but I'm not sure  and I don't know if it's possible to see that from these videos anyway).
Well I hope I can post tomorrow again!  )

[pianoplayjl]

I really like the Bach musette because I hear it all the time! You really played it very well and congratulations. Effective use of dynamics because the other versions I hear are really 'robotic' in sounding. The only thing I might suggest is speed it up a little? Goodluck with the recital.

JL

[littletune]

Thank you very much for the comment JL! 
Well I'm a little afraid to play the Musette faster because I'm afraid my hands won't want to do what they should anymore.  Specially at the recital! I tried a little faster today I think.

Thank you for the goodluck wishes! 

I posted the videos from today in the first post. 

[pianowolfi]

I don't think that the Musette needs to be any faster, to me it feels just right

For the Sonatina (both versions) I have one suggestion: you might try to let the melody really float and flow above the accompaniment, simply put: 50% accompaniment, 100 % melody, volume-wise. You might imagine that the left hand is a very active listener to the right hand solo, but still, a listener or supporter

[littletune]

Thank you Wolfi! I will try to think about it that way.  I mean I know that the left hand is too loud and it bothers me, but I just haven't figured out completely how to make it more quiet!  I hope I can before the recital!!  Thank you for the advice!   

[cmg]

Very lovely playing!  Littletune, the LH is almost there in the softness you want.  Maybe think of that arm behind your hand as lighter.  Pull it back just a little from the keyboard to remove some of the weight and let your fingers articulate a bit more to get a lighter, softer sound.

You play quite well.  A pleasure to hear your work.   

[littletune]

Thank you Cmg for your very nice comment!   I will try to do that! Thank you for the advice!

[starstruck5]

Can't add to the excellent advice already given. The fact you care about making the left hand softer is a credit to you - you have a wonderful attitude - so just keep playing and learning!

Really enjoyed the listens.  Was it your budgie who was singing along?  I liked that.

[littletune]

Thank you very much Starstruck!  Yes that was my budgie and a few times my cockatiel too  They both love singing along when I play.   

[rachfan]

Hi littletune

Your Bach "Musette" brought back memories.  I played it in 1953--so it's been awhile!   Probably most of us played that piece.  It really engages the pianist and listener.
 
Your playing continues to improve.  You have more confidence, and in playing the "Musette" and Sonatina, you do so with accuracy, fluency and musicality.  My only suggestion would be to tone down the left hand, which in both pieces is pure accompaniment.  By making the left hand quieter, it'll allow the melody in the right hand to soar over it.  By the way, don't try the reverse--to make the right hand louder.  Doing so only invites the left hand to compete with the right even more such that both grow louder.  Instead concentrate on quieting the left.  Again it's balancing of the hands as we say.

David

[littletune]

Hi David! Thank you very much for the comment!! 
Yes I am trying really hard to make the left hand quieter. But when I'm thinking too much about that I can't concentrate on other things.  Well I will keep practicing! And see how it goes... I know it can't be perfect (specially not till next week!), I just hope it won't be too bad! I will probably record and post again this weekend.
Thank you! 

[rachfan]

Hi littletune,

Here is something you can try.  In order to concentrate on toning down the LH without messing up the RH, play the LH softly a couple of times, just the LH alone so as not to be distracted by the RH.  Then when you think you have it softer, add the RH.  And see if then you have better balancing.  That practice tip might do the trick for you.  

David

[littletune]

Thank you David! I will try that!! 

[birba]

I haven't heard you play for so long, littletune!  It's amazing the progress you've made - and you're playing "real" pieces now!    I didn't care for the versions with the soft pedal.  Too muffled.  But you actually phrase beautifully in the pleyel!  You round off the lines like a concert artist.  Also the chords are perfect in equal touch in the fingers.  Brava!

[littletune]

Wow Birba thank you sooo much!  You're too nice!!    I'm scared of playing at my recital... cause when I'm nervous I always do something wrong! (Even at my piano lessons!) But well I will be practicing as much as I can during the weekend. (piano and math!)  And then we'll see how it goes (the recital and the math test  ).
Thank you!!!   

[oxy60]

Since the camera (with its built in microphone) is near the bass end of the piano the LH will seem louder to us. I like what you have done with pieces.

The trick about playing in public is to be as prepared as possible and to stay focused on what you are doing. Don't let other thoughts come in.

This has been my biggest problem over the years. Once a piece is going well I tend to drift off and start to "fall in love" with my own sound. Listening carefully to what is being produced is the goal, not becoming part of the audience letting those wonderful sounds wash over us. Never loose sight that we are the producer of those wonderful sounds.

You'll do fine!

[littletune]

Thank you very much Oxy!! I was thinking about what if the left hand seems even louder because the camera is on that side of the piano... but that's really the best place to put it (I could put it on the table behind me but then it would only record my back so that would be boring and weird. )
Thank you for your comment and advice!!   

[candlelightpiano]

I enjoyed your performance, especially with your aquarium at the back and your parrot chirping! They added to the aura of the recital! I felt like The Little Mermaid!

[oxy60]

I would judge the LH-RH balance by what you hear there at the piano. You will always need to make live adjustments depending on the piano you get. I hope you will get a chance to play on the recital piano before the recital.

What is most important is that you are happy with what you hear. The members of the audience will hear different things depending on where they are sitting.

[littletune]

I enjoyed your performance, especially with your aquarium at the back and your parrot chirping! They added to the aura of the recital! I felt like The Little Mermaid!

Thank you for your nice comment! I'm glad you liked it!

I would judge the LH-RH balance by what you hear there at the piano. You will always need to make live adjustments depending on the piano you get. I hope you will get a chance to play on the recital piano before the recital.

What is most important is that you are happy with what you hear. The members of the audience will hear different things depending on where they are sitting.

Yes we have to be there half an hour before the recital so we can try playing on the piano. Thanks for the comment!

[littletune]

Well today I played as if it was a recital... and of course I was making mistakes!!  And I also hanged the camera from my airplane ceiling light so the camera was hanging above my head and moving around all the time (so it's a funny view)
I think sometimes my left hand is still a lot too loud but in some places I think it's better...
but I was nervous 
(I'm starting to wish I rather played some easy Christmas song instead of Musette and Sonatina - even though I really love to play them!!). Oh well...   

(Oh and I also created a new youtube account, because there are a little too many videos on my first one and I will have this one for practice recordings or things that don't have to do with piano..... Oh and if anyone notices my username    Ahinton gave me the idea for it  so thanks...  ).

[candlelightpiano]

That was surreal! I always feel like I'm in another world when I watch your videos! I must do this next time - hang my camera from a ceiling fan! Thanks. That's was fun!

[littletune]

Thanks Candlelightpiano!  yes that was a pretty funny view! 
I think I will be posting more of the Sonatina, my teacher said that maybe at the  next recital I would play both movements... and I have to learn the first one better too, I was making a lot of mistakes at my Christmas recital.   

[hastur]

This is really nice, littletune! The idea of hanging your camera like that in your recital clip was a really fun idea, I liked it a lot! : D

[littletune]

This is really nice, littletune! The idea of hanging your camera like that in your recital clip was a really fun idea, I liked it a lot! : D

Thank you! Well maybe I will hang my camera like that more often now  thanks for watching and for the comment!!