A pianostreet thought..

[littletune]

I have an unexplainable dislike for most pieces by this composer. Lately I have had a lot of trouble reading music that I don't like. Reading is really hard for me anyway and if the end product doesn't even sound nice, I get really frustrated. I am pretty overworked at the moment and a bit tired mostly, so I have trouble concentrating. I tried to force myself to work on several pieces that I didn't care for and got so stressed that I actually thought that maybe I should quit lessons. My mind often got totally blank when I was supposed to play...But can't let myself quit so I told my teacher that I need some time off those pieces and just work on music that I enjoy. So right now I don't think I can put up with this type of challenge, sorry...

Oh well maybe you will next time and maybe you'll even start to like this piece if you'll listen to the competition recordings or videos and someone will play it so well that you'll see how nice it can sound   But if there's anything I can do just tell me you made me really happy when you offered to be my manager and to pay for me!!!! it really means a lot! So thanks again!   


I wanted to ask something about the competition. I was thinking about posting recordings from my exams, and like I said, one of my exam pieces was also the competition piece (Tchaikovsky - Op. 39 No. 21 -Sweet Reverie). So is it better that I don't post it now till the competition is over?

[ajspiano]

I wanted to ask something about the competition. I was thinking about posting recordings from my exams, and like I said, one of my exam pieces was also the competition piece (Tchaikovsky - Op. 39 No. 21 -Sweet Reverie). So is it better that I don't post it now till the competition is over?

I think if you want to post to the audition room now that's fine.. but if you do (particularly with the Tchaikovsky).. make a new one of the same piece for the competition..  maybe you can use comments from the audition room to help you develop your performance a little in time for our competition?

Or you can share it as part of the discussion thread on the fixed work which I'll be starting very soon..  so long as what ever goes into the competition is a rendition that we haven't heard yet.

someone will play it so well that you'll see how nice it can sound

That would be nice wouldnt it.. I thought the piece was particularly beautiful..  Ilistened to many pieces before settling on this one..  I also strongly considered mozart K453a (sorrow march) - maybe keypeg would've liked that one better? Either way, if there's a next time and I'm the decision maker again then the fixed piece will be at a contrast to this one.

[littletune]

I think if you want to post to the audition room now that's fine.. but if you do (particularly with the Tchaikovsky).. make a new one of the same piece for the competition..  maybe you can use comments from the audition room to help you develop your performance a little in time for our competition?

Or you can share it as part of the discussion thread on the fixed work which I'll be starting very soon..  so long as what ever goes into the competition is a rendition that we haven't heard yet.

Ok. Thanks for answering. I'll do that.   

[49410enrique]

OK..

So in-line with what j_menz suggested, I'm going to just decide. And, in line with what lloyd_cdb has suggested if no one likes it too bad, this is just a test run to see how it works I suppose.

Decided.

...

Tchaikovsky ...

just want folks to be clear. you mean pete. not keanu!

[ajspiano]

just want folks to be clear. you mean pete. not keanu!

couldnt keanu use the matrix to be whoever..  they may actually be one and the same person.

[49410enrique]

couldnt keanu use the matrix to be whoever..  they may actually be one and the same person.

the plot thickens. what if we're the only ones that don't know for sure!

[outin]

Oh well maybe you will next time and maybe you'll even start to like this piece if you'll listen to the competition recordings or videos and someone will play it so well that you'll see how nice it can sound   But if there's anything I can do just tell me you made me really happy when you offered to be my manager and to pay for me!!!! it really means a lot! So thanks again!   

You're welcome! It would be cool to be a mecenate of a passionate young piano student 
I promise to listen to your interpretation of the piece. Maybe I will change my mind...

[keypeg]

I also strongly considered mozart K453a (sorrow march) - maybe keypeg would've liked that one better? Either way, if there's a next time and I'm the decision maker again then the fixed piece will be at a contrast to this one.

I actually like the Tchaikovsky, and I tried out playing it today.  For my own participation I can't go by my tastes.  Before I started remediation I was getting numb hands when I played certain things.  Right now pieces I work on go according to things I can do and things that are better avoided for now, rather than what I like.  I did try a bit of "Sweet Dreams" to test it out.  See PM.

[costicina]

Costanza is coached by me, so we'll share the blame and the honour (if any ). I'm sure it's going to be a highly useful and motivating experience. The  opportunity to confront with others involved in the same task and dealing with similare problems is precious for us; and the 'contest' situation gives a spicy touch that doesn't hurt the least 

P.S. Is it mandatory that the second piece is included in the list you mentioned? Shostakovich is not included there...

[ajspiano]

P.S. Is it mandatory that the second piece is included in the list you mentioned? Shostakovich is not included there...

The advantage of the pianostreet list was in part that 100% of it will be in the public domain, Shostakovich isnt. Which will mean that from a judging/learning perspective for others, it will not be easy to obtain a score to review.. and it would be illegal for you to post a scanned one.

That said I don't really mind if costanza wants to use that work, assuming that its grade fits into the boundaries (i'm not familiar with it)..  though I do feel that it would be a bit unfair to not allow others to then open there choice beyond the piano street list..  hmm..

If you've got another option maybe do that, and we'll have a more open event at another time.. I wouldnt want to discourage costanza from being involved though if she would really like to do that work.

[costicina]

Don't worry, we'll choose another piece, probably Chopin Waltz op 64 n 3, or a Bach's piece. We'll let you know as soon aso possibile.

[cpessimist]

That sounds like a lot of fun!  What about the sucky bracket though... are there enough people who aren't elite as hell at piano (my maximum skill is probably... invention 1ish right now, and I can't play it perfect).  Also, how would this work, couldn't you just keep rerecording till you get something good?  Is that okay?

edit: didn't read the second page, whoops! I still think it would be fun, but... my I'm going to be severely outclassed by the people who are really good here.  Also, is the camcorder mandatory now?

[ajspiano]

That sounds like a lot of fun!  What about the sucky bracket though... are there enough people who aren't elite as hell at piano (my maximum skill is probably... invention 1ish right now, and I can't play it perfect).  Also, how would this work, couldn't you just keep rerecording till you get something good?  Is that okay?

edit: didn't read the second page, whoops! I still think it would be fun, but... my I'm going to be severely outclassed by the people who are really good here.  Also, is the camcorder mandatory now?

You can record until you are satisfied. Video is not mandatory, but it is preferred..

[shazeelawan]

All of these competitions are only for solo pianists,right? How about a category for others,like piano duets and two piano pieces? Competitions which allow for those are rare,so it would be nice to inculde those here.

[keypeg]

I've been curious about this whole competition scenario.  When I first joined forums, it seemed that a lot of people were anxious about performing, and especially about being judged by the audience.  This seemed strange, because performing means trying to move the audience or bringing the music across to them - how did being judged come into it?  But then when I read about the competition culture it made sense.  I wondered whether music and performing would lose its nature, if it is done in that kind of atmosphere, and whether that anxiety would be reduced if performing was performing.  So I've been wondering about this for a while.

So I joined this competition.  Since I am more at an early than the advanced stage, I don't have to worry about trying to "win" because that's unlikely - just playing it decently is an achievement.  The pressure isn't as big as for an advanced person who can't finish with egg on his face. I like what AJS is trying to do.  Learning, exploring, looking at what other people did to make it sound good - all of that seems good for the individual and the group.  It started to be fun.  I loved the video in the other thread, because I could learn some things about piano playing.  This was cool.

Then the last two days there have been these posts saying that the point is winning, that the part that is interesting is who wins, and who is "the best".  Further that in the future for some pieces only those who have access to acoustic pianos may participate, and signs that they would have to have good recording equipment - in a student forum.  When I sat down to work on the piece last night, I had a cold feeling from that discussion.  If this is what the competition world is like, how can any student put anything of themselves or the music into it?  If it's about who wins and is "the best", then how much does the music matter?  How can you enter the music and work with it?  I'm still trying to figure it out - it was like being in touch with something cold and far removed from performance and music as I know them.  I didn't like that feeling.

This is the type of thing that motivated me to be part of this:

The goal is to boost participation, but this is really hard to judge.. I picked a piece that was suited to the majority of the people that showed an interest in this thread but that would not be out of reach of many lower level students if they want to make the effort. ...

That piece is meant to be easy enough but also hard enough. The majority of the piece the control between voices is in separate hands, the quiet accompaniment is off the beat and in the hand opposite to the leading melody - meaning you are very rarely/never expected to anything like varied dynamics within one hand at one time in order to produce something satisfactory.

The notes are easy enough so the main challenge will be bringing out the top and bottom voices at the appropriate times/sections. I'm also hoping that most people will actively discuss how to achieve this over the next 6-7 weeks in a "project" type thread.

I appreciate that it may not work for everyone, but in my experience playing with people better than oneself lifts your own standard, the idea is to give an intermediate level person something to work at that will make them a better pianist, and make it worth an advanced person leaning the work because there is room in this piece to really make something of it.

..and for those with less skill to see the differences between them and someone else, to get to make those comparisons about complex musical elements and talk about it with people who have all learnt the same piece, some of who can play it really really well.

These things are friendly and inclusive.  We collectively help each other and learn, while individually we have a chance to grow and discover.  This is why I joined.  The idea that the main interest is in who wins is cold and empty in comparison.

[j_menz]

Then the last two days there have been these posts saying that the point is winning, that the part that is interesting is who wins, and who is "the best".  

If any of my posts have given you the impression I am in this camp, let me just say my tongue has been firmly planted in my cheek every time.

This is the type of thing that motivated me to be part of this:
These things are friendly and inclusive.  We collectively help each other and learn, while individually we have a chance to grow and discover.  This is why I joined.  The idea that the main interest is in who wins is cold and empty in comparison.

I suspect peoples motivations and expectations vary. This is not a bad thing so long as you get out of this what you want in terms of the experince and learning. There are plenty of us in the competition that are looking for much the same thing as you are, so I think you are safe.

[outin]

If any of my posts have given you the impression I am in this camp, let me just say my tongue has been firmly planted in my cheek every time.

Mine too!

[costicina]

I've been curious about this whole competition scenario.  When I first joined forums, it seemed t
This is the type of thing that motivated me to be part of this:
These things are friendly and inclusive.  We collectively help each other and learn, while individually we have a chance to grow and discover.  This is why I joined.  The idea that the main interest is in who wins is cold and empty in comparison.

Don't worry, that's exactly what induced me (on behalf of my daughter) to partecipate....and I think we are in good company

[keypeg]

Hey, it's really cool to read these responses.    <3