What have you achieved in 2013?

[onwan]

Hi,
I'm interested in what have you learnt (the piano) in 2013.

1) Are there some advices, tips you have learnt and really helped you?
2) Are there some experiences (concertos, meetings) you have had in last year and moved you forward?
3) Which pieces have you learnt in 2013?
4) Is there anything you would change in the past year?


me
1) octaves should be played only by wrist (not whole arm).
2) I had a masterclass with one of our national finest pianist.
3) Chopin valse e minor, Rach.prelude g minor, Czerny op.740/12, Schubert Klavierstuck no.1, Smetana valse c minor
4) I should have practiced more and played some Bach, too.

[awesom_o]

In 2013 I finally recorded the op. 10 and op. 25 Etudes by Chopin!

I also composed several pieces which I like very much, and several pieces which I do not yet like that must go back to the drawing board.

In 2014 I will concentrate on cello-playing, singing, and chamber music!

Best wishes to all for a musically productive 2014! 

[kevin69]

2013: Completed Alfred All-In-One, book one.

2014: Book two, and some jazz improvisation.

[Bob]

Strengthened technique.  With a routine.  No other way to do that that I'm aware of.  I can't argue with the results.

[indianajo]

I played Pictures at an Exhibition and Winston's  The Holly and the Ivy in public.  Not a very discerning audience, the people at the charity dinner. One old guy showed some reaction to Jingle Bells, he pounded the table in rhythm.  But at least they didn't boo or throw food.  No recreational drugs were sold at the same venue. No plant was smoked.   Maybe I can step up to public parks next year.  
It is hard to meet people without going to bars or oriental importatoriums (music stores) At concerts when I talk afterwards people just grunt or run away.  I don't want physical relations, I want band members.  Gee, I miss my friends in the high school band. We were amazingly good.  
I also played a pre Christmas service at an old church I used to attend.  I had gone there to hear an 88 year old lady play traditional Christmas music, while skipping the alt-country mess my church choir calls a cantata.  But she was in the nursing home, and the sub was terrified by the ideaof playing , so I played and she fed me the music books.  I even played something by ear, that the music director started singing in response to a Bible verse the minister quoted in his sermon.  I've never done that before!  
I  bought a used laptop that will actually play U-tube and music videos. So I can now see what all the fuss is about.  Maybe 2014 I will try to record something and post it for a more discerning audience.
While I have wasted some time this season listening to the computer instead of practicing, I don't think it is going to become a big habit. I like the way I play better than most of the people on line.  Except that lady with the open back dress, what was she thinking?  She plays better than I do.  Looks better, to.  

[chicoscalco]

I was going a bit too far too fast, so my teacher brought me down to earth and had me go from Chopin Scherzos to Bach inventions. two part inventions. I did one invention each week, and finished them all. After than I did probably most of the three part ones, except for a few 3 or 4. I can say I have now a much better control of the keyboard, and most of all an "evenness" of touch that is frankly very good. Nowadays if I were to give advice regarding overall technique I'd suggest Bach. You just can't go wrong with the basics. I strengthened even my playing of Ravel, which I find is very polyphonic.

[ted]

1) Are there some advices, tips you have learnt and really helped you?

Yes, hundreds, but they are too specific to my own music to interest anyone.

2) Are there some experiences (concertos, meetings) you have had in last year and moved you forward?

Yes, dozens, but all solitary.

3) Which pieces have you learnt in 2013?

None.

4) Is there anything you would change in the past year?

Musically ? As always, I wish I had ignored more experts, pianists and musicians, listened to far less of the magisteria of classical and jazz, and followed my own path and it alone. Hopefully in 2014 I will have finally learned to do this. I'll hang on to my ragtime though !

Overall, 2013 was a very positive and enjoyable year for me musically.

[hfmadopter]

In 2013 after having returned to my piano after years away and at about a year intro that  return and up to date now 17 months in, I am now finally starting to get back to memorizing at least sections or pages of pieces. I also have found a better grip on utilizing 6th and 9th chords in pop and new age genre music, all taking place in 2013.

I did not learn an entire classical piece in 2013, I did freshen up a couple older ones that I've done in the past and played through a couple of Chopin Nocturnes. I did the leg work on the Nocturnes. I more concentrated on the above and those genres of music in 2013 because that was an unfinished project from years gone by..

I'm now working on Mozart ( Fantasia K397, something I wanted to get to years ago but did not) and Bach Invention no 4 to go along with it as a study piece in the same key. I probably will make 2014 more of a classical related year.