Write about a recent positive piano experience (too much negativity here maaan)

[argh]

I'm sort of new to posting here, but I read these forums a lot, and there seems to be a lot of negativity going around, and negative comparison and rating of pieces and pianists and stuff.

And bitching.

So I'm intrigued to hear about people's positive piano experiences.

I've had a fun week. I managed to get lots of the stylistic choices I wanted into the debussy menuet I'm performing on sunday (only problem would be if I accidentally fall off the piano stool or was sick everywhere), fell back in love with beethoven, read a lot about stravinsky, and also had a few proper full on 10-12 hour practise sessions that made me really happy (note: I'm unemployed).

What about everyone else? I want to hear about other people's practise methods and stuff so I can potentially steal anything useful

I find that it's more useful to hear about people achieving things, than people's limitations.

So share your recent successes.

Please note that I'm slightly euphoric from finally managing to get around an old accordion related shoulder injury, hence why I'm all "woah maaan piano is raaad man".

[richie3846]

I can't believe no-one has replied to this! My positive experience is as follows:
I stalled at just above grade 8 standard for at least a decade, mainly because life got in the way of playing. Luckily for me, since January I have had more time to devote to the piano, around 12-15 hours a week. The last fortnight all my hard work seems to be having a profound effect - my strength, stamina and musicality has taken a massive leap forward. I am so overjoyed with the whole thing, it is driving me to put in even more effort.

Pieces I am working on at the moment are Schumann Symphonic Etudes, last movement of Bach's Italian Concerto, Beethoven's Sonata Op. 54 and Mozart's so called 'easy sonata' in C. I chose the last one because it is 'easy', therefore it enables me to really really focus on the musicality and technique. It turns out that it is not easy at all! The devil, as always in Mozart, is to make it sound like you just knocked it out on an effortless whim.

For those uncertain about using studies, I am dabbling with Hanon 60 virtuoso studies. Only 10 minutes a day, nothing too instense - it is making a MASSIVE difference to my strength and technique!

[louispodesta]

I'm sort of new to posting here, but I read these forums a lot, and there seems to be a lot of negativity going around, and negative comparison and rating of pieces and pianists and stuff.

And bitching.

So I'm intrigued to hear about people's positive piano experiences.

I've had a fun week. I managed to get lots of the stylistic choices I wanted into the debussy menuet I'm performing on sunday (only problem would be if I accidentally fall off the piano stool or was sick everywhere), fell back in love with beethoven, read a lot about stravinsky, and also had a few proper full on 10-12 hour practise sessions that made me really happy (note: I'm unemployed).

What about everyone else? I want to hear about other people's practise methods and stuff so I can potentially steal anything useful

I find that it's more useful to hear about people achieving things, than people's limitations.

So share your recent successes.

Please note that I'm slightly euphoric from finally managing to get around an old accordion related shoulder injury, hence why I'm all "woah maaan piano is raaad man".

Thank you for having the insight to ask.  Most students (the truth) just take their level of progress as it comes.  If it doesn't, their teacher absolutely always has a ready answer as to why they are experiencing difficulty.

My technique coach is Dr. Thomas Mark, and I am 64 years old.  Until a few years back, when I first had a lesson in Portland OR with this man, I had never heard these words:  if it does'nt get better after a few days, stop what you are doing.  Then, tear it back down, in terms of Taubman Technique, and Alexander Technique, and start anew.

That is the ruler, not yardstick, by which I judge every practice session.  If you are doing it right, it gets better.

Conversely, most students chase their tails by playing a passage over and over and OVER again.  The resultant being, sometimes they get there, and most times they do not.

In terms of tricks of the trade, as always, I am available (no fee) for anyone who wants to contact me by PM for advice.

Thank you once again for your very pro-active approach to the study of the piano.

[esmusssein]

My recent positive experience is that this week I was able to render more than a decent, indeed I would argue wonderful performance of Schubert's Impromptu opus 90 no. 3. I love that piece and its composer to death.

Oh and yes, I decided to venture back to chamber music and ordered Schubert's Trio op. 100 from Music Minus One!!!!! If I learn it well, I can also play it with two of my colleagues, a cellist and a violinist. I love that trio, even though it sometimes depresses me.

[dogperson]

My recent success, which is huge for me, is playing the 15 min prelude at church... i am a returning adult student.  Previously, playing in public was no big deal.  In fact, I always looked forward to it.  Now, it is filled with super-anxiety.  To have 5 successful public exposures consecutively is a giant hurdle.

I seem to have overcome a technical hurdle, as well.  My teacher just helped me explore multiple approaches until we found one that worked for me. 

Thanks for asking about successes.  It is difficult to remember the positive during the daily hurdles. 

[dcstudio]

It's not recent...but it's pretty positive

I used to be a casino dealer on a day-cruise out of Miami Beach.   One night my husband and I came to work and found out the boat was moving to another port and we were out of a job.  We had been fired in essence.   The next day I got a phone call from a lady at Mars music store.   It seems that the tiny little entry form I had filled out six months before had been selected--the prize?  lol
$5000 in music equipment.  We bought a complete set up new keyboard, guitar, amps, pa everything...but we still had no job--in spite of being too happy for words..lol

The next day one of my husbands bass students came over and said his buddy owned a restaurant and wanted a jazz combo 4 nights a week.

and that's how I went from Craps dealer to working Jazz pianist in 48 hours...

true story

[sabtan]

Nice to have a positive spin in these posts.

Just heard a lovely recital by Jean Efflam Bavouzet playing Beethoven Op 90, 91; Debussy Images no.1 , L'isle Joyeuse, and Ravel's Mirroir.

Wonderful wonderful performances of the French composers. ( He's French after all! )

Haven't been so enthralled in a recital in a long while.

[bronnestam]

My past week has been absolutely Piano Heaven. I spent a week at Chetham's Piano Summer School in Manchester, UK, where I have been dealing with piano and more piano from dawn to midnight every day - only interrupted by mealtimes and some nice social chat with my friends there.

My teacher Philip Fowke, who is absolutely excellent, helped me to sort out a few fingering issues I have with the Appassionata Andante (I don't play mov. 1 & 3 yet of that sonata). We started with two brand new (to me) pieces by Teresa Carreño: Le Printemps and Ballada op. 15. Two really stunning pieces, now I have got a good start with both of them, including the solution to some fingering and rythm issues I could spot at once.
We also worked with Nocturne by Maria Szymanowska, which I have been practising since May. Unfortunately I have not got the time to practice at all (almost) in July, due to a heavy workload in my "real" job as a translator.
I also attended a course in Composition For Beginners - I am really totally new to this, but I found it fascinating and thrilling and I started with a small, small germ of a composition, and also encouraged by Philip I started to analyze some Beethoven sonatas concerning the harmonies. I usually never do that, because I am not good at theory, but I understand why I have to learn ...

My dedicated practice piano was excellent, but I also got the chance to play on the lovely Schimmel grand which was featured there. And I also played on other grands, of course. When I tried my own digital here at home yesterday, I found no difficulties in going back to digital. (This "you can't play on an acoustic if you are used to digitals" is just rubbish, you know. It is like learning to drive different types of cars - at first you have to struggle every time you change, then you just do it.)

And to make my experience even better I also settled the agreement with my all-time-favourite pianist to get two lessons in Stockholm in a few weeks, where we will talk about the Pathétique ... I hope. To get lessons on the Pathétique with the person I think plays it better than noone else (Arrau included, yes) is a dream coming true. Of course I immediately started to revive my Pathétique, which has been in hibernation for some time. Let's say that there is A LOT of work to do with mov 1 and 3, and the second got more stabilized after some work. I think I made a good amount of progress during these days.

Inbetween these two wonderful events I will also attend the Piano Festival in Stockholm where I will see the elite of Swedish pianists play awholelottamusic, that will be fun! I also will check a certain piano model out in Stockholm, I love pianos. I mean, I love the actual instrument, not just the music. I get happy every time I see a nice piano.


So - I have had tons of positive piano experience lately.    Now, my teacher pointed out a bad habit I have, and he is the second teacher this summer to do that. I seem to lift my hands away from the piano when I hesitate on where to go next. If I know where to go, but have a pause before next chord, I don't move my hand until it is almost too late. So, I need to work on faster moves and preparations.

[hfmadopter]

I rarely come to the forums these days but have a little time in the last week or so. I think people are just trying to find their places musically. It's largely a selfie world today or turning that way at least and when you drag that into your music it's no wonder it appears difficult. I know, been there done that !! And some of it really is very difficult. But you don't need difficulty to make real true music. There are but a few, I can think among the forum members I'm familiar with who might agree with my principle in music. You need to pour out of yourself from within. I view Music with a capital M and I know of people who create music with warmth and character reflected as such . People who have Earned and acquired in one case a Fazioli piano, through pure and simple leap of faith. Their own originals that are not a matter of gymnastic over the keyboard but mastery of expression and somehow in that expression they end up all over the keyboard.. I can't get hung up in the forums now but take that same leap of faith myself in principle. No room for the negativity you speak of. There is an untapped portion of music in my head that I previously didn't know existed. It will never hit the keys if I get entrapped in negativity and selfie worth. So I don't look here so much now as I once did. Ya I'm 65 yo, ya, I have some arthritis in my hands and have a weak muscle in my back from an old injury. Ya, I take blood pressure meds. No, I will never take an exam and I don't care what my skill level is or if I could even pass the totally worthless exam. So what ? I have Music to make, capital M.

That's whats come to me in the last couple of years. I invite more of it into my life. Music is delivered through the heart not the mind..

[ted]

That would have to be the serendipitous improvement in technique over the last few months. At sixty-eight it seems silly, but I suddenly find myself able to do things quite easily which I could never manage comfortably before, even when young. Obviously, I must have stumbled on the right way of training for me, and as I do virtually no technical work on the piano itself, it must be related to my daily, if brief, regimen on the Virgil Practice Clavier. I don't know why this has happened, as I have done nothing remotely normal, orthodox or recommended. But whatever I am doing, its effect on improvisation and idea flow has been very liberating and I am very grateful for it.

[diomedes]

I recently reached the conclusion that my understanding of the learning process has increased to the point I can learn as much as 2 recital programs at once without feeling like my resources are stretched. I'm unable to list my repertoire in my signature because it won't fit....

Also, started learning the Scriabin 5th on a gorgeous summer day sitting by the lake. I insist on learning everything away from the piano, which often confuses people.

e had a fun week. I managed to get lots of the stylistic choices I wanted into the debussy menuet I'm performing on sunday (only problem would be if I accidentally fall off the piano stool or was sick everywhere),

The menuet from suite bergamasque? That one is a treasure, learned it earlier this year.

[indianajo]

I've been working on sight reading out of the Methodist Hymnal, since I never had to do this as a student. I'm also playing for a tiny (low 7 attendees) church service in the country near my summer camp.
Last week I tuned the church piano on Saturday afternoon.  Broke a string, D7, but it sounds a lot better.  Then on Sunday, I played a few hymns before the service including the candle lighting for the first time (usually recorded).  I played a hymn I picked at random for the candle extinguishing and a lady told me afterwards it was one of her favorites.  She has been coming regularly the last 6 weeks, not before that.  The lady that came with the granddaughter last time, came again, and she brought her daughter this time too.  The one year old was trying to sing with us! She babbled on after the song ended, but she can learn!  Attendance is up!  21 attendees last week.  The song leader's husband put her name, my first name, and the name of the guy that does specials with guitar (4 songs last week)  on the marquee! With "thanks for the music".  I thought the attendence was just up because of the guitar guy last week, but half of them back this week with just me playing piano.    So at least I don't **** anymore. (I thought I was getting better).  
Pity I have to drop the playing for that church when it gets cold. I won't ride a bike out there below 60 deg F nor do I have heat in the trailer to jumble around evenings and sleep soundly at night.  

[bzzzzzt]

I can't believe no-one has replied to this! My positive experience is as follows:
I stalled at just above grade 8 standard for at least a decade, mainly because life got in the way of playing. Luckily for me, since January I have had more time to devote to the piano, around 12-15 hours a week. The last fortnight all my hard work seems to be having a profound effect - my strength, stamina and musicality has taken a massive leap forward. I am so overjoyed with the whole thing, it is driving me to put in even more effort.

Pieces I am working on at the moment are Schumann Symphonic Etudes, last movement of Bach's Italian Concerto, Beethoven's Sonata Op. 54 and Mozart's so called 'easy sonata' in C. I chose the last one because it is 'easy', therefore it enables me to really really focus on the musicality and technique. It turns out that it is not easy at all! The devil, as always in Mozart, is to make it sound like you just knocked it out on an effortless whim.

For those uncertain about using studies, I am dabbling with Hanon 60 virtuoso studies. Only 10 minutes a day, nothing too instense - it is making a MASSIVE difference to my strength and technique!

Very similar experiences here.  I've just started having lessons again.  I had been struggling with the trio of Beethoven Op28.  So I spent most of the past week practising scales in octaves, scales in broken octaves, broken arpeggios in octaves etc.  The improvement in my wrist and arm movement and strength has had fantastic effects on everything I play.  I had been thinking of having a go at Op54 too.

[roncesvalles]

My biggest recent positive experience with the piano has been finding a teacher.   The piano has been an idée fixe for me since childhood, but only in the past three years have I been able to play.  In that time I had advanced to the point where I could realistically see myself playing some of the works that I find to be beautiful and fascinating, but there were many mechanical issues to my playing that I could diagnose but not solve, things that would probably give me troubles in more advanced repertoire.   

Already, after a single lesson, my teacher observed most of these problems and has offered some solutions, solutions that require quite a bit of work to overwrite problem mechanics but which have me thinking about what is right rather than guessing at what might be correct.   She's also suggesting repertoire that is more in line with my aesthetic values.  For me a major stumbling block has been my relative distaste for the classical era, an era that provides beginner pieces for so many people--I usually find the music, with some exceptions, to be somewhat uninteresting and a challenge to finish out of sheer lack of common ground with the music (like forcing someone into death metal to learn traditional Irish music before learning how to thrash), so she's already suggested some impressionist-era music to keep me engaged.   

[dcstudio]

I just got a job at the best studio in town...     recent and POSITIVELY positive

on the way home I stopped in the cultural center ...(kind of like a museum with activities)--anyway I sat down at the piano and played for a few minutes--caught the attention of the program dir. and now they want me to give a ragtime recital there to go with an exhibit they are having.  I have a meeting on teus to discuss.