Sunday Night Shred No.2

[nickc]

A short, fun piano work.

[lelle]

That was fun Is it as hard as it sounds?

[nickc]

That was fun Is it as hard as it sounds?

That's an interesting question... I'm not sure. When I create, it is normally emotionally based. The music comes naturally... In the moment, it becomes a meditative and emotional event. A musical snapshot. Things such as technique, phrasing and rhythm become a subconscious thought. I equate the musical journey to being comparable to learning a second language. You explore it enough, and you begin to gain proficiency... and soon you start dreaming in that language. Before long, you aren't thinking about grammar and tone etc... You just converse.

I enjoy playing classical music. I studied classical piano at university. That being said, when I open up a Beethoven Sonata and begin to learn it. I find it very challenging to a) Put myself and my emotions into the mind and creation of the composer, and B) Play it! I became very frustrated with myself.

I find it very challenging to play the music of others... especially those in the pianistic world. So I make up for it by exploring the music within me. I adore the piano... Listening to music and the ability to access it in this day and age is quite something...

Is it difficult? I guess someone else would have to try it. I doubt I could replicate it again... always on to the next musical thought. Thanks for listening

[lettersquash]

Hi Nick - I just started listening to some of your recording. Enjoyed this one and your Simple Tune for a Difficult Day (I think was the name) on youtube. I'm astounded by your technique - such fluent runs in all manner of keys and chords - and that you do that spontaneously and with form and interest. It's encouraging to read this, too, about developing that sense naturally. I was just doing some improvisation tonight and had a similar thought about my progress (I was thinking mostly of harmonic theory, which I don't feel I make much progress in as a mathematical discipline, but I think my judgement of intervals and chords is developing intuitively, and always has). I was playing an electronic organ, so the chords sustain indefinitely, and just stepping a finger here, then another, pivoting through typical choral changes, occasionally finding something gorgeous along the way by accident (and immediately wishing I'd been recording). On the other hand, I imagine you did your scales and arpeggios quite a bit at uni, and you'll know your theory, and probably my meandering would be more confident if I learned more theory (I'm not particularly bothered about playing fast). There's always been a bit of me wonders if theory gets in the way as well, if we begin to play by numbers. But happy accidents happen anyway, so it was probably just another excuse to avoid scales and "musical maths".