What's on your mind now?

[oxy60]

Nice quote recently, directed toward me.

"You're not really a musician...  You just teach."

From a coworker too.  Oi....

Maybe a little faculty recital would set things right. For example, just a few minutes at an assembly might be enough.

[floydcramerfan]

Kelly, I can relate to you getting bored easily.  I'm in between jobs right now and I'm about to go crazy.  My days are filled with playing the piano, playing on the computer, and making teddy bears.  Those things are awesome, but I need to get out of the flippin' house.

[Bob]

Maybe a little faculty recital would set things right. For example, just a few minutes at an assembly might be enough.

I'm not practicing enough and I'm stuck back in technique land -- Just working on technique to keep technique.  

I could/should work up something small and have it memorized.  Anything is probably good enough, but something a little entertaining to Joe Schmoe would be good too.  I'll have to find a piece like that.  Something that would get the point across that I can play but not something too difficult to work up or perform on the spot, so not a "monster" piece for me, something well within my technique....  And something short enough that people could be polite for a minute and possibly listen and not have to wait politely (or impolitely) for the end of the piece.  Something like Claire de Lune would even work.  That kind of piece and something on the jazz side would be good.  Hmm....

[oxy60]

I'm not practicing enough and I'm stuck back in technique land -- Just working on technique to keep technique. 

I could/should work up something small and have it memorized.  Anything is probably good enough, but something a little entertaining to Joe Schmoe would be good too.  I'll have to find a piece like that.  Something that would get the point across that I can play but not something too difficult to work up or perform on the spot, so not a "monster" piece for me, something well within my technique....  And something short enough that people could be polite for a minute and possibly listen and not have to wait politely (or impolitely) for the end of the piece.  Something like Claire de Lune would even work.  That kind of piece and something on the jazz side would be good.  Hmm....

Exactly! People today seem to be able to pay attention for about a minute and a half. How about something loud like the first movement from Pictures? I don't play/prepare anything longer than two pages from well known composers with recognizable themes.

[orangesodaking]

Hey guys, this question was on my mind, like has anyone really been as far as decided to look more like to use even want to do look more like?

[Bob]

Good question. 

*Bob translates*  Does anyone want to do more? 


I still have no idea what orange meant.

[Bob]

Negative effect of forum?

https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/05/10/1008636108.abstract?sid=1baaf087-335e-49e9-8bcb-7bde4cbd8bdf



I'm still thinking not, at least for the forum.  Some effect, but not a dumbing down effect.

[orangesodaking]

It's just an internet meme, and I couldn't resist trying to find a way to post it here. Just ignore it.

Although, a quick Google search would have rendered information about where that phrase came from, and a witty response to it:

"You've got to be kidding me. I've been further even more decided to use even go need to do look more as anyone can. Can you really be far even as decided half as much to use go wish for that? My guess is that when one really been far even as decided once to use even go want, it is then that he has really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like. It's just common sense."

I'm feeling random tonight, yessiree...  

[Bob]

Who's it from?

I don't have time to look.... Because...

The end is nye!

https://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110519/ts_yblog_thelookout/pr-campaign-for-the-apocalypse-seems-to-be-working

 

It would have to happen on a Saturday and cut into the weekend like that.     If I were take up, or even if I weren't, I'd still plan on sleeping late on both days. 

No one's taken me up on my idea for me to take possession of their money for them since they won't be on Earth anymore to use it.  *Ahem!coughcoughcough*  NO ONE has taken me up YET (and no pun intended by being "taken up")... No one yet.... Not yet... has donated to Bob here...  Not yet.... but soon probably since they won't need that money.... 

[floydcramerfan]

Oh great, another person trying to predict the world ending?  I thought they said that was supposed to happen in 2012.  Sorry nonbelievers, but that's so unscriptural that it's hillarious.  We're not supposed to know the date.  BTW, not trying to start a war.

[orangesodaking]

Oh great, another person trying to predict the world ending?  I thought they said that was supposed to happen in 2012.  Sorry nonbelievers, but that's so unscriptural that it's hillarious.  We're not supposed to know the date.  BTW, not trying to start a war.

I agree with you on all counts. Right now, sleep is on my mind.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

@bob, they're supposed to donate money to support their organization, their website even asks readers to "make a financial gift".
So I guess they don't have any money to give us when they are asking for money themselves... Although I don't know what they need it for!!!

Oh great, another person trying to predict the world ending?  I thought they said that was supposed to happen in 2012.  Sorry nonbelievers, but that's so unscriptural that it's hillarious.  We're not supposed to know the date.  BTW, not trying to start a war.

From their website, which interestingly, is a "bible study website"

“Upon hearing the information that May 21, 2011 is Judgment Day, many in the churches immediately refer to a Bible verse such as:Matthew 24:36... You see,” they say after quoting this verse, “the Bible tells us that no man can know.”...
Of course, we do acknowledge that the Bible has this verse within it. However, the question is: does the rest of the Bible support the idea that we cannot know the timing of the end of the world? Or, is there more information in the Bible that would allow for God’s people to learn the date of the end of the world?

uh.... what?  

You know, I'm not so interested in what happens May 21... I'm interested in what's going to happen May 22!
 

[oxy60]

Film at 11 (Eastern and Pacific, 10 Central).

There is another version pushed by a magazine founded by a couple of preachers. Yes I know the name but I won't give it out here for obvious reasons. Several other conflicting versions are held by US presidential candidates.

Let's all get back to the black and white keys and make a sound that we know is real.

[Bob]

Ah.....  *Bobs veins coarse with an upped dose of caffeine.*


Don't you think the whole "It's either a black key or a white key" concept is a little simplified?  After all, there's a whole diverse array of colors out there, but we're only looking at things in terms of black and white keys?  What about yellow keys?  Or red?  Or what about keys that originally from one piano and were transplanted into another piano?  Are those still so much a "black" or "white" key?  Is it still a "Steinway key" if it's been taken out of a Steinway and put into a Yahama?  I think we're missing a whole color pallete of keys here and keys that actually exist in the real world, instead of on this theoretical "black and white keyboard" we hear so much about.

[Bob]

Grr.... So much for the coffee....

ZZzzzz...... *Bob takes a nap.*  Oder... Bob hält ein Schlaefchen?  Richtig?

[orangesodaking]

The annoying orange on YouTube is hilarious.

[pianowolfi]

The annoying orange on YouTube is hilarious.

Haha yeah, that one can make addicted    

[pianowolfi]

Grr.... So much for the coffee....

ZZzzzz...... *Bob takes a nap.*  Oder... Bob hält ein Schlaefchen?  Richtig?

Yes. Or "macht ein Schläfchen" or "macht ein Nickerchen"

[oxy60]

Ah.....  *Bobs veins coarse with an upped dose of caffeine.*


Don't you think the whole "It's either a black key or a white key" concept is a little simplified?  After all, there's a whole diverse array of colors out there, but we're only looking at things in terms of black and white keys?  What about yellow keys?  Or red?  Or what about keys that originally from one piano and were transplanted into another piano?  Are those still so much a "black" or "white" key?  Is it still a "Steinway key" if it's been taken out of a Steinway and put into a Yahama?  I think we're missing a whole color pallete of keys here and keys that actually exist in the real world, instead of on this theoretical "black and white keyboard" we hear so much about.

I've never tried to play anything on a keyboard of different colors. The first Hammond I played had keys at the end of the keyboard in reverse colors which controlled presets and I see toy pianos with multicolored keyboards. I recall a couple of tracker organs with reverse colors and often a supplemental short keyboard attached to the main console (controlling the tower bells) would have different colors so we wouldn't play it by mistake.

Would it matter which colors were used?

BTW it is already Sunday the 22nd in Manila. How can so many people put so much belief in such a quack?

[littletune]

Oh I almost forgot to tell... on Thursday we had a visit! From the police again!  But the policeman was really nice... he was almost apologizing for coming    he was like... I know it's annoying that I'm here almost every month...  And he even went inside (our apartment) and my mum was like... oh please don't look I didn't have time to clean up, I'm at work so much, I just started cleaning up now    I don't have any time...
Well... but he came cause he wanted to speak to my dad, because the downstairs neighbour said that he was threatening her  And that's because on Monday (while I was at music theory) she was banging on the ceiling from about 6 pm to 8.30 pm while my mum and dad were watching TV (and not loudly!) and she would just start every 15 or 20 minutes... (and my mum said she heard some noise coming from somewhere but that sure wasn't from us) and then at about 8.30 my dad had enough and he went down and told her to stop doing that, cause otherwise he would call the police and that it would be a little different than when she called it. So well then she said he was threatening her... but my dad wasn't home when the policeman came... but then later he went to the police station and talked to the policeman. Oh well... I don't know 

[floydcramerfan]

Oh, my.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

@ littletune, wow... Hopefully you'll solve the problems with your neighbour 

My recital is in 2 hours. I'm sooooo nervous! But a little excited too

[pianowolfi]

@ littletune, wow... Hopefully you'll solve the problems with your neighbour 

My recital is in 2 hours. I'm sooooo nervous! But a little excited too

Good luck!

[floydcramerfan]

I'm about to watch a movie and finish making this teddy bear that I'm working on.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Good luck!

Thanks... I survived it!!! I'm kind of scared to watch the video my parents took of it right now, maybe tomorrow. Right now I just want to enjoy my post-recital feeling of relief...

And then I still have 3 more recitals before summer vacation...  *sigh* Practise, practise, practise!


@ floydcramerfan
What movie?
 

[countrymath]

Just learned Piano Man - Billy Joel and Petter gunn Theme - The Blues Brothers.

Practice today was great!

Now I'll go walk with my dog =D

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I'm missing school
To go to an amusement park tomorrow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post-exam celebration.

[littletune]

I have my piano recital on Friday!! I'm a little worried  well I'm only playing two pieces... Etude and Sonatina... but I haven't even been practicing Etude for that long and in some places I sometimes still get it wrong  And Sonatina the second movement is kinda scary cause my teacher wants me to play it really fast but if I play it fast my fingers start acting weird  oh well...
Today I almost fainted when I went to my piano lesson, because I was walking really fast and it was really hot and my school bag was heavy and I was dressed too much and yesterday I was feeling a little sick and I wasn't eating very much and today I was really tired anyway and I couldn't even wake up, and then I still decided to walk to my music school which is like 1 hour and 15 minutes away - if you walk as fast as you can!)  And then after like 40 minutes of walking I started feeling sick and I was afraid I was going to faint... and then when I came to my music school I looked into the mirror and my face was all red... and not red like as if you get sunburned but like purple red!!  all over my face. It looked so unreal!  My teacher was like: what happened to you!!? It was really weird!! And then my head started hurting a little too.   

Oh Thinkgreenlovepiano, have a great time at the amusement park!   

[pianowolfi]

Littletune please take care of yourself! And don't play faster as you can! To get red in the face after a physical effort is not really a problem at this age, but though, be careful! And good luck for Friday! And sleep a lot! And don't translate too much  

[countrymath]

"too hot" for her must be 20oC

[oxy60]

To all you who live in countries with severe winters, be careful on the first nice days of spring. Your body needs to get accustomed to the change in weather. You will need to drink a LOT of water.

For us old desert rats, anything under 25C feels cold. Actually I start to function around 30C. I took a few days off and went to Palm Springs where it didn't drop below 30C.

[littletune]

Littletune please take care of yourself! And don't play faster as you can! To get red in the face after a physical effort is not really a problem at this age, but though, be careful! And good luck for Friday! And sleep a lot! And don't translate too much  

Thank you Wolfi!     

"too hot" for her must be 20oC

Why do you say that? It was more than 20 C! And I didn't say it was too hot, I just said it was hot and a billion other things... cause it was weird cause I walk to my music school a lot of times and I don't feel so weird and I don't get so red in the face... and usually it doesn't bother me if it's hot at all! But yesterday I just wasn't feeling so great I guess  but it doesn't matter 

To all you who live in countries with severe winters, be careful on the first nice days of spring. Your body needs to get accustomed to the change in weather. You will need to drink a LOT of water.

For us old desert rats, anything under 25C feels cold. Actually I start to function around 30C. I took a few days off and went to Palm Springs where it didn't drop below 30C.

That's true, I noticed that like the first few days when it gets really hot, it feels kinda weird, but then you just get used to it and it's cool and it doesn't bother me at all (but some people say it bothers them and that they don't like it, but I do).   

[countrymath]

Why do you say that?

Cause your country is cold.

[Bob]

I don't know if I believe this.... It is Time but...

https://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20110525/wl_time/httpnewsfeedtimecom20110525hownaziscientststriedtocreateanarmyoftalkingdogsxidrssfullworldyahoo

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Thanks littletune, I did! The line ups were short (since everyone's supposed to be at school ) so we got to ride everything we wanted to, many many times!!!
Good luck on your recital! I have (another) one coming up in a bit too.



Now the fun of amusement parks is done. Back to school.  
I have so much work. So much work. I thought after 2 final exams I could relax a bit.  But no.
I know I'll get through it, but anticipating all the pain... is painful. :S

[ongaku_oniko]

Wow there were like 200 little kids standing in front of new college today... where did they come from? O_O


It was so loud, and I couldn't leave the building cuz they were all blocking the way

[littletune]

Cause your country is cold.

Oh... you think it's that cold? well I guess it is colder than your country but during the summer (and even now) it can be pretty hot! Like a lot more than 20 C, even more than 30 C... so it's not always that cold   

Thanks Thinkgreenlovepiano Good luck to you too, on your recital and at school!

[littletune]

I'm back from my recital... it was ok... but it could have been even a lot better if my hands didn't start shaking so much  I'm really angry about this... I don't even know why my hands start shaking so much... it's so weird, cause I don't even feel so very nervous and scared and first when I start playing it's ok but then after awhile my hands just start shaking soooo much, so much that people can see it!!!  and I don't know what to do about it  maybe I have some kind of a disease  because it's so weird cause it looks like my hands are more nervous than I am!  and otherwise my hands are not shaking at all!! Cause one of my friends and also one other girl that I knew, their hands are like always shaking a little (like they would always be a little nervous)... but my hands are not, at all! But then when I have a piano recital and I start playing my hands just start shaking sooo much and I don't know what to do about it!   I don't know!!! It's weird!!!!!!!! But oh well... I made a few little mistakes and the dynamics wasn't that great... but with my hands shaking sooo much it's good that I can even play at all!    I wish I knew what to do about this!!!!!!!!

[pianowolfi]

First of all, this is completely normal. Everybody has symptoms. Or almost everybody. Just today I saw a video of Horowitz where his hands were actually shaking a bit, too!

 I had one student who told me after her first recital experience that her legs were shaking so much, she almost couldn't keep her foot on the pedal anymore! But I didn't even notice that, when I listened to her. Actually she played very beautifully. She had a memory lapse but her tone was beautiful, and her overall playing was beautiful too!

 You need to learn to deal with it over time! At the moment it's something new to you and it's scary because you discover how your organism reacts to performance situations. If you perform regularly the symptoms will get more controllable.

 My best tactic is to turn the nervous energy into positive energy! Imagine all the energy that goes into building up anxiety! I strive for turning it into positive energy, creative energy, energy that makes the adrenaline flow and the world turn upside down!!  Plus I have some homeopathic medication. Some people take beta blockers but I wouldn't recommend that at all, as they tend to reduce your overall shape and can have severe side effects.

[littletune]

Thanks Wolfi! Yes I guess it's normal... and I guess it would help if I had a lot more recitals... cause at first when I just started learning piano, my hands were shaking even at my piano lessons  but now they don't anymore (at least most of the times)... so I think maybe if I had recitals every week like I have piano lesson then my hands would stop shaking so much at recitals too... I hope! But I can't have that many recitals  and I do try to tell myself everything is cool and that I know how to play my pieces and all that, and I don't even feel so very scared and nervous  that's the weird thing! Maybe I just don't know I'm scared and nervous  well... I'll have to do something about that I guess... my teacher said today that I played very well, but that I can play even a lot better when my hands are not shaking so much. And she said I should imagine I'm just playing for her and for my parents. And she said that she's lucky cause her legs are shaking not her hands... Oh well... I hope I can do something about this!!!

[goldentone]

I don't know if I believe this.... It is Time but...

https://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20110525/wl_time/httpnewsfeedtimecom20110525hownaziscientststriedtocreateanarmyoftalkingdogsxidrssfullworldyahoo

Nazi Talking Dogs Project:

"Perhaps most outlandish is the claim by his German masters that he asked to serve in the German army because he disliked the French."

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

 

Thanks Wolfi! Yes I guess it's normal... and I guess it would help if I had a lot more recitals... cause at first when I just started learning piano, my hands were shaking even at my piano lessons  but now they don't anymore (at least most of the times)... so I think maybe if I had recitals every week like I have piano lesson then my hands would stop shaking so much at recitals too... I hope! But I can't have that many recitals  and I do try to tell myself everything is cool and that I know how to play my pieces and all that, and I don't even feel so very scared and nervous  that's the weird thing! Maybe I just don't know I'm scared and nervous  well... I'll have to do something about that I guess... my teacher said today that I played very well, but that I can play even a lot better when my hands are not shaking so much. And she said I should imagine I'm just playing for her and for my parents. And she said that she's lucky cause her legs are shaking not her hands... Oh well... I hope I can do something about this!!!

You know, I STILL get nervous at piano lessons     My hands don't really shake but they're always really cold and clumsy. Partly because the classroom is cold (it's in the basement) but also because I just get nervous really easily. When it comes to recitals, it's even worse because once I start playing, I have to keep going...  My legs are probably shaking as I'm walking onto the stage. And the audience has to wait a realllllly long time before I start to play.
If you can't have so many recitals, maybe you should find some of your friends to listen to you play. If your friends play piano you can make your own mini recital. And I know a lot of hospitals/ nursing homes/ libraries like having people come over and perform for them too.
My teacher's advice is to just focus on the music. She also says that chocolate, bananas, and warm tea always help calm nerves. My mom also makes me eat candy when I'm nervous. Also....the audience isn't listening to you because they're trying to catch your mistakes, they want to listen to your music and how beautiful it is!

[Bob]

[countrymath]

I finally found books for spanish and italian language instructions

3 years for the world cup in brazil...

Hope I get lots of girls

[mussels_with_nutella]

I finally found books for spanish and italian language instructions

Hope I get lots of girls

I swap Spanish for English girls, come here and we will talk in terms of deal! 

[countrymath]

I swap Spanish for English girls, come here and we will talk in terms of deal! 

Im brazilian, dude . Brazilian girls are everything I have to offer.

[m1469]

I'm just thinking about people who do things despite the fact that others find it ridiculous that they do them.  Like, Sarah Palin, for example.  Doesn't she know that most people find her ridiculous?  Of course not, because she'll go down in history alright, as the individual who showed the world that absolutely anybody can run for US president.

[gerryjay]

3 years for the world cup in brazil...

As far as everything is happening, I think we have 3 years for the world cup in the US...

[m1469]

I'm starting to grow suspicious that Vladimir Horowitz *might* have an alias here and is part of the Iron Curtain that seems to be present at this forum.

[thalbergmad]

On my mind now is still the beautiful football played by Barcelona last night.

They made England's best look like a team of Sunday afternoon hackers and nothing gives me more pleasure than to see Man Utd humiliated.

Thal