2007-09-23
This is one of the first pieces my teacher gave me. Haven't played this for a few weeks. I'm not sure how to deal with it going forward. Maintenance is high since I can't read and play at the same time, and it's not something I realy want to develop. Probably I'll just play it now and then so I don't forget it.
Angie
2007-11-15
I can't seem to make it through this song without mistakes, especially when I'm recording. So here's a new MP3 version, mistakes and all.
2007-09-23
One of the first pieces I tried to learn on my own. I've been trying to move it from hand memory to true memory with some success. I will continue to work on this piece for the foreseeable future. Maintenence is low and it's a very familiar piece.
Autumn Leaves
2008-01-03
I'm learning this song with a group of people of Piano World. I hope to start doing some improv on it soon. So far it's been a bit of a struggle just to keep the LH chord changes on tempo. This version is my first attempt at jazz swing rhythm.
Blues Riff 27 in C
2007-09-23
Just a fluffy blues riff from the Hal Leonard book. I want to build a library of these. I've got a few that I can add midis for when I get motivated.
Blues Riff 32 in G
2007-10-12
Another blues riff. As always, it took a while to get the timing down. Should be a good start for some RH improv.
Blues Riff 34 in F
2007-10-12
Blues riff with back-cycled chords in the RH (cycled to the IV chord, ie, F/Bflat, Bflat/Eflat, C/G).
Blues Riff 37 in C
2007-11-15
This is a little smoother than the previous version, but still rough. I really like this riff tho, so I'll keep at it.
2007-11-03
This is a mixalidian 3rd riff where the right hand walks up the scale in in 3rds with the root note in between, so in C it goes E/G, C, F/A, C, G/Bflat, C. I's one of my favorites for jamming because you can do a lot of cool sounding rhythm variations in the order and beat on the 3rds. Unfortunately I have trouble hitting the chord changes because you have to land just right with both hands moving quickly at the same time, hence there's at least one mistake and a few hesitations in my first version.
Blues Riff 38 in G
2007-11-15
Another mix 3rd riff. A little easier than 27c but sounds similar and just as flexible.
At Home
2007-09-23
I've spent quite a bit of time on this over the past week. It's almost fully memorized and ready for a new midi.
Comptine d'un autre ete
2007-11-15
Here is a new version in MP3. I'm a little disappointed in this, as I should be able to do it without mistakes by now.
2007-11-03
This is a very nice piece I found on the web and decided to learn. This version is still a little slow and has a couple of mistakes near the end, but it's fairly easy so I should be able to do it cleanly and consistently within a few weeks.
The Entertainer
2007-10-14
I am currently playing this song every day for accuracy training. It has some interesting syncopation that makes it difficult to play without errors. Plus it's a pretty fun little piece.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
The Fair
2007-10-14
This is the first song I learned after I started taking lessons. I have now abandoned it to use my time on other pieces.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Fur Elise
2007-10-14
This is one of the first songs I tried to learn. I gave it up for a while after I realized I didn't have the skills to play the hard parts. I started practicing it again a few months ago and can now play it reasonably well for a one year student, but it still need a lot of work before I can play it consistently.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Gipsy Dance
2007-12-04
Posted first version of Gipsy Dance. Still a lot of mistakes, but it's a pretty hard piece for my level so I'm not too worried yet. It isn't so much the fast parts that are hard, but the transitions between them. Also I'm still clueless about how to change tempo when it go into the softer E flat section. If I'm still making this many mistakes in a month, then I'll worry.
Hungarian Dance No. 5
2007-10-18
Here is my first version of this song (hence all the boo boos). I've had a very hard time with it. My biggest problem is all the bouncing in the left hand in the second verse, but I have problems with pretty much all of it. The fast runs in the right, the tempo change at the end, the fast, octave-and-a-half jump in the left.... The only songs I do that are harder than this (so far) are Invention #8 and the fast parts of Fur Elise. I plan to work on it pretty diligently for another few months, since it should develop some valuable skills.
Imagine
2007-10-06
This is one of the first songs I learned. I've started playing it every day now as part of my "perfection section" accuracy drilling, where I play certain songs as many times as necessary to get through them with no "mistakes" (ie flubs so bad they cause time to go off beat). I got this version on my first try today. It's not very expressive and I still need to bump the tempo up a tad, but it's a good example of what's passing my present accuracy drilling criteria.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Invention #8
2007-10-14
I started learning this thing 7 or 8 months ago before I was really capable of playing. I stuck with it and can now play it reasonably well, but I still rarely make it through with no mistakes. It's a great piece for practicing coordination of the hands, as it runs melodic lines separately in the two hands. I have an objective to eventually play it at speed with no errors, but that could take another year or more.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Joyous Farmer
2007-10-14
I don't know what to do with this piece. I have not memorized it but still play it now and then from paper. I will eventually drop this piece, but not yet.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Little Prelude in C
2007-10-02
I've been concentrating on this piece for a week or so in an attempt to increase the tempo and add it to my "fully memorized" list. Plus I added some mordants in the left where it does the G octaves. (I found several versions on the net that do that.) Since it's a piece I can play without mistakes on a pretty regular basis, I'm also using it for my daily accuracy training (ie, I play it as many times as necessary to get one with no errors).
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Minuet in G
2007-01-14
I play this song everyday for accuracy and memory training. It's not difficult to play, but it's hard to remeber (like a lot of Bach) because of the unexpected coordination of the hands. Most days I play it as many times as necessary to do it with no errors.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Minuet from Don Juan
2007-10-14
I let this song slip after I learned it, but I've recently gone back and memorized it. I play it about every other day to keep it in memory. The fast part is nice for limbering the fingers, and there are several places where you switch fingers on the same key, which is something I need to work on.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Musette in D Major
2007-10-14
I'm keeping this song on my play everyday list because it provides great practice for jumps, plus it's super easy to remember, so very low maintenance.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Nostalgy
2007-09-23
I hate this song! The only reason I still play it is that I'm not going to let it beat me. Physically, it's very easy, but mentally it's very hard for me. I have to look at the keys to play the wide arpeggios, and I can never remember which part comes next. Yesterday I "mental played" it and then immediately played it for real, and I did ok, then today I tried just playing it and messed it up completely. This piece is going to be a daily ritual for a while.
Nothing Can Separate Us
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Sonatina
2007-10-14
This is one of my play every day pieces. It's great practice for expression and fingering. I try to play it at least once without errors everyday, but some days I don't make it.
2007-09-23
Notes Created
Souvenir D'enfance
2007-12-21
I'm finally getting better at the arps, but now I'm disappointed in the more delicate parts. I think when I get my acoustic it will help with that.
2007-11-15
This is my first recording of this piece, even though I've been working on it for months. The long arpeggio interruptions are very difficult and it usually takes me a few attempts to hit them. I intend to keep working on this piece for the foreseeable future.
Speak Softly Love
2007-12-26
I've been playing this on and off for a few months as one of my regular pieces, but I haven't recorded it since September. I't pretty amazing to hear the difference. A lot of that is recording technique, but I'm definitely playing better too.
2007-10-14
This is the theme from The Godfather. I have it memorized and play it every other day or so. It has some improvised runs that are good arp practice, plus it's nice for practicing soft expressive play.
2007-09-23
Notes Created