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My first recording of Canon in D:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uE7aBhzINk

I played faster with the camera recording; I didn't control the tempo well during recording and I knew it while playing. Also, there are some notes played poorly, which I don't like. But, I think it's an all right overall. However, I am going to make a second recording mid-way through next week, which will be my recital piece. I will certainly put much more effort in that recording, and I'll post it here, I guess, on August 15th.

Thanks,

Bravo!!!!!! You played that really well. I didn't notice any notes played poorly at all. Hardly any hesitation at all (unlike mine *grin*); and tempo wise, I'd say that at the end you were speeding up instead of slowing down as indicated in the music. Overall speed wise - as a comparision - I played it much slower (it took me 3.5 mins, it took you 2.5 mins); I'm not sure if I should speed up, or you should slow down, or maybe a bit of both?

Great job! You've surpassed me in this song - I guess I should go practice some more now

I'm not the person to judge this piece, but your hands slapping thighs finale tells a lot

Thanks Nancy, it made me feel really nice to read that post

I think either of out speeds could be correct. In that recording I am definitely playing on the quicker end of the spectrum, and I will try to slow it down a bit. I think your speed is fine too, and I like it more than I do mine, but it's more a matter of personal preference than necessity, because, again, I think we're both within an acceptable range of tempos for the piece. On youtube Canon in D performances on piano, you'll find similar variations in tempo. And come on, you know I have not surpassed you; you may hesitate here and there but you keep it under great control; yet I speed up at the end! The speeding at the end is probably nerves, you know, I really don't want to make a silly error and have to restart from the beginning (for that recording I really did not make that many attempts, thank goodness). Neither of us is "perfect", but we both do fine jobs at playing it, and we are both ready for book 3 I think.

Speaking of Book 3, I nearly gave myself the pass earlier today on the first piece. Relative to DB and CiD, it is rather easy, but entertaining to play.

whoops!

LOL, that is kind of silly of me

Waltz - nice version of the "Canon in D" - please don't hesitate to submit it to the upcoming Recital - the only major Recital rule is that it must be a piece that you personally played and should involve the piano/keyboard to some extent - people have often "tried out" a piece in a thread (especially the Monthly Piano Bars) before submitting it to the Recital - I might be doing this myself - some have even re-submitted an "improved" piece that they submitted to the Recital before - many more people will hear it there and you'll get lots of positive feedback - and some critical feedback and suggestions (but only if you specifically request this) - see you in Book 3!

Regards, JF

Thanks JF. I will be submitting this to the upcoming recital. I'm excited about it, my first one. I think I will rerecord this either tomorrow or Tuesday, and try to slow it down.

I actually passed the first Book 3 piece, Super Special Sorta Song (alliteration overkill) this morning and have started the Calypso Rhumba this morning. Neither seem too difficult, but I'm sure the heat will be on soon enough.

I'll see you in the Book 3 thread as soon as I have finished all my work with Canon in D, I'm still working hard on my ability to "control" the piece as I play it, and it's taking lots of my practice time. See you there soon


Thanks Ttigg for the youtube comment also!

Good to hear that Book 3 is not very intimidating thus far for you Waltz. That's encouraging for me.

I am actually spending a LARGE portion of my time on Canon in D still, and will be until probably Thursday, then I will shift my energy completely into Book 3. Hang in there Music in Me, and keep making recordings; it's a way to stay motivated and have something tangible while moving forward. On which piece are you now working?

Aside from getting distracted by digital connections. MIDI, etc., I'm going back in order, so I'm now about to record Morning Has Broken, then Solace, followed by the dreaded La Bamba.

Cool, Morning has Broken is lovely. GL with La Bamba, but in all honestly, I think you have the talent to pull it off without a problem. I'll be sure to listen to them all when you post 'em.

I have made my final recording of Canon in D! I guess I won't post it until the 15th though. I also have to find a .wmv ---> .mp3 converter online.

I will say this though: it is played slower in my final playing.
The first was 2:39 in length, this one is 2:57 in length.

Tomorrow will be my last day working on Canon in D, after I will be completely on Book 3.

Congrats! I can't wait to hear the final version. Make sure and post it here as well as the recital?

I've been working on the Dan Coates version of Canon in D (more of the same; but slightly different ). I don't know if I'll have it at recital quality before the uploads are due. I can play all the parts of it pretty well; but putting them all together and getting through the whole song is proving to be difficult. A few areas I should work on individually; and I'm not sure my speed is up to what it should be. Ah well - it's fun to practice at least!

Thanks Nancy. I hope you can get the Coates version by the 15th, it would be really fun to hear it. I think you can do it. I really want to just upload mine to youtube and post it here now, but it would probably take the fun out of the recital. But I'll post the link here on the 15th, and in the recital page.

Is the Coates version similar to this version played by this kid?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ibPfp2ofE

This is the one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWzBVcC_Cto

I don't play the fast parts nearly fast enough yet I'm working on it though!

(Edited to add this is NOT me playing it - just a random you tube video I found )

Ah, yes! That version is much more similar to how it is commonly played at weddings. Beautiful, but it looks much more difficult than the A2 version.

I know it's not in book #2 - but since we started talking about it here I'm working on the easy Coates version of Canon in D. I'm approaching my practice quite differently now. First, I've gone though the whole piece and think I understand the timing of everything (there's one part on page 4 I might need to speed up slightly) although I'm playing everything slower than might be indicated in the music. I can play any part of it fine as long as I concentrate and focus on that section.

I started learning this piece from front to back of course; and I'm definitely more comfortable with the beginning. So now I'm starting over at the end.

I took the last phrase (hope that's the right terminology) and played that a bunch of times in a row until I felt more comfortable with it. Then I moved forward in the music and added the next to last phrase, played it, plus the last one. This way I'm playing the last phrase more and more as I add more and more of the beginning of the song. I spent some time this evening doing this - and feel it's working well. I'm much more comfortable with the end of the song now.

Still have a long way to go - I got through page four, but am still making occasional mistakes that I'm not happy with.

Waltz you can download a program call Audcity. It will convert your .wav file to an .mp3. Its free and alot of us here us it. Good luck.

Opps! Thats Audacity....sorry