Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Achievement of the week - what got you excited?

Not exactly an achievement but I knocked a hammer loose on my piano so until it is fixed I can't play any piece that contains the second Ab above middle C.

No problem ... you can play a G# instead

As for my AOTW, it is simply finding some new pieces I thought interesting at an appropriate level to work on. i.e. the "sweet spot" - where much of my enjoyment at the piano is generated!

Hey Andy, I thought you were away on vacation? You just can't keep away from us eh?

Paperclip - great attitude. That's what we're all about here

I've been a bit unfocused lately - my music teacher is having some pretty serious family health problems and we haven't seen each other for 3 weeks - I'm plugging away at my Beethoven but somehow just a few minutes with her really helps me get over the rough spots really quickly - when I do it on my own it takes a lot longer.
However, I'm moderately pleased with the progress.
I also think I just may have my piece ready for the recital.

Ben, that's great that you've found new interesting pieces at the right level - that really gives you a great lift doesn't it?

Congrats to Wisebuff and AimeeO on those flying fingers!

Ben, can you tell us what you have found? I'm very curious.

Chris

Casinitaly, so you are working insistently without your teacher's help. It sounds like a big achievement. Congrats!

Recaredo, you know I didn't even think about that.

You saved my AOTW ! Thanks!

Nice one! I agree that there's an optimal level of pieces that provide both enjoyment and challenge.

Hi, and thanks for asking.

Digging around in my big stack of stuff at home I found Mozart's Menuet in F. Not sure about the number on this one. He probably wrote it when he was 2.

Digging around on the internets I also found Schubert's Waltz in B minor (op 18 no 5 - although the IMSLP copy has it as #6?)

and also found from A.M. Notebook CPE Bach's Polonaise in G minor (BWV Anh. 125).

Hi every everybody! I'm fairly new here and finally feel I have something for this topic. I told my teacher I want to do RCM exams and she said we can start at grade 2. Today I am
Going to buy the books and when lessons resume in sept we will use this as a roadmap to progress. I am very excited as is she. I have had 8 weeks of lessons and things have been going well but the prepping for the exam will help me fill in any gaps in my playing I think. I am excited!!

Ps I have gotten lots of motivation from all the folks here on these forums and I thank you all for that!

Over the last 2 weeks, my teacher gave me several easy Christmas songs to try out. Hated most of them. Mostly chord banging in the left hand. Blah. I like flowing musical pieces. I'd rather work up one really nice Christmas piece then have 7 crappy ones. I couldn't find anything at a level that was musical but easy enough, yet still a little challenging. I finally checked back through and found "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" by David Nevue. I can play through it. I imagine it'll take a good month to really make it sound good. I'm really excited about this one.

I love playing in the key of G. I should really push myself further.

Also, the 2nd part of Fur Elise is going together easily enough. Not sure I'll get that one part up to speed, but it'll come in time.

Ben, Sounds like some interesting choices. I'm also looking around for some things to work on when I get back from vacation.

Cheryl, Its tough to go without that steady guiding hand. When my teacher was away I found it unnerving to think I might be practicing in a mistaken note or something. I'm still plodding away at the Beethoven too. Have the A sect hands together (slow) and just started putting the Romanze HT.

Zoe, Congrats on deciding to do the exam , but you don't have to wait for a big announcement to jump in here. We would celebrate with you equally if you decided NOT to do exams!

Gracie - Have you ever tried Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime is Here"? There's a pretty easy version in this book that is still very musical and fun to play amazon link Guaraldi . I think there are more difficult versions around too If you are so inclined.

No real AOTW for me. Played Shadow of Your Smile, which I've been self-studying, for my teacher for the first time. She said nice things but I didn't really play it very well. It is coming along, however, and she did point out a wrong note I had baked in . I'm going to try to get a decent recording this weekend.

Congratulations on embarking on a new adventure! Best of luck on the exam!

ZoeC.
Way to go. I'm planning to do the level 5 exam this fall/winter. It's fun having a goal like that to aim for.

Geez... I can only say I feel for you. I like my teacher but she has this peculiar weakness about Christmas songs. She hand pick Christmas songs appropriate for each student. She said she would think about each of her students when she is picking a piece... How can you say no to such a nice old lady! I thought what the heck. It's just one Christmas song. Anyway, making a long story short, I wound up playing the Christmas piece until mid January of this year. She did not let me drop it until I could play the piece somewhat fluently (sigh). My goodness, another Christmas! Please don't think I'm a Christmas hater. I love Christmas. I am jsut so scared now what kind of piece my teacher would pick for me this year! She is always thinking for me, so I will probably do it again.. Hopefully, she will give it to me early this year so that I can put more time in. I just don't want to play it in January.

My AOTW - I had to come to Utah again on Wednesday morning. I was able to practice every day at a piano rental stor (Thank you!) The place closes at 7:00 PM.. I hurry there after work - which could be 6:00 or 6:30.. It's only a little bit of practice but I am happy.

I will go home tomorrow - it make me happy:) My husband want to go to dinner with me after he picks me up at the airport. i told him that I would rather like to go home. I am more hungry for my own piano than some restaurant food. Fortunately, I am blessed with a wonderful and understanding husband. I just have to remember to say, "Honey, I missed you so much", pose for about 20 second... then, gently brings it up, "and, I missed my piano too. Oh.. are you making a sandwich for me? How kind of you! Can I practice a little before we eat? It works every time:)

Jim, it’s great to hear that your teacher said nice things about your self-studying. Maybe you are too hard with yourself.


FarmGirl, you have no a husband, you have an angel. It’s so important to have a supportive person with you.

My little achievement is on the metronome. Until now, I saw the metronome like an unpleasant dictator. But these days I’ve started to make a friendly relationship with it. I think that the secret is to see the metronome like a helpful instrument, not like a bossy machine.

Regards.

Recaredo, glad you made a friend.

On no!!! I would've pulled my hair out. My teacher is also very sweet, and I had a hard time taking in that new Christmas piece this week. She was really excited about all that easy Christmas stuff she'd given me...

Thanks JimF, I'll check out that book.

Ben, those pieces are very nice. Thank you of remembering me of Bach BWV Anh 125. I have started that, but I still need to finish the mid section.

Recaredo, ah you have made friendship and piece with the metronome. Did you try to change the sound? Sometimes a warm bell in stead of a annoying sinus beep, helps too.

Farmgirl, nooo!! Christmas songs in January. I'm so sorry for you!! Gracie, Christmas songs in the summer!! I'm double sorry!!

Chris

PS: The day before Christmas day, I received my violin. On Christmas day I could play jingle bells. I was so enthousiatic I played it all day long. Now I'm not allowed to play a Christmas song ever.