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Requested by other PW /ABF members I start this new topic.
My goal for 2012......again the two French Suites of J.S.Bach. Also working on Sonates / Sonatines of Mozart, Haydn, Vanhal, Benda, Clementi.....and perhaps
purchasing a new DP.....thinking of the Kawai CS-serie or Yamaha CLP430WH...
What are your musical goals for 2012, I'm curious and will remember you in december 2012.
1. More reading every day. I've given up on ever having enough easier material to sight-read every day. Too often I've used that as an excuse to do no "new" reading at all, and I don't think the exercise books are a good substitute. This year I am going to read something new every day. Even if I cannot sight-read it, I will read it and try to play it to the best of my ability.
2. Work smarter. Even though I can recite the "Chunkers Bible" chapter and verse, I'm still guilty of biting off bits that are too big, or ignoring my own chunk-lines and continuing on to the next phrase too soon. It is so silly, because I know it just makes more work in the end. This year I resolve to never move on to the next "whatever" until I'm satisfied with my progress on the current chunk. I will not create artificial deadlines. I will take my time and let the learning take its own pace.
3. Minimum effort/relaxed playing/eliminating tension. I really have to get my teacher to focus on helping me with this, because I feel a little lost. I often catch myself with hunched shoulders or a rounded back, but she rarely comments on this - I need to ask her why. Perhaps she's just being polite/respectful with an adult. I have had some success in elimininating tension in scale and arp playing, but I'm not sure it has translated to my pieces.
4. Pieces - still waiting for assignment of my first Bach Invention. I'm convinced that lots of Bach is one avenue to improving technique, and the Inventions are the Bach gateway after AMB Notebook. Chopin Nocturne - still hoping to play one this year but won't be upset if I do other things first. I've found there is a ton of intermediate level repertoire that is well worth learning that I never heard of before. Chopin will still be there whenever I am ready.
5. Performance. Play in my second live recital next spring, and don't obsess over it. The world will go on if I make a boo boo. Make the quiet time happen to make some recordings for ABF recitals or Bars. There is a wealth of good advice to be gained from the players here.
Liebestraum 3, Liszt Standchen-Schubert/Liszt arr Sonata Pathetique-Adagio LVB Estonia L190 #7284
1. To be able to play in front of people (teacher,friends & family will do for now) 2. To discover where I want to take my piano playing (genre/style etc) 3. Above all, to still be enjoying learning and playing piano
I won't make too many goals as I'm too new to this to know realistic goals to set. Like no.3 says above, I just aim to still be enjoying piano, taking lessons and enjoying it by the end of next year.
Happy new year to everyone btw.
Neil.
Venables & Son Custom 133 Upright Acoustic Piano Yamaha DGX-640 Digital Piano Started learning: October 2011 Started lessons: January 2012 YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/neildradford
my 2012 goals: 1. Improve my reading; learn to read without relying on looking at my hands. this is my biggest weakness. 2. overall improvement in my playing, technique, dynamics, musicality. 3. learn more upbeat faster tempo pieces. 4. still trying to figure out what genre of music i would like concentrate on. currently i like just about everything i hear. leaning more toward jazz and blues but still love classical and some "new age". 5. would like to find a great teacher and start taking lesson (have not had lessons in about 5 years). 6. play in front of people more often (people other than my poor wife who knows every piece i play inside and out and constructively reminds me know when i play a wrong note). gw
3. Above all, to still be enjoying learning and playing piano
I won't make too many goals as I'm too new to this to know realistic goals to set. Like no.3 says above, I just aim to still be enjoying piano, taking lessons and enjoying it by the end of next year.
Happy new year to everyone btw.
Neil.
Well Neil,
enjoying to play piano is also my biggest goal.....
and I will remember all of us in 2012, just as I did this year... reminder goals 2011
Not sure if you have seen a lot of people coming back with the same unachieved goals from previous year
Combining the old and new goal on piano playing, I hope I will be able to make a nice self recording of 18 pieces of piano playing, just the short ones, and it doesn't matter if they are only the easy or the more difficult pieces, I want to make them sound nice. Every day practice doesn't seem a realistic goal for me, so I would not go for it
Good luck with your wishes and see you on the next Christmas review!
Sakari - I hope 2012 is a better year for you - both in terms of health and music!
My goals for this year:
1. Continue to work on eliminating tension. 2. Improve my reading abilities to be able to move more quickly through simple pieces and more accurately through harder ones. 3. Perform in all the ABF recitals 4. Participate in the Piano Bar at least 5 times. 5. Perform in at least one live recital (I hope 2, but we'll see) 6. Improve my concentration so that when I play for friends at home I don't flub so much! 7. Play duets with someone other than my teacher. 8. Make some steps into the very interesting world of improvisation.
I think that's enough for now
I also plan to work on a 3rd year of playing everyday except when away from home. (or sick).
Good luck to all of us on reaching our goals!
18 ABF Recitals, Order of the Red Dot European Piano Parties - Brussels, Lisbon, Lucern, Milan, Malaga, St. Goar Themed recitals: Grieg and Great American Songbook
Learn all the Piano Adventures pieces up to tempo in levels 3A and 3B.
Participate in ABF recitals and bars.
That isn't the whole of what I'm doing with piano. For example, I've joined the MOYD 2012, and I've started to work on sight-reading, and I'm learning the minor scales, and I'd like to learn some pieces from memory, and of course I simply continue to learn new pieces. But those are the two goals I'm putting a stake in the ground to be tested on come 12/26/12.
My goal for 2012 is to get to play out, either at a coffee shop that has a piano ( there are a couple within a few miles of where I live ) or maybe at a retirement home.
For a frame of reference, I've been playing about two weeks. I don't have specifics at this point.
My goals are:
500 hours of playing time minimum. Find a teacher I like working with. Discover my strengths and weaknesses and alter practice routines accordingly. Finish Alfred beginner book two, playing it musically and in time. Find a number of songs that I like playing and learn them well.
Here are my goals for 2012. I tried to think of measurable yardsticks so I have something to judge against at the end of the year.
1. Practice a minimum of 2 hours a day unless I am away from home or sick. 2. Improve relaxation. 3. Learn to focus better and decrease errors. 4. Do all of the quarterly recitals on ABF. 5. Complete level 4 ABRSM exam. 6. Develop and maintain a playable repetoire of 10 pieces. 7. Improve my sight reading to ABRSM grade 3.
Good thread! My goal as I've just started few weeks ago is: - play 0.5-1 hour per day - enjoy playing - carefully follow what my teacher suggests - print a lot of sheets I'd like to play sometime and hang it over to teacher for evaluation what we can do with them...
Generally speaking, I'd like to have at least 200 training hours played during 2012 and still enjoying the piano more than in 2011.
Ok, I give I'm not used to publicly announcing my goals.
But this year I'd like to up my average/day playing time again. Two years ago I wanted to average an hour/day and did ~ .98, so that was pretty good. Last year I wanted to actually make 1 hr/day, and I've done that, and maybe a little over. So now I'd like to average 1+/day.
I'm a gradualist
Cathy
Cathy
Perhaps "more music" is always the answer, no matter what the question might be! - Qwerty53
And I'm with everyone that just has goals for improvement, too - this is such a great hobby And I think the more relaxed/less tenseness spills over into everything else in life - what a good thing that is! For me, for sure.
Cathy
Cathy
Perhaps "more music" is always the answer, no matter what the question might be! - Qwerty53
And I'm with everyone that just has goals for improvement, too - this is such a great hobby And I think the more relaxed/less tenseness spills over into everything else in life - what a good thing that is! For me, for sure.
Cathy
A great hobby..indeed. Once I started out as an organist and played many years in a church. That was a kind of job with many obligations. Now I play only classics just for fun and ability for relaxing. Sometimes I play all kind of music with colleagues at parties at the school where I work. But this unpretentious....
* continue with Alfred's all-in-one book 1, and progress to book 2 (don't aim to have that completed but will try) * continue to attend my weekly classes throughout 2012 * learn the 12 major scales
(that should keep me busy enough with what I hope are attainable goals)
- Relearn and polish Rachmaninov's G# minor prelude - Relearn and polish Bach's D minor prelude and fugue (Book 2) - Continue to polish Chopin's E minor waltz No. 12 - Continue to polish Ravel's La Vallee Des Cloches - Learn a complete sonata, preferable Mozart's Sonata in C, K330 - Learn all the required scales and arpeggios for AMEB grade 8 - Self study and sit for AMEB grade 5 theory exam - Give more effort in making music videos on YouTube than 2011, have the courage to post at least one classical piece on YouTube - Play with the orchestra at least 1 concert (violin) - Have my piano tuned at least twice
By the end of 2012, I hope to be ready to sit for AMEB AMUS practical exam in 2013.
Gees, that sounds like a lot to do! Better go practice now!
learn to play Moonlight Sonata 1st movement (even a simple version is fine with me)
practice every day (MOYD)
get an 88 weighted keyboard
Hopefully I'm being realistic here....
Hi Becca,
Moonlight Sonata 1st movement (even a simple version is fine with me) just like Mahler said: "Das wichtigste in der Musik steht nicht in den Noten..." ("The most important thing in music is not the notes ...") It is the feel, the emotion and the fun of music.
I want to study chords and keys and try to learn a bit of simple playing by ear and participate in more ABF recitals. Hopefully I'll get to the piano bar more than 2X.
I'll figure it out eventually. Until then you may want to keep a safe distance.
My goals are simple for the year. -play for enjoyment -enhance my tempo and expression -select a repertoire (I've learned soooo many pieces) and polish it
hmm I haven't really thought about it that much.. But I guess my goals for 2012 are... 1. I want to learn how to make my own arrangements 2. I think I need to work on playing with more confidence. (I think I hesitate to much.. though that could be because I am unsure of what some of the notes and rhythms are... so I guess I should work on that too) 3. Get a zoom recorder 4. Maybe get a full size keyboard?:P
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. Walt Disney
To perfect the triads in the left hand of Bartok- Rondo on a folk tune no. 2, measures 90-155. I still have to play them really slow, because it's really hard for me to play them up to tempo. It's kind of a short term resolution, but I think it's still good enough.
1. Keep practicing piano daily (sickness, travel, and 16-hour workdays excluded) and taking lessons weekly with my wonderful piano teacher.
2. Play at least one scale daily.
3. Develop technique to point where easier "intermediate" pieces in Pianist magazine are worth trying.
4. Perform casually at least a couple of times for friends/family (other than my long-suffering wife)
5. Participate in at least one recital or piano bar here
6. Keep my hand in on my original instrument (double bass) by playing in the pit orchestra for three light opera productions -- without putting the piano to the side.
7. Get a grand piano
8. Keep my job so that payments required for 4 and 7 are possible.
"Don't let the devil fool you - Here comes a dove; Nothing cures like time and love."
My goal for 2012 is to focus on discipline. This I know is the focus of practice. Numbers, accomplishments, or even (God forbid for me now in piano) awards. These are not a real measure of accomplishment. Increased discipline in practice is. This is how one sees results. Then I can have fun and be relaxed, and enjoy accomplishments. So we'll see where it leads me. Much accomplished means much discipline.
Ron Your brain is a sponge. Keep it wet. Mary Gae George The focus of your personal practice is discipline. Not numbers. Scott Sonnon
* practice more than last year, my practice fell off during november/december so this may be easily achieved * 5-10 minutes daily scales practice ( should be easy this year due to scales bootcamp and my urge to work through all the achievements * 5-10 minutes daily sight reading practice
There's also obviously the piece based goals, but I don't have any specific piece in mind so far this year, just going to work on more from the baroque era vol 1 book and piano handbook.
--Practice an average of 5-7 hours a week. --Work up and record at least 12 new pieces. --Play at least one set on a volunteer basis at a retirement home or the like.
These are rank-ordered in terms of how confident I am that I'll actually achieve them.
Last year, I learned a piece and kept it memorized through the end of the year. First time I have even thought of developing a repertoire. Feels good. So goals for 2012:
1. Add two pieces and maintain them through out the year. 2. Continue with lessons and making slow but steady progress. 3. Average 9 hr/wk of practice.
In 2012, I would like to learn the following pieces: 1. Mozart K.330 Sonata 2. Bach SinfonÃa 15 3. A Chopin Waltz (hopefully)
I would like to play more confidently in front of people, specially in front of other pianists. In my recitals, I usually get quite nervous in the first piece and usually get angry about it and the anger actually helps me forget the audience and focus on the piano. I would love to focus on the music right off the bat.
I have acquired a Yamaha P-155 digital piano and plan to go to some nursing homes to give free concerts as a way of practicing my performance and doing a good deed.
Relaxation is also something I would like to work on consciously, and even though I am quite a newbie I would like to start composing some basic pieces and post them online. My goal is to create and post at least 4 pieces by the end of the year.
I hope all of you reach and surpass your own goals!
--Practice an average of 5-7 hours a week. --Work up and record at least 12 new pieces. --Play at least one set on a volunteer basis at a retirement home or the like.
These are rank-ordered in terms of how confident I am that I'll actually achieve them.
Monica,
I'm sure you realize your goals. Would be nice if you could have some extra free time to play and enjoy your grand piano.
In 2012, I would like to learn the following pieces: 1. Mozart K.330 Sonata 2. Bach SinfonÃa 15 3. A Chopin Waltz (hopefully)
I would like to play more confidently in front of people, specially in front of other pianists. In my recitals, I usually get quite nervous in the first piece and usually get angry about it and the anger actually helps me forget the audience and focus on the piano. I would love to focus on the music right off the bat.
I have acquired a Yamaha P-155 digital piano and plan to go to some nursing homes to give free concerts as a way of practicing my performance and doing a good deed.
Relaxation is also something I would like to work on consciously, and even though I am quite a newbie I would like to start composing some basic pieces and post them online. My goal is to create and post at least 4 pieces by the end of the year.
I hope all of you reach and surpass your own goals!
Had to think about this for a while. My 1st year (2011) goals included finishing the 3 Alfreds books and getting through the majority of Burgmuller 100 and Beginner Bach/Petzold. I have 3 months remaining and believe most of this is a possibility. So, my 2012 goals are to finish up what I started and then dive into greatly improving my sight-reading and knowledge of music theory. Oh, and pick up a few rag-time pieces at the request of my husband.
Having been "out of the loop" (so to speak) for a while, here is my goal for 2012 - to complete the Duane Shinn 52 week crash course. I purchased the whole thing a few years ago ($997), along with several other sizeable follow-on courses that range from 6 months to a couple of years in length, but got caught up in my wife's health issues and got side-tracked. Things are settling down again, so I think this could be the year (fingers crossed).
I also have "Piano For All" and think that is a good course too. In fact, Robin now has it in a version that works on iPad and Android tablets (instead of embedding the videos and MP3s, he has them separate and keyed by title to specific pages in the books, making it easy to follow.
However, I spent several weeks prior to the new year deciding what direction to go. Duane Shinn's course is really well structured and is really like taking "real" piano lessons. I need that structure, but my schedule does not permit me to be able to commit to time and place as external dependencies on a teacher would require. So, for each of 52 weeks, the crash course has a video lesson on DVD (4 lessons to a DVD) and these go with the books, just as a teacher might teach from specific books.
The direction of the crash course strikes a middle ground between classical and playing from a fakebook, so you know how to handle a lead sheet on the fly as well as sight read a piano score. Obviously, in a year, I won't be accomplished, but I will have a solid foundation and can build on that with other course I have from Duane Shinn.
For those who have complained about the shorter Shinn courses not being very instructive, I can say this. The 52 week crash course is really the foundation and everything else he sells is considered a follow-on to that, building on the foundation that one course lays. From that perspective, his other courses make good sense.
My goal ultimately is to compose and play in a generally new age style, influenced by jazz sensibilities. I really need a solid foundation in general piano before tackling that goal (i.e. fingering, hand independence, etc). That is what the crash course can provide.
I had seriously considered the Tim Richards "Improvising Blues Piano", but decided I need to start again at the real beginning and just do what the "right thing" is for my needs.
Anyway, I have been working on the course for a few weeks already and am on the 4th lesson now. The structure makes it easy for me to know exactly what I need to do each day without floundering and wondering if I am doing it right. Duane, in the video makes it quite clear what you hands should look like on the keyboard as you play, exactly how to practice, and when to know it is time to move on to the next thing. I need that right now.
Had to think about this for a while. My 1st year (2011) goals included finishing the 3 Alfreds books and getting through the majority of Burgmuller 100 and Beginner Bach/Petzold. I have 3 months remaining and believe most of this is a possibility. So, my 2012 goals are to finish up what I started and then dive into greatly improving my sight-reading and knowledge of music theory. Oh, and pick up a few rag-time pieces at the request of my husband.
Taratex,
Do you know the Gershwin-songs, nice for your husband.
Do you know the Gershwin-songs, nice for your husband.
Cheers, Johan B
Hello Johan,
Yes, I am aware of Gershwin but believe his work is well beyond my abilities.
I have a book of Joplin's works and a few easier ones seem within reach for 2012 - if I can improve my hand strength. I'm in the process of moving from a non-weighted digital keyboard to a grand and now have aching fingers after only 30 minutes of practice. I've painfully realized no real hand strength was built with 8 months practice on the DP.
Attempting Joplin will be a good hand workout even if I don't yet have the chops to polish the pieces. Gershwin maybe 2013.
Wish you succes. Your Schimmel 132t Konzert will help you, it's a very nice piano.
Cheers, Johan B
Thanks, I adore it, in fact it has quite spoiled me with its lovely sound and touch. Everything from jazz to classical sounds great; but for some reason it sounds particularly wondrous when you play Beethoven.
Happy to report that 4 of my goals for this year is in progress already:
- Am learning all in scales and apeggios in C (4 octaves major, harmonic and melodic minors, legato in mf, and p crescendo to f then decrescendo back to p, in staccato, in 3rds and in 6ths, same for chromatics; 2 octaves scales in octave staccato motion; chromatics in 3rds with one hand; scales in contrary motion 2 octaves; 4 octaves arpeggios in root, first and second inversions, 4 octaves arpeggios for dominant and diminished in root, first, second and third inversions). Gosh, did I miss anything? 5 more keys to learn!
- am studying music theory, done scales and intervals, starting 4-part harmony.
- finally teacher agreed to teach me Mozart's Sonata in C, K330 today! Yay!
- started relearning and refining Rachmaninov's G# minor prelude.
If I keep this up for the rest of the year, I should be ready for the diploma exam next year :-)
Hi Johan, my hands aren't big either and Rachmaninov has several chords that span 10th in that piece. There are ways to break those chords and still make it sound musical :-)
I will finish Beethoven's Pathetique sonata... I am at the 3rd movement now. Cannot wait. Would like to play for others more. Looking forward to play a duet with Marybee at the S/H lodge.
My goal for 2012 is to start work on Medtner's Night Wind. To actually learn the whole piece might take me a few more years, but I want to at least make a start in 2012. Here's what I propose to do for this year:
1) Get a Stuart & Sons piano. The Night Wind deserves to be played on an impressive piano. 2) Work through one or more of the books on exercises for technique. 3) Re-learn all the scales and arpeggios, including all the scales in 3rds and 6ths. 4) Gradually increase stamina until I can play scales and arpeggios at a relentless tempo up and down the piano in all possible combinations and without interruption for 40 minutes at a time, while avoiding the build-up of tension. 5) Slowly work up to at least 3 hours of practice a day for at least 5 days every week. 6) Limit practice to no more than 6 hours per day. 7) Find a teacher who knows how to teach the Night Wind. 8) Get a grasp of all the polyrhythmic combinations found in the Night Wind. 9) Do 40 minute long meditations every night starting at midnight, for the whole winter, outdoors under the stars to really experience the night wind with all my senses. On rainy nights when this may not be practicable, at least try to break wind in bed continuously for 40 minutes starting at midnight. 10) Carry the printed music with me (I hope there is a pdf version because the printed version is 60 pages long) at all times and start thinking about fingering.
My goal for 2012 is to start work on Medtner's Night Wind. To actually learn the whole piece might take me a few more years, but I want to at least make a start in 2012. Here's what I propose to do for this year:
1) Get a Stuart & Sons piano. The Night Wind deserves to be played on an impressive piano. 2) Work through one or more of the books on exercises for technique. 3) Re-learn all the scales and arpeggios, including all the scales in 3rds and 6ths. 4) Gradually increase stamina until I can play scales and arpeggios at a relentless tempo up and down the piano in all possible combinations and without interruption for 40 minutes at a time, while avoiding the build-up of tension. 5) Slowly work up to at least 3 hours of practice a day for at least 5 days every week. 6) Limit practice to no more than 6 hours per day. 7) Find a teacher who knows how to teach the Night Wind. 8) Get a grasp of all the polyrhythmic combinations found in the Night Wind. 9) Do 40 minute long meditations every night starting at midnight, for the whole winter, outdoors under the stars to really experience the night wind with all my senses. On rainy nights when this may not be practicable, at least try to break wind in bed continuously for 40 minutes starting at midnight. 10) Carry the printed music with me (I hope there is a pdf version because the printed version is 60 pages long) at all times and start thinking about fingering.
Wow....ambitious.......I'm curious about your 'long meditations'
I will finish Beethoven's Pathetique sonata... I am at the 3rd movement now. Cannot wait. Would like to play for others more. Looking forward to play a duet with Marybee at the S/H lodge.
Playing for others more...nice goal.....We will find out in december....
Hi, I would like to aim for various things. In no particular order:
1- start practising effectively. 2- Learn to do scales. I only know the basics ones I printed out from a grade 1 website thing but there are many more keys that appear in the music I'm learning. 3- To be able to play more pieces from memory than learning at the same time. Right now I have five or six in my head, but am trying to learn another eight at the same time. Ideally, I'd learn all the pieces I'm currently learning before I learn more, but that's not likely. I tend to buy new books quicker than I can read them, so I'm not surprised music is leading me the same way. 4- Start to learn and be able to use the sustain pedal appropriately. 5- As soon as I get my own digital piano, I will practise everyday. 6- When I move nearer to work and so saving commuting time, hopefully spring/summer, I will look for a teacher.
I've been thinking about this for awhile, and I think I'm finally ready to post.
I, too, want to practice more effectively in 2012. I need to discuss this more with my teacher. Also, I have committed to practicing every day. It took me about 2 months to learn the Bach Minuet, so, being realistic, I want to learn a new piece every two months in 2012, too. This should include Linus and Lucy and some Schumann.
That's it.
p.s. I considered long and hard whether I would include recording something for the PW forum would be on this list, but listening to things you all have posted here has intimidated the he** out of me, so it didn't make it to the goal list. However, if I grow a spine, it may yet happen.
One of my hopes for this year is to get Chopin's Winter Wind Etude under my fingers. It's a piece that is over my head but I was so inspired by Paul Barton's youtube tutorial on it I just had to try it. So far I've memorized 6 out of 8 pages (still have pages 4 and 5 to go). But I play it soooo slowly that parts don't even sound like winter wind! I'd like to have the whole piece memorized and be able to play it fast enough that it at least sounds like WW. Not sure if it is possible given some current limitations but I will try.
p.s. I considered long and hard whether I would include recording something for the PW forum would be on this list, but listening to things you all have posted here has intimidated the he** out of me, so it didn't make it to the goal list. However, if I grow a spine, it may yet happen.
OT: MaryAnn if you look in January's Piano bar you will see a piece by me, which is a primer level piece! I often feel everyone on here is way more advanced than I am. Everyone is very helpful and encouraging though, so don't let the great performances from others hold you back!
Hi! Generally I would like to practice at the piano every day. As for pieces: "You were there" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vB0mhiQhyc) composed by Michiru Oshima. I've only been playing piano for six months, so any suggestions for easier classical pieces that could help build up some skills would be much appreciated.
Besides that, I would like to be able to play an original ragtime piece. I am looking at Scott Joplins Swipesy right now, since it seems to be one of the easier, but that may change.
Having realised that perhaps an AMus diploma might be do-able with a bit of work I need to set some goals in increasing order of complexity:
1) Re-memorise Chopin Nocturne Op9#1 Bb minor 2) Relearn Bach P&F 20 Amin (gotta find some fingering that makes sense!) 3) Work on Beethoven Pathetique 3rd movt (WORK - not play roughly over and over again - but actually focus on bits and do it well!) 4) Reduce the amount of Beethoven Pathetique 1st movt that I cant play! (Again by targetted practice rather than blind but enjoyable hacking through time and time again) 5) Find something modern and new on AMus list and learn it well
Parent.... Orchestral Viola player (stictly amateur).... Hack Pianist.... (faded skills from glory days 20 yrs ago) Vague Guitar & Bass player.... (former minor income stream 15 yrs ago) Former conductor... (been a long time since I was set loose with a magic wand!)
Hi! Generally I would like to practice at the piano every day. As for pieces: "You were there" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vB0mhiQhyc) composed by Michiru Oshima. I've only been playing piano for six months, so any suggestions for easier classical pieces that could help build up some skills would be much appreciated.
Besides that, I would like to be able to play an original ragtime piece. I am looking at Scott Joplins Swipesy right now, since it seems to be one of the easier, but that may change.
Hi Nikolaj, I've been playing about the same amount of time. The first classical piece I learned was Bach's Minuet in G. The second I am now trying is Krieger Minuet in A minor. I've recently bought (but haven't yet received) Easy Classics to Moderns: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Classics..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326855886&sr=8-1 .
I'm planning a huge party in December 2012 called The Christmas Singalong Project. I've got a bunch of singer friends who, like me, love nothing better than to get together and sing our hearts out. Some are pretty good pianists. A few go well beyond any normal amateur standard. But why should they get all the fun? What about us lapsed students who secretly dream of being the one at the piano? So, the plan is a challenge to all my erstwhile piano & guitar student friends, and their friends, and their kids, to each take a few songs from The Reader's Digest Christmas Songs book - full of ~ grade 3 & 4 arrangements - and learn the songs they volunteer for well enough to play for the singalong. I'm also planning to challenge one of my exceptional pianist friends to record the piano reduction of Messiah (Part I) for my player piano and DIRECT US singing it. So the game plan of the party is: eat and drink; Messiah (Part I) with various people taking the solos; eat and drink; Christmas sing-a-long by various artists; eat and drink. Yay!! The party of the century, plus a bunch of people who wish they could *really* play piano with a clear goal and deadline to show themselves and the world (at least this small part) that they can achieve their musical dreams. I may post here from time to time in my own quest to master what it takes to play my part.
"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."
Thanks MaryAnn, I'll keep that book in mind. I have Dovers Big Book of beginning piano classics, which is very nice, except they are all in 'easified' arrangements, so it might be good to try some original compositions.
SwissMS: taking the abrsm one is good. I was thinking of doing the same, but I don't know if I have sufficient motivation, or energy. PM me some, if you have any to spare! Maybe I should put that in my goals, too.
Those who want to play more publicly: Bravo! I didn't think of that! right now, I've only been playing over the computer for a relative to listen to me. She's the only one who I can pester that way.
2. Memorize scales and chords - this one I can get so lazy with. for this, I am using Alfred's scales, chords, cadences. I really like this book because it simplifies and puts everything in palatable portions, especially for someone like me who hates memorizing! I also have a chords dictionary...I should probably make flashcards or something!
Eventually, I would like to be able to play from a fakebook...or learn to improvise. Really suck at that.
4. Learn my "dream" pieces - I would also like to work on the 1st movement of beethoven's pathetique, and if I still have the time, to start working on Fantasie Impromptu, just like others in this thread before me Maybe by the middle of the year.
I've been thinking about this for awhile, and I think I'm finally ready to post.
I, too, want to practice more effectively in 2012. I need to discuss this more with my teacher. Also, I have committed to practicing every day.
Maryann: There are some good books on piano practice that you might want to take a look at. The people in the forum like Playing the Piano for Pleasure by Charles Cooke. I also read the Piano Lessons Book by Neil Miller. I read and re-read these a lot to keep me on track
I've been thinking about this for awhile, and I think I'm finally ready to post.
I, too, want to practice more effectively in 2012. I need to discuss this more with my teacher. Also, I have committed to practicing every day.
Maryann: There are some good books on piano practice that you might want to take a look at. The people in the forum like Playing the Piano for Pleasure by Charles Cooke. I also read the Piano Lessons Book by Neil Miller. I read and re-read these a lot to keep me on track
Besides getting advice from my teacher, I have found the book Practiceopedia to be a great resource for learning to practice more effectively. Check it out here .
Mary Bee Current mantra: Play outside the box. XVI-XXXVI
My goal for 2012 is to start work on Medtner's Night Wind. To actually learn the whole piece might take me a few more years, but I want to at least make a start in 2012. Here's what I propose to do for this year:
1) Get a Stuart & Sons piano. The Night Wind deserves to be played on an impressive piano....
Your entry was intriguing enough to get me to look up and listen to Medtner's "Night Wind" piece. It's pretty challenging, all right! But it strikes me that if you are able to play it well, you will have learned most if not all the important fundamentals to help you in other work.
I would *love* to be able to try out a Stuart & Sons one day. They are hard to find here in the States, though. If and when you buy yours, please do post lots of photos and videos.
Maryann: There are some good books on piano practice that you might want to take a look at. The people in the forum like Playing the Piano for Pleasure by Charles Cooke. I also read the Piano Lessons Book by Neil Miller. I read and re-read these a lot to keep me on track
Besides getting advice from my teacher, I have found the book Practiceopedia to be a great resource for learning to practice more effectively. Check it out here .
Thanks for those suggestions, MaryBee and WannabePT. What do people here think of the Chuan Chang Fundamentals of Practice book?
What do people here think of the Chuan Chang Fundamentals of Practice book?
I know there has been a lot of talk about it in the past here on the forum. If you did a search you could probably find all sorts of stuff...pro and con. I know I found some of it interesting but most of it...well, it just didn't ring true for me.
[/quote]Thanks for those suggestions, MaryBee and WannabePT. What do people here think of the Chuan Chang Fundamentals of Practice book?
Chang's book is okay, too. A lot of people have commented on his book, some good, some not so good. It was the book that made me realize how important proper practice was. It helps that it's downloadable for free, too
His book can get dense, and the simple tips get lost under the verbosity. For example, I thought my teacher was brilliant for catching on and pointing out that I wasn't breathing whenever I played this chord progression moving into a crescendo. Re-reading Chang, I found that he had mentioned breathing to be important all along, but I had missed it! I haven't finished reading his book...it puts me to sleep sometimes, or I'd rather get on to playing piano. However, I must say, I do like his book, too, and was able to gather some great tips. It's one of the books I read over and over when I'm not playing but still think of piano.
I guess when not practicing, we might want to read everything we can get our hands on, to keep us motivated and excited about our hobby. It's easy to do with the piano obsessed like us
In early January I made a list of all the things I want to do this year with piano. I think I have too many goals for 2012. Here are some of them:
1) Get some experience with collaborative piano. I have a couple of violin/piano duets that I'm working on with my brother, and a Mozart piano duet that FarmGirl and I are learning.
2) Work on rhythm, especially polyrhythms. I've done some 2-against-3, but now I'm trying to learn 4-against-3.
3) Learn some pieces by composers who are new to me. At the suggestion of my teacher, I'm considering some by Satie, Mussorgsky, and Ravel.
4) Start teaching my grandson how to play the piano.
5) And of course, keep learning new pieces from my ever-growing list, and play those for our ABF recitals.
It's going to be a fun year!
Mary Bee Current mantra: Play outside the box. XVI-XXXVI
I just started learning about 5 months or so and I feel like I've made some decent progress already, Since piano is relatively all I've been doing with my excess free-time (I didn't realize learning would be THIS much fun) So my 2012 goals are:
1) Improve my sight reading tenfold: It has gotten a lot easier but I can still do much better.
2) Start taking lessons: I start on friday so that's taken care of. I'm excited.
3) Find other musicians to play with: Especially those on a much higher level than me. I also play guitar and I've learned that jamming with people who have much more experience motivates you much more.
4) Learn proper technique/repertoire: I'm sure #2 should help me with that
The other day I volunteered to help someone with the set design for a show they are doing next week. It was a lot of work and I was getting a little stressed. I realized that I put a lot of effort and energy into going the extra mile for others including work etc. But I rarely do that for myself or the things I am interested in. As I was working on my project I kept thinking "I should be spending this time on piano". So, I decided I will started putting that same kind of effort into piano and music theory.
Some more specific goals: -do more duets with my teacher to I get used to playing with other people -take at least one of the Adult Performance Classes where I take my lessons. So I can get more comfortable playing with other people -Find some other musicians to jam with
“The doubters said, "Man cannot fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared in the morning glow while non-believers watched from below.†― Bruce Lee