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What did you play today? Maybe it's an idea for other pianists.....

30 & 31 May
It's weekend, so I played for about four hours during the saturday and two hours at sunday. Played among others......

Dvorak, Two mazurkas and Impromptu G minor (opus 52 / 1)
Borodin, Intermezzo
Bach, French suite nr 4/1
Zipoli, Suite G minor
Mozart, Fantasie D minor, KV397
Mozart, Variations Dieu d'amour KV352
Kuhlau, Sonatinen
Clementi, Sonatinen
Jazz Standards, Hal Leonard

Perhaps some suggestions for others.....

What did you play today...........??

Best regards,
Johan B

I had some more modest achievements.
Yesterday, I worked on the 1st Hannon exercise and 1st exercise of Passagen-Ãœbungen.
Tried Hannon before but had no staying power with it.
And going through the whole book in 1 hr and every day, seems like a tough task. Not sure that is something for me...haha.
Thought I would have sore hands this morning, but didn't.
That seems positive.

Hanon is a tough slog. Not sure it's for me either. At the time Hanon wrote these exercises finger independence and strengthening was thought to be the key to virtuostic playing. Now the thinking is more of a whole body approach, using shoulders, arm weight, wrist rotation. If you're playing Hanon and feel any discomfort or pain - stop.

I worked on the tricky middle section of the Chopin Etude 10/3. I found a Paul Barton tutorial on YT which had some helpful practice ideas. Made some progress towards being able to play it for the first time for my teacher in a few weeks.

1 June

Today I recieved twelve books from a music-library. I ordered the books because I want to prepare my organperformances in july and august. Most baroque and some from the romantic period

So I played this afternoon baroque........Böhm, Telemann, Zipoli, Zachau, Pachelbel........choralpartitas, choralvorspiele, preludia etc.

Best regards,
Johan B

Pieces from my First Bach Book. I am up through the first Bourré. (I am avoiding one of the marches.)

Clementi Sonatina, like I do every day. This time once slowly with a metronome. My goal is to get it up to tempo by next year.

Working on Chopin waltz in A minor which I learned about here. I "know" the first half now.

A Simple Life and White Horse by Brian Crain. Great beginner stuff with big arpeggios!

I Have Loved You from my church book, lead sheet style.

My evolving rendition of Blues for Big Scotia, in F.

The weather here has been wet and cloudy and I was in a bad mood, played terribly.


Oh! also Hanon 1-8. I don't know if it's helping or not.

A bit of a Chopin Ballade and Étude and a bit of a Beethoven sonata. Not much because had the piano tuner here for a while. Need tuning and a "D" kept sticking. The sticking was cured when the pink crayon was removed from the action.

Found the second half of a diary I kept for years that I wrote about my experiences studying piano. I didn't remember half of the pieces I used to play. Looking them up to rework them.

Back in 1979 or so, I worked for a club. One evening Louisiana's LaRoux was playing. They had a hit called New Orleans Ladies. I've always liked it. I went to Chordie and looked it up. Somebody posted some chords, so I jotted them down, with the lyrics. There was even a nice split chords thing; G G/F# Am C D etc.
It was so much like visiting an old friend. But finding out you are closer now than you were then.

Tried to get the feel back for Moskowski Étude G minor, also Chopin Étude (Aeolian).

It's been about 15 years since I played those.

Wow...Isabelle...that's long time ago....

One of my favorites since 2012.....Bach Pastorale part three 'Air' BWV590.......I played the first time in 1970 in an organrecital.......a break of 42 years

2 June

Played among others
Böhm, Keyboard Suite A minor and Choralpartitas
Schumann, Waldszenen
Dvorak, Mazurkas and Impromptu
Borodin, Intermezzo

I will try to find on internet Isabellas Moskowski Étude G minor........

Best regards,
Johan B

Yes, Johann 15 years is a long time ago. I think I last tried the Chopin and Beethoven about 8 years ago and nothing worked, there was no recall at all. This time a good number of the notes were right under my fingers. That was a good feeling. The Chopin Étude is the one I am most enamored with. Thanks

I played Joplin Solace and a couple of hymns.....It is Well With My Soul and Precious Lord Take my Hand. I enjoy playing hymns.....easy to play plus I know the melodies quite well. I'm still a big Joplin fan.....but I need to find something different to play.

Michael,

Nice combi......Joplin and hyms.....I' am also playing religious, Bach, Beatles and jazz....

Today 3 june, playing among others......

Händel, keyboard suites, Chaconne G minor
Böhm, Suite for harpsichord A minor
Schumann, Waldszenen
And...Abide with me...

Best regards,
Johan B

Worked on Chopin Étude Op. 25 No. 1, spent extra time on the arpeggios at the end of the piece. Trying to focus on using a very light touch without tension.

Michael, have you played any Louis Moreau Gottschalk?

I have not! Any specific recommendations?

A bit of Blue Moon and Sailing.

I'm working up a small Bach chorale, but as a counterpoint I played Moon River as well!

A little bit of Chopin Waltz Op 34 no 2, after Polyphonist found it for me. Then worked some on Beethoven Sonata Op 14 no 2, the section with 2 against 3 and then some of the beginning of the sonata. I really surprised myself with the 2 against 3. I was sure I would turn it into a hot mess, lol. Worked on some trills in the pieces I would like to get under my fingers again. Focusing on absence of tension. Trying to find the best height for the piano bench. I'm 5'2" so I think I am more comfortable with the bench in its lowest position.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

4 June

Tonight I 'discovered' six very nice ouvertures of Telemann. TWV32: 5-10. Real stuff for baroque lovers. I could not stop playing. My wife immediately went to my study and asked what music I was playing. She called it subtle and elegant, she was impressed!


Telemann Ouvertüren

Try it........

What did you play tonight?

Kind regards,
Johan B

Leel,

Bach and Moon river....nearly the same.....LOL

Kind regards,
Johan B