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Two new pieces this week. The one by Le Couppey I've learned for the monthly Piano Jam on Reddit. Didn't like it much at first, but it really grew on me. The Telemann was recommended by my teacher to get me started on Baroque music.

1 Boyle – Song of the Knife-Grinder (In Times Past, No. 10)
2 Gurlitt – The Fair (Op. 101, No. 8)
3 Swinstead – An Old Garden (Work and Play, No. 1)
4 Türk – Children’s Ballad (Sixty Pieces for Aspiring Players, Book 1 No. 10)
5 Bartók – Line Against Point (Mikrokosmos Book 2, No. 64a)
6 Purcell – Prelude in G Major (Baroque Keyboard Pieces (ABRSM), Book 1, Z.660/1)
7 Tansman – Frolic (Happy Time Book 1, No. 6)
8 Tansman – Arabia (Happy Time Book 1, No. 5)
9 Bartók – Pentatonic Melody (Mikrokosmos, Book 2, No. 61)
10 Bartók – Melody Divided (Mikrokosmos, Book 2, No. 66)
11 Gurlitt – Turkish March (Op. 101, No. 9)
12 Bartók – Study in Chords (Mikrokosmos Book 3, No. 69)
13 Bartók – Melody against Double Notes (Mikrokosmos Book 3, No. 70)
14 Bartók – Melody against Double Notes in B Major (Mikrokosmos Book 3, No. 70)
15 Bartók – Children at Play (For Children Sz. 42, Book 1, No. 1)
16 Bartók – Quasi Adagio (For Children Sz. 42, Book 1, No. 3)
17 Bartók – Song (For Children Sz. 42, Book 1, No. 9)
18 Tansman – Reflections (Happy Time, Book 1, No. 10)
19 Le Couppey – Moderato in C (ABC du Piano, 14th Melody)
20 Telemann – Fantasia in G minor

New Etude from Bertini. 1 closer to fifty!!

1. Burgmuller op 100 n6 Progress https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0z7QbTWekAOiC4prLpLWSdA-A#Burgmuller_op_100_n6_Progress.mp4
2. Satie Gymnopedie 1 https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0_guFJ1u-MR1BHxQAh8tdr1Xw#42._Satiie_Gymnopedie_1.mp4
3. Bertini Etude op 29 XI https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0pFSaAamDbpWborqmzdlK-5wA#43._Bertini_Etude_op29_XI.mp4

Thanks a lot!!!

5th Burgmuller op.100 no.2 Arabesque (still needs polishing)
6th Lacrymosa from Requiem easy version arr. by Galya
7th Final Fantasy II theme arr. by Allysia (really enjoyed this one)

I'm struggling to pull out of perfection mode, which, defeats the whole purpose of this activity. Here are some more that I am done with. I hope to pick up the pace.

1. Ecossaise D 299 no8, Schubert, from RCM Piano Odyssey, Repertoire, Level 2 Soundcloud
2. Sailing By Moonlight, Joan Last, from RCM Piano Odyssey, Repertoire, Level 2 Soundcloud
3. Deserted Ball Room, Gillock, from Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style, Gillock Soundcloud
4. Chant, Norton, from RCM Piano Odyssey, Repertoire, Level 2 Soundcloud
5. Maiden's Chorus, Gounod, from "Faust", Educational Edition, transcription/arrangement by L. Godowsky Soundcloud
6. Allegretto in C Major, Neefe, from RCM Piano Odyssey, Repertoire, Level 2 Soundcloud


7. The Wind, Tan, from RCM Piano Odyssey, Studies/Etudes, Level 2 Soundcloud

8. The Land of Nod, Tan,from RCM Piano Odyssey, Repertoire, Level 2 Soundcloud

9. End Titles (from movie "Emma"), Portman, from Jane Austen's World Soundcloud

10. A Little Song, Op.27 No.2, Kabalevsky, from RCM Piano Odyssey, Repertoire, Level 2, Soundcloud


Keep up the good work, everyone!

Hi, update for the April.
It’s been a hard month to practice, somehow managed to finish 4 pieces this month. 2 was completed in the beginning of the month though.😅 new pieces are in bold.

1. J.S Bach- Little prelude in D minor BWV 926
2. Beethoven- 6 Ecossaisse
3. Tchaikovsky- op. 39 No. 3. Mamma
4. Tchaikovsky- op. 39 no.5 March of the Wooden Soldiers
5. Tchaikovsky- op.39 no.9. Waltz
6. Mozart - Rondo K.15hh
7. Debussy-Page d’album(Album Leaf)
8. Debussy-Le Petit Negre(The Little Negro)
9. J.S Bach- Prelude in E Minor BWV 941
10. Edward MacDowell- To a wild rose
11. Kuhlau- Sonatine Op.88 No.1
12. J.S Bach-Prelude in C Minor BWV 934
13. Haydn-Sonata Hob XVI 27 1st Movement
14. Heller- The Ballet Op.45 No.20
15. Tchaikovsky- op.39 No.2 Winter Morning
16. Bach- Invention No. 6
17. Mozart-Fantasies K397
18. Haydn- Sonata Hob XVI 27 2nd movement
19. Burgmuller - Op.109 No.14 Song of the Gondolier

1. Pony Ride (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/1
2. Tick Tock (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/8
3. Floating Candles (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/15
4. Robots (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/22
5. Burgmuller 25 Progressive Pieces Op 100 No. 1 "Sincerity" 1/24
6. Magic Dust (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/29
7. Burgmuller 25 Progressive Pieces Op 100 No. 2 "Arabesque" 1/29
8. Knight In Shining Armour (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 2/5
9. Minuet in B-flat Major BWV Anh 118 2/5
10. Little Bird (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 2/12
11. Late For School (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 2/19
12. Burgmuller 25 Progressive Pieces Op 100 No. 3 "Pastorale" 2/19
13. Dreamy Clouds (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 2/26
14. Beeping Horns (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 3/5
15. Luminous Night Part 1 (Roberto Cacciapaglia) 3/5
16. Icy (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 3/12
17. Luminous Night Part 2 (Roberto Cacciapaglia) 3/12
18. Camels in the Desert (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 3/19
19. Luminous Night Part 3 (Roberto Cacciapaglia) 3/19
20. Dungeon (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 3/26
21. Luminous Night Part 4 (Roberto Cacciapaglia) 3/26
22. Hamster On A Wheel (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 4/2
23. What's That In The Mist? (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 4/9
24. A Little Flower [Op. 205, No. 11] (Cornelius Gurlitt) 4/9
25. Games in the Playground (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 4/16
26. At the Funfair (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 4/23

Hooray, my last piece in Harris Grade 1. Moving to grade 2 next week. I've not had time for anything outside of Harris for the last two weeks, I've taken on a few too many pieces. Doh!

Phuck it:


God I hate this piece. I tried it because it was next on the list of the dozen easiest in the Essential Repertoire book. But it doesn't sound good. I don't mean just when I play it: even when I look up a good performance of it on Youtube, the piece is very “clattery” and un-melodic and repetitive. I bitched about it to my teacher a couple weeks ago, and he said yeah it's more like an etude than a real piece of music.

I'm the one who chose to try learning it; it wasn't "assigned" to me or anything. And I'm the one who chose to keep it on my "list to work on", even after I'd got it up to a level where I could play it thru, and I knew I didn't like it. That was probably a mistake. The piece clogged up my "queue" and diminished my enthusiasm for piano practice. I'm not saying it's the REASON that I don't yet have "Cafe Vienna" and the Brahms Lullaby under my fingers — but yeah it might be the reason, or part of the reason.

Well, now I'm choosing to be finished with it. I played it today “one last time” for my teacher, as part of a ritual to put it to bed. I'm not good at it; it is at by-far the lowest level of polish of any piece that I have moved on from. I'm kind of ashamed of it. After I played it, on a whim I put my teacher on the spot and asked him what "percent" done he'd say that I got that up to. 70%? 60%?

He said 80%, which really surprised me. A very welcome and pleasant surprise, since that definitely puts it over any threshold I may have had for the "40 Pieces" challenge. So: yay, I get to count it! Now, begone with you.

Next up: Russian Folk Song by Beethoven, Op 107 #3. (page 70 in the Essential Repertoire book) Fun and catchy! Also Cafe Vienna and the Brahms Lullaby, from the Method book.

Thanks for giving me a good laugh today. This is the first piece my son learned that wasn't in a method book, and he was so proud. When he wasn't practicing, it was all he would play for months. He got to where he would play it at blazing speed, and when we got the new digital piano, he would play it with every one of the instrument sounds including drums and sound effects. If I never hear this piece again it will be too soon.

I wanted to find out roughly what level I was playing at so decided to try an ABRSM Grade 5 piece. To try something in a different style to my normal classical I chose Cool, a Jazz oriented piece with swing beat.

In reality this is a work in progress, my teacher wants me to spend this week working on the feel of the rhythm, but I feel like I made a break through yesterday to the point at which I wanted to add it to my list of pieces for the 40 a year challenge.

01 A Little Tea Pot
...
90 Silver Lit Night. (Piano Marvel Method 5E exercise 14) Soundcloud
91 Memories (Piano Marvel Method 5E exercise 16) Soundcloud
92 Low Bridge, Everybody Down (Piano Marvel Method 5E exercise 18) Soundcloud
93 Minuet in G Minor, Christian Petzold (Representing Piano Marvel Method 6A exercises 1 to 6 which are subsections of this piece with trills in unusual places) Soundcloud
94 Cool Stephen J Wood. ABRSM Grade 5 2017 & 2018 Syllabus Piece C:3 Soundcloud

I recorded the Bertini Etude at a higher speed

1. Burgmuller op 100 n6 Progress https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0z7QbTWekAOiC4prLpLWSdA-A#Burgmuller_op_100_n6_Progress.mp4
2. Satie Gymnopedie 1 https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0_guFJ1u-MR1BHxQAh8tdr1Xw#42._Satiie_Gymnopedie_1.mp4
3. Bertini Etude op 29 XI https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0GqmkhiHkyFluLVcJ9czjpMJw#43._Bertini_Etude_op.29_XI.mp4

1. Pinocchio in guerra (duet piece)
2. Czerny Op. 599 no. 12
3. Czerny Op. 599 no. 14
4. Indian Chief - Paul Harris
5. On with the show! (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
6. Food Court (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
7. Minuet in G Major - Christian Petzold
8. Czerny Op. 599 no. 17
9. Shadows (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
10. Boogie Boarding (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
11. My New Skate Shoes! (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
12. Tudo o que eu te dou - Pedro Abrunhosa, just chords
13. Trumpet Voluntary (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
14. QWERTY (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
15. Together (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
16. Folk Song Mix-Up (Alfred's Premier Piano Course)
17. Hakuna Matata (just chords)
18. A Whole New World - from Walt Disney's Aladdin, arranged by Dennis Alexander

Going at a good pace, very slightly above 1 piece per week.

I haven't updated since I joined but I have still been playing. I had a couple of rough months where I was struggling in my own life but I kept up my piano lessons and I think that helped me from quitting. Some weeks I had zero minutes on the piano but my teacher never made me feel bad and we just worked on theory on those months. I also stuck to grade 2 since they are easier and it was less stress and more fun. This week I learned 2 songs and that feels really good and more like my old me. I will pick a grade 3 piece at tomorrows lesson.

I also bought a couple of easier books from Faber and Faber. The first half of one I could sight read almost flawlessly so I chose not to count them in the challenge but are good for the ego. I'll start counting them going forward as they are getting a little more challenging and I have to play them for a few sessions before they are played well.

listening to some of the pieces people have posted is really inspiring. We have a group of very talented pianists here! Keep posting them, I love to hear them.

7 more pieces, in no particular order:

1) E Dorian with Modulation, Robert D. Vandall, RCM Grade 2
2) Colors of the Wind, Really Easy Piano
3) The Wind, Chee-Hwa Tan, RCM Grade 2
4) Quiet Lagoon, Jon George, RCM Grade 2
5) Ladies in Waiting, William Gillock, RCM Grade 2
6) Pinwheels, Linda Niamath, RCM Grade 2
7) Etude in F Major, Christian Louis Heinrich Kohler, RCM Grade 2
8) Atacama Desert, Wynn-Anne Rossi, RCM Grade 2
9) Little Dance in Canon Form, Bela Bartok, RCM Grade 2
10) Turkish Bazaar, Mark Mrozinski, RCM Grade 2
11) Etude in C Major, Carl Czerny, RCM Grade 3

1. Satie, Gnossienne no.3
2. Mark Tanner, Zebra Crossing (Pianist magazine no.90)
3. Harburg and Arlen, Over the Rainbow
4. Mendelssohn, Kinderstuck op.72 no.1
5. Granados, La Mendiga (The little beggar girl), from "Stories for the young".
6. Nielsen, En lille langsom Vals, Humorous Bagatelles op.11 no.3
7. Shostakovich, Prelude no.7 from 24 Preludes, op.24.
8. Granados, Valses poeticos no.6 in F# minor.
9. Satie, Gymnopedie no.3.
10. Grieg, Solitary Traveller,Lyric Pieces op.43
11. Grieg, Little Bird, Lyric Pieces op.43
12. Nielsen, Snurretoppen (Spinning top), Humorous Bagatelles op.11 no.2
13. Nielsen, Spillevaerket (Musical clock) Humorous Bagatelles op.11 no.6.
14. Joplin, Bethena: A Concert Waltz.
15. Beethoven, Bagetelle in Bb, op119 no.5.
16. Grieg, Solveig's Song - his own piano transcription.
17. Granados, El hada y el nino (The fairy and the child),from Bocetas

My latest pieces:
18. Chopin, Prelude in B minor, op.28 no.6.
19. Chopin, Mazurka in G minor, op. 67 no.2. I've always loved Chopin and played a few of the waltzes when I was at school many years ago. I hope to tackle some more later in the year.
20. Shostakovich, Prelude no.6 from 24 Preludes, op.24. I found this Prelude much harder than the one I learned in March. It jumps around a lot and the notes are so unexpected... I've really enjoyed working on it, though.
21. Porter, Night and Day, arranged by Pam Wedgwood in her After Hours Jazz, book 3. I have only ever played classical music and I find this collection such fun. It contains 13 pieces in all, mostly arrangements but there are also some original compositions by Wedgwood. I'm looking forward to learning some more.

My update for April in bold face, thank you!

-----------------------------------Feb 2018------------------------------
1. Robots - Anne Crosby Gaudet, RCM Level 1
2. Bears - Linda Niamath, RCM Level 1
3. Ecossaise in E flat Major - Ludwig van Beethoven, RCM Level 1
4. Lost - Elissa Milne, RCM Level 1
5. Menuet - Christian Petzold, BWV Anhang 114
6. Menuet - Christian Petzold, BWV Anhang 115
7. Czerny Op.599 1-16
-----------------------------------Mar 2018------------------------------
8. German Dance in D Major - Franz Joseph Haydn, RCM Level 1
9. Polonaise - C. Ph. E. Bach, BWV Anhang 125
10. Czerny Op.599 17-22
-----------------------------------April 2018-----------------------------
11. Dance of the Martians - Mike Schoenmehl, RCM Level 1
12. Spring Light - Stephen Chatman, RCM Level 1
13. Praludium - C. Ph. E. Bach, BWV 846
14. Menuet - BWV Anhang 116
15. Czerny Op.599 23-27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are my April pieces. I still have a couple of recordings to do but these were all completed in April.

My 2018 list:
1. Telfer -(Celebration Series 5)When Rivers Flowed on Mars
2. Heller - (Masterworks Classics 5)Etude in C Major
3. Chopin - (Celebration series 8)Prelude in B Minor op. 28 #6
4. Astor - Valses Venuzuelos # 1 Adriana ABRSM selections grade 8 2017-2018 Adriana
5. Scarlatti -(ABRSM grade 4)Scarlatti Sonata in D Minor K34
6. Kalinnikov - (Celebration Series RCM 8) Chansom Triste
7. Kember - (ABRSM grade 2 2011-2012) Bah-ba-doo-bah
8. Handel - (ABRSM Selections Grade 3 2017-2018) Sonatina in G "Fugue"
9. Darius Brubeck - (ABRSM Selections Grade 5 2013-2014) For Lydia
10. Hassler - (Celebration Series RCM 4)Allegretto in E Minor
11. Rebikov - (RCM Celebration Series Grade 7) Waltz in F# Minor
12. Kossenko - (RCM Celebration Series Grade 7) Waltz in B Minor
13. Martha Mier - (Jazz, Rags, and Blues 3)Persistent Rhythm
14. Chopin Prelude 28-15 "Raindrop"
15. Bach Invention in Bb Major
16. Mier (Jazz, Rags, and Blues 3) Worrisome Blues
17. Mier (Jazz Rags and Blues 3) Pine Cone Rag
18. Mier *Romantic Sketches 4 Enchanted Waterfall

1. Pony Ride (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/1
2. Tick Tock (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/8
3. Floating Candles (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/15
4. Robots (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/22
5. Burgmuller 25 Progressive Pieces Op 100 No. 1 "Sincerity" 1/24
6. Magic Dust (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 1/29
7. Burgmuller 25 Progressive Pieces Op 100 No. 2 "Arabesque" 1/29
8. Knight In Shining Armour (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 2/5
9. Minuet in B-flat Major BWV Anh 118 2/5
10. Little Bird (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 2/12
11. Late For School (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 2/19
12. Burgmuller 25 Progressive Pieces Op 100 No. 3 "Pastorale" 2/19
13. Dreamy Clouds (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 2/26
14. Beeping Horns (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 3/5
15. Luminous Night Part 1 (Roberto Cacciapaglia) 3/5
16. Icy (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 3/12
17. Luminous Night Part 2 (Roberto Cacciapaglia) 3/12
18. Camels in the Desert (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 3/19
19. Luminous Night Part 3 (Roberto Cacciapaglia) 3/19
20. Dungeon (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 3/26
21. Luminous Night Part 4 (Roberto Cacciapaglia) 3/26
22. Hamster On A Wheel (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 4/2
23. What's That In The Mist? (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 4/9
24. A Little Flower [Op. 205, No. 11] (Cornelius Gurlitt) 4/9
25. Games in the Playground (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 4/16
26. At the Funfair (Harris Piece A Week Grade 1) 4/23
27. Minuet in G Minor (Christian Petzold) 4/30

I tried, tried, tried to do Harris Piece A Week Grade 2, but I can't take another few months of it. My son loves it, I don't, but I finished my commitment to him to do the first book together and he was fine with it Taking a look at both Grade 2 and 3 books, they really are just too easy, presenting no challenge at all and sight readable for me at tempo, and I'm not all that great at sight reading. In the need to challenge myself a bit to something that actually needs a week to get right, I cracked open Carrolls "First Lessons In Bach" which I ordered a while ago for my son, but haven't picked up myself. As I'd already done Minuet in G, I started on the second page, the Minuet in G minor, which is structurally quite similar to Minuet in G. Anyway, I think this book with give me 28 more weeks of new music that I can actually enjoy playing. That will get me to the end of the year as I'll be taking some weeks off for vacations

Just submitted 95 to the #50 Recital, but realised its not on here yet. I won't release a link to the recording until the Recital is made live, when I will add it


01 A Little Tea Pot
...
90 Silver Lit Night. (Piano Marvel Method 5E exercise 14) Soundcloud
91 Memories (Piano Marvel Method 5E exercise 16) Soundcloud
92 Low Bridge, Everybody Down (Piano Marvel Method 5E exercise 18) Soundcloud
93 Minuet in G Minor, Christian Petzold (Representing Piano Marvel Method 6A exercises 1 to 6 which are subsections of this piece with trills in unusual places) Soundcloud
94 Cool Stephen J Wood. ABRSM Grade 5 2017 & 2018 Syllabus Piece C:3 Soundcloud
95 Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata Op 13 2nd Movement (Adagio Cantabile)

I added a new video to Raindrop, and a video for Pine Cone Rag. I hope to get to 20 this month, because June is going to be very busy! I need to get ahead!

My 2018 list:
1. Telfer -(Celebration Series 5)When Rivers Flowed on Mars
2. Heller - (Masterworks Classics 5)Etude in C Major
3. Chopin - (Celebration series 8)Prelude in B Minor op. 28 #6
4. Astor - Valses Venuzuelos # 1 Adriana ABRSM selections grade 8 2017-2018 Adriana
5. Scarlatti -(ABRSM grade 4)Scarlatti Sonata in D Minor K34
6. Kalinnikov - (Celebration Series RCM 8) Chansom Triste
7. Kember - (ABRSM grade 2 2011-2012) Bah-ba-doo-bah
8. Handel - (ABRSM Selections Grade 3 2017-2018) Sonatina in G "Fugue"
9. Darius Brubeck - (ABRSM Selections Grade 5 2013-2014) For Lydia
10. Hassler - (Celebration Series RCM 4)Allegretto in E Minor
11. Rebikov - (RCM Celebration Series Grade 7) Waltz in F# Minor
12. Kossenko - (RCM Celebration Series Grade 7) Waltz in B Minor
13. Martha Mier - (Jazz, Rags, and Blues 3)Persistent Rhythm
14. Chopin Prelude 28-15 "Raindrop"
15. Bach Invention in Bb Major
16. Mier (Jazz, Rags, and Blues 3) Worrisome Blues
17. Mier (Jazz Rags and Blues 3) Pine Cone Rag
18. Mier *Romantic Sketches 4 Enchanted Waterfall

I finished 2 more today. The Sonatina I would like to keep in my repertoire for a few weeks to see how fast I can get it, but I have learnt it enough for this challenge.

I also ordered 5 new piano books specifically for this challenge so I am very excited to pick a piece and start it tomorrow.


1) E Dorian with Modulation, Robert D. Vandall, RCM Grade 2
2) Colors of the Wind, Really Easy Piano
3) The Wind, Chee-Hwa Tan, RCM Grade 2
4) Quiet Lagoon, Jon George, RCM Grade 2
5) Ladies in Waiting, William Gillock, RCM Grade 2
6) Pinwheels, Linda Niamath, RCM Grade 2
7) Etude in F Major op. 190, no. 27, Christian Louis Heinrich Kohler, RCM Grade 2
8) Atacama Desert, Wynn-Anne Rossi, RCM Grade 2
9) Little Dance in Canon Form, Bela Bartok, RCM Grade 2
10) Turkish Bazaar, Mark Mrozinski, RCM Grade 2
11) Etude in C Major, Carl Czerny, RCM Grade 3
12) Theme from Jurassic Park, John Williams, Faber & Faber Adult level 1
13) Sonatina in G Major I, Thomas Attwood, RCM Grade 3