Piano World Home Page Forums Fun Stuff! - Parties, Tours, Projects & More... Just For The Fun of It Non-piano Goals 2006

eh, oops - was meant to write stuff below the quotation. Kids - dont drink beer, it makes you silly!

I had to look up the name of the piece, and yes, it was indeed the Radetzky March. I never actually knew the name of it although I have heard the piece many times. It was played as an encore, so it wasn't named in the programme either. Great fun, like you say!!

The weather over here has been pretty good recently. The snow has thawed and the temperature has been fairly good for the time of year.

As is common sense - take your time with the recovery (doesnt sound like you are 'pushing it', which is good), and you will be back playing your Chopin in no time!

As in don't let him/her quit?

My 2006 non-piano goals are:

1) Get a new job! My 15% cut in pay is killing me financially.

2) Finish my BS in Information Technology. I have about 9 or 10 classes to go. Oh so close, yet so far away.

John

Good luck with your plans... Plan B might be fun at first, but do you think you can survive mentally by staying home.
[/QB][/QUOTE]

That's my big fear, actually. My husband would be delighted if I quit (he'd probably save money by not having to pay the nanny and he'd definitely enjoy not hearing me gripe about UK any more), but I do worry that I would go brain-dead, even if I did play piano all day.

Sorry to hear about your pay cut, John. As bad as things are at UK (years of 0-3% raises), at least we've never had to take a cut. Though I am not at all happy that we will be hiring a new social psychologist this year fresh out of grad school who will be making $10,000 more a year than I am now after 18 years at UK!! (It's things like that that make me want to quit...)

Euan, I teach psychology, with a focus in social psychology.

My Goals for 2006:

1) Read more books
2) Keep a more consistent schedule at the gym
3) Be more organized (This is a perenial favorite of
mine, which probably says a lot in itself)
4) Feed my ears (Buy more music for my collection)
5) Finish my Master's Degree.
5) Learn to find happiness in everyday
accomplishments.

~pianocliff

pianocliff:

1) What sort of books are you into, and what sort are you going to attempt to read more of?

2) And when you are 'feeding your ears', what sort of music do you like? Are you solely into classical / piano, or do you have varied taste?

3) "Learn to find happiness in everyday accomplishments." A very profound thought, and something we could all use. Its a very interesting idea...

I like (meaningful) fiction and historical nonfiction with a little philosophy thrown in for good measure. I always intend to read certain books and get sidetracked or forget about it. This year I started a new trend of putting all the books I want to read in a pile. Whenever I have idle time or feel restless I grab a book off the top of the stack and read it...

Pretty much anything with an interesting melody or harmonic movement... Right now I'm listening to Herbie Hancock (jazz), Radiohead (rock/alt) and some Debussy preludes(classical/impressionistic).

By the way, part of "feeding my ears" is related to trying to transcribing some solos by ear and self-teaching myself some jazz standards but this was suppossed to be "non-piano" related goals. ;-)

~pianocliff

That's my big fear, actually. My husband would be delighted if I quit (he'd probably save money by not having to pay the nanny and he'd definitely enjoy not hearing me gripe about UK any more), but I do worry that I would go brain-dead, even if I did play piano all day.

Sorry to hear about your pay cut, John. As bad as things are at UK (years of 0-3% raises), at least we've never had to take a cut. Though I am not at all happy that we will be hiring a new social psychologist this year fresh out of grad school who will be making $10,000 more a year than I am now after 18 years at UK!! (It's things like that that make me want to quit...)

Euan, I teach psychology, with a focus in social psychology. [/QB][/QUOTE]


Working at home does have its benefits. I did it while working for a family business. I saved a ton in travel expenses even though I did the deliveries, and I didn't have to go anywhere when it snowed. Lunch and snacks were no more than 10 steps from the kitchen, and I could work with a cat or two in my lap.

The downside is, I went crazy because I missed the social interaction with other people besides my family. I ended up working a 2nd shift job until the company closed in addition to working for the family. I was a lot younger then, and the thought of working from 9am-6pm at home plus 7-12am 2nd shift didn't phase me at all. This didn't count going for piano lessons too!

Yeah my job sucks! It's more than just the pay cut, and I have definitely started the ball moving to get out of here. The thing is, not only did we all take a cut, but we are all doing more for a lot less. We haven't had any raises in three years, and then the cuts came so the morale is pretty bad.

I was thinking more about your post, as I am writing this. UK is hiring a new kid at a lot higher salary than you are making after nearly 20 years. This sounds like an age discrimination thing! If you want to push back a little, you might bring this up when things get heated.

Such is life I guess.

Take care and love your M&H

John

Euan,

Here is some fun listening:

Phil Coulter's Scottish Tranquility. Piano and Orchestra Classics. ISBN 16351 53092 9

ILM

Amazon.co.uk Review
Not many composers have worked with Elvis Presley, Cliff Richards, The Dubliners, and Planxty. Such is the strange musical world of Phil Coulter, who has recorded a series of Tranquility records that emphasize lush orchestral arrangements of various national folk music from Ireland to America, and on this title, Scotland. "Lush" is the operative word here, as he spins classic Scots melodies like "Ye Banks and Braes" and "Auld Lang Syne" into Mantovani-like flourishes for piano and orchestra, punched up with a fuzzy but gentle electric guitar and drums to give it "punch". It's the apex of Celtic nostalgia, and you will love it or hate it based solely on your tolerance for lots of airy strings, rippling piano lines, and reverbed, mountainous flute sounds. Coulter has had a lot of gold and platinum recordings over the years, so there's plenty of fans for his Celtic lounge act. --Louis Gibson

Hmmm, sounds interesting! Might have to give it a try, although I promised to wait for my next paycheque before buying new music. And it takes '1 to 2 weeks' for me, anyway. Still, gotta be worth a shot! Thank you!

You are welcome. I just got through trying to play "Auld Lang Syne" on the piano.

There is something about Scottish music...what is your opinion?

ILM

Am writing this after several alcoholic beverages, and just before i head for some sleep, so dont take this as serious opinion:

I feel like there is a feeling of 'the grass is always greener...'. Sort of thing. Maybe coming from a different place, you listen to Scottish music and picture the romance, the atmosphere and the landscapes and this helps with your appreciation of the music (i am probably miles off course, but nevermind!)

In the same way, I have a CD of Russian folk songs, and i love listening to the language as well as the unusual melodies and dynamics.

Maybe there is a case of liking things that are different to the 'everyday' things you hear. We want to picture ourselves in a different land, and almost have a certain fantasy about music and a place, which makes you like it even more.

To give me a better picture - what is it you like about scottish music? Words, music, imagery, romance, scales, instruments?

And i suppose that living over here installs a certain aspect of rebellion (not very much, but subtle) in that it is 'uncool' to like scottish things when they have been pretty much rammed down our throats all our lives. In the same way as a tourist might love the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, or marvel at the tranquility of Scotland, if you live here all your life, it becomes normal.

Therefore 'Scottish' music to me is nothing more than a regular occurance on certain radio channels, and things that i hear very often. I wouldnt call it 'special', more like 'normal'. (although it is played less than popular music).

I can certainly appreciate the talent required to play scottish music, as it is certainly not easy.

When I first went to university, I was walking towards my room, when I could hear accordian music coming from two doors down. It was quite loud, but I remember thinking to myself 'I dont mind if that guy plays all day long - it sounds fantastic!'. He was very good scottish accordian player and had been on tv before. Needless to say, we got all our friends together for an impromptu ceilidh in one of our rooms (until the warden stopped us!).

I dont know - Scottish music. Lovely or kitsch. Cant decide.

I'm gonna shut up now as I am probably just embaressing myself now.

Sleeep!

Good morning Euan (by the time you read this),

Some of the words and melody makes me pictures someone listening to it while downing several drams of Scotch.

The words and melody of some of the songs seem so defeatist, but it sure can be fun listening sometimes. Kind of like some of Schuberts pieces that sound like he wrote them during rough times.

Oh well, Auld Lang Syne and a Happy 2006 to you. I think I will now listen to some Phil Coulter's Scottish Tranquility.

Now that I have reached perfection, I don't make New Years resolutions any more.
I would like to stop working, but somehow work brings a certain order to one's life.
I would like to stop drinking, but somehow drinking brings a certain disorder to one's life.
I would like to learn to REALLY play the piano, but who has the time to practice with all that work and late night brandys.
I would like to become a better person, but I'm afraid I would be totally boring.
So, as you can all see, there is no hope. I'll just continue on as I have till now and be a burden to my family as I get older.
As Piet Hein says:
Den bön man mest forgjeves bad
er den gamle: Gid jeg gad.

Morning!

You're absolutely right with the idea of 'defeatist lyrics', but then I suppose Scottish attitudes are fairly defeatist sometimes (thats a sweeping statement). All i mean is that nowadays, Scotland has become synonomous with failing, especially in sport. And i'm not sure if you have seen the movie Trainspotting, but there is a classic quotation about just how rubbish Scotland really is!

Still, I am tempted by the idea of picking up the violin in my attic and learning some pieces (i suppose it would become a 'fiddle'!)

And lastly, in the same way that tourists have a habit of mis-pronouncing Edinburgh, or Toronto - the word 'Scotch' does not exist over here

Happy listening!
All the best,
Euan.

Morning!

You're absolutely right with the idea of 'defeatist lyrics', but then I suppose Scottish attitudes are fairly defeatist sometimes (thats a sweeping statement). All i mean is that nowadays, Scotland has become synonomous with failing, especially in sport. And i'm not sure if you have seen the movie Trainspotting, but there is a classic quotation about just how rubbish Scotland really is!

Still, I am tempted by the idea of picking up the violin in my attic and learning some pieces (i suppose it would become a 'fiddle'!)

And lastly, in the same way that tourists have a habit of mis-pronouncing Edinburgh, or Toronto - the word 'Scotch' does not exist over here

Happy listening!
All the best,
Euan.

Good Morning,
Non-piano goal for 2006 is to make it into work this morning with a good attitude.

Thank you for writing, ILM

2006 Goals

1. Make a decision on which digital piano to buy or join a 12 step program for my shopping/waffling addiction

2. Lose 20 lbs & Eat less chocolate

3. Actively search for my mind that I've lost raising preteen boys

4. Pay the gas bill so I DON'T have to take cold showers... brrrrr I'll take a massage for circulation over a cold shower

5. Become employed in my new town

6. Become less "midi-challenged"

One of my goals was to actually take a cold shower every day. Unfortunately, that only lasted until the 4th January. The problem was that it was just too cold outside. I'm fine doing it in summer. I love the sensation after a cold shower!

I should maybe join you with number 6. I have a computer, a digital piano, and no idea what to do next. I dont even know what midi can do for me. I just hear the jargon (controllers, interfaces, channels) and i switch off.

Let us know how you get on,
Euan.