My Last Blog

Sorry it has been so long since my last post, but things have been crazy! Plus, I have been practicing the same song pretty incessantly for the recital tomorrow. The one thing I struggled with is the foot pedal (which is definitely an issue for most beginners).

Miraculously, I think I have got it! As soon as you told me to pick the pedal up on the downbeat, I was confused. But then when I thought about it and tried to execute it more, it just came to me. I wouldn't say that it is necessarily ingrained in me yet (I still really have to think about it), but I am definitely better. I know that putting the pedal down on the downbeat, which is instinctual, is wrong, so I am making progress!

My song is "Almost Lover" by A Fine Frenzy. I practiced it for you a couple of times, and I am excited to be playing a song I truly love. I wanted to learn piano so I could play popular songs that I enjoy, and I am glad that this class gave me the basics to start doing so. Thanks for everything!

Piano!

I am deciding upon what song to play for May 7th. I feel that Greensleeves is too easy to play and that Amazing Grace is too difficult. However, May 7th is still a week away and I might be able to learn Amazing Grace by then. However, it currently looks like the piece I will play is He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.

April 16

Just a quick note, I will be a little late for tonight's class.

I have started working on Greensleeves. I am having trouble with timing the use of the footpedal (most notably the "overlapping pedal"). I have the notes down, but I am still working on the song. I am considering different songs to do for the final test, but I am still up in the air.

The reading of music is going better, however the addition of flats adds to the difficulty (mostly the left hand). This will come easier with further practicing.

I am adjusting easily enough to the new chords that are being introduced. They are a lot of fun, especially with the jazz. Speaking of jazz, I have readdressed, "Why am I Blue?" by adding a jazzier feel to the piece.

See you tonight!!!

My Own Keyboard!

So my birthday is this weekend, and I decided to ask my parents for a keyboard for it. I have really been enjoying learning the piano, and want to continue improving instead of stopping when this semester is over. Also, I want more opportunities to practice other than in the piano lab. So luckily, my birthday present came early while I was home for Easter! I have brought it back with me and now will be able to practice much more.

Obviously I took advantage of this new gift right away. I have been working on the song "Almost Lover" by A Fine Frenzy. It is mostly just chords so it is not too difficult, but it goes all across the keyboard. I have been practicing it very diligently and plan to sing on top of it. I have even began to memorize it, so then I can watch my hands to make sure they are in the right positions instead of reading the music. It is getting more and more like second nature.

The hardest part is the beginning. It involves really stretching my hand out and using four fingers which I find very challenging and sometimes painful. Will my hand get used to it and stop hurting? Or am I doing something wrong? I do think I can get it by the recital. I even started trying another song that is way more challenging because it involves complicated eighth notes on both hands.

I still need to work on reading the bass clef better!

4/9/09

Hola!

Just thinking about this Thursday- a bunch of people told me they were not going to be here, and I'm just trying to figure out a condensed schedule for those people who will still be here. Can you please post a message ASAP listing what times you are available on Thursday? I can be at Marist anytime from 5-9. After you send me your availability I'll let you know what time your lesson will be. If I won't see you, have a good break!

Laura

April Fools... Kinda

I have been starting to really enjoy the piano recently. I find that learning songs is becoming much easier. However, I am having trouble playing a song at a consistent tempo. This can be seen especially while i'm playing the Can Can. 

I am feeling that it is easier to switch fingers now by sweeping my pointer finger to the left of my thumb when coming down the keyboard. But, I am encountering difficulty when attempting to move my middle finger to the same position. This will get better with time. 

Currently, I am working on "Why Am I Blue" I am enjoying the style and tempo of Blues much more than some of the other styles that we have played thus far.  I have been skipping around the  book and trying different songs, but I have not found anything that interests me yet for our final piece.

Scarborough Fair

I have chosen 'Scarborough Fair' as my recital song. I am a big fan of Simon and Garfunkel, and am familiar with this song, but still find it challenging. I practiced this one song for a very long time (probably an entire hour), and found that the repetition was very helpful. I was really struggling at the beginning with some rhythms and frequent hand placement changes. But once I kept going, it became more natural. I am still stumbling over some parts, but definitely feel like it was a good start.

I also believe going over this song so many times helped me with reading other music better. When I moved back to where I had left off in the book, I was able to remember where my hands belonged for certain notes better by referring back to where they were for Scarborough Fair. My sight reading is getting better, and I feel a little more confident. I know I still have a long way to go, but feel this week was definitely a turning point for me.