Thursday, December 04, 2008

Piano!

Last month, I recommitted myself to practicing piano much, much more often. And I am happy to say I have followed through! Here are my practice totals for the month of November: total minutes practiced: 1775 Daily average: 59.16666667

Almost 60 minutes a day! With a 2 year old in my home! Who likes to climb on me when I'm at the piano! Which is why I practice after the kids go to bed!

And where I am on my music:

I have one piece finished. May Song, by Granidos, a Spanish composer. I am also working on a Sally DeFord arrangement of "Bring a Torch." I am currently working it line-by-line and hope to have it totally finished in a week or so. At least before Christmas! I am also working on a Chopin nocturne, 55.1. That is coming along quite nicely. Another one I'm working on is by Debussey, probably his most famous piece, Clair de Lune. I love that song. It is one that helped me get my scholarship at WSU. I am getting closer, but I still have a ways to go to get back to the level I was at 12 years ago. I've also been working, but not as much, on Bach's Praeludeum 21 and Beethoven's Sonata no. 8. I also have several more pieces in my "cue" that I'm going to get started as soon as I have another piece or two perfected, including another Chopin nocturne and several other pieces I had perfected at one point. And now, my goal is to play the perfected/memorized songs at least once or twice a week to keep them up.

Tonight it was really fun to hear one of my Young Women play "Sleigh Ride" at church with my neighbor, who is an accomplished musician and her piano teacher. It was the exact same arrangement I learned about 15 years ago when I was in high school! That was fun to hear. I should check to see if I still have the sheet music for it. It's a really fun song to hear, and to play! Leslie, you and I should work on it so we can play it next year when mom and dad are back!

4 comments:

Jeff and Jessie said...

Good job! I need to be better at doing the same thing. You are an inspiration!!
Hey-I need your address so I can send you a Christmas card-send it to me e.mail: barrettjnj@hotmail.com

LMS said...

Great job! I practice 1-1 1/2 hours everyday. I dont think its helping but...I like doing it. It is amazing how lost you can get in the music and how theraputic it is. I am playing some Christmas tunes right now and am loving it. I hope that I can play as well as you when I grow up.

Carolyn said...

Awww, you guys! You're so sweet!

Aunt Lynne, any amount of practicing will help you improve. What I'm trying to do is add increasingly difficult pieces from a broad range of styles and eras. I practice sometimes 3-4 notes over and over until my hands automatically know where they are supposed to go. Tonight I spent 50 minutes on about 8 measures. I was absolutely shocked when I checked the clock and found out how much time had passed! No wonder my piano professor told me I needed to practice 2-4 hours daily! It really goes by quickly.

Les said...

Wish it went by as quickly for Hayden on his violin. Ask me about his concert when I talk to you tomorrow. It was AMAZING. I LOVE MUSIC!