Since one of my goals this year is to practice piano every day for approximately 1 hour, or at least as much as I can, I thought I would blog my practice. I'd like to do a daily blog to go over what I have worked on and what I learned during my practice sessions. For those who would like to see where I am, please visit my piano practice blog, See Mom Play! I'm looking forward to learning new works by great composers, re-polishing works that I once performed at recitals or began to learn but never finished, improving my technical ability, and increasing my knowledge of theory and music history.
Other goals for this year is to read the Doctrine and Covenants, go to bed at a reasonable time (whoops! Off to a bad start already), get up at a reasonable time, and keep the house reasonably tidy. It would also be nice if I could lose 20 pounds-- I can't believe I lost most of my baby weight and gained so much of it back! I have a personal rule for myself that I'm not allowed to get pregnant if I'm not back down to my pre-pregnancy weight. So I guess I have a few months at least before Dave and I start talking about babies again.
I set too many goals for myself last year and I failed miserably in so many areas that I really don't want to review my goals for 2008. I probably will anyway, but it's so depressing that I'm not sure I really want to for a while. Perhaps when I get my routine down this year and start making headway on my new goals for 2009 I can do that.
Happy New Year, everyone!
And with that, a video of my kids as monsters, from this evening. This was right before spiritual time, and I can say that the girls weren't very spiritual when we began reading scriptures just a few minutes after this was shot. Rose wouldn't repeat the words I asked her to, and Lacy made up movements to a song that is a sitting still song and struggled with reciting the articles of faith (we're working on #11 now!). Even the threat of a frowny face drawn upon her chore and attitude chart didn't get her to cooperate! She cried while she was doing what she was asked (mostly because she didn't get to watch "Elf" today like I said she could). With that... a note to self. Do not get the kids all riled up right before bed. But they were SO DARNED CUTE! They started acting like monsters after their bath when I was putting "tickle stuff" and "eye makeup" on them (that's our words for the topical steroids that they have to use for their rashes-- a stronger prescription for their bodies and a weaker one for sensitive areas like their eyelids, since steroids can weaken and thin the skin if used too much). I love the way they roar. Lacy just wants extreme close ups and Rose has trouble with instructions. As you will be able to tell right away.
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Friday, January 02, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Here's a Holiday Song for you!
It's not perfect, but I'm not a perfect pianist. But this is the best I could do! For your enjoyment, "Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella."
Monday, December 08, 2008
I'm going to be brave
and post this really awful version of Clair de Lune for y'all. I've been practicing again for a little over a month now, and this song in particular for about two weeks. I used to be really good at this song. I think this song is the one that got me my scholarship. But that happened almost 13 years ago. So needless to say I'm a little rusty.
You can hear the page turning but you can't hear any dynamics (go figure-- I swear I played something other than forte during this 5 minutes!). And I have some pretty bad goofs during the song. Not to mention my piano is 104 years old with the original felts and strings, so it's a bit out of tune and has some issues, including a squeaky pedal. I'm going to post this song again in a couple weeks so you can see how I've improved. Hopefully by then I can figure out how to post it as an MP3 so you don't have to download it next time.
With no further ado... here goes nothing.
You can hear the page turning but you can't hear any dynamics (go figure-- I swear I played something other than forte during this 5 minutes!). And I have some pretty bad goofs during the song. Not to mention my piano is 104 years old with the original felts and strings, so it's a bit out of tune and has some issues, including a squeaky pedal. I'm going to post this song again in a couple weeks so you can see how I've improved. Hopefully by then I can figure out how to post it as an MP3 so you don't have to download it next time.
With no further ado... here goes nothing.
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!
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!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Brushing up on my piano
Once upon a time, I was pretty good at tickling the ivories. I actually began my college career as a piano performance major, with a tiny scholarship, that they probably gave me out of pity and to build up their music program, as I really wasn't very deserving of a scholarship. I was decent, but I wasn't extraordinary or anything like that. I've always been clumsy and have had trouble with my fingering.
I think part of it is because of my practicing. I've never liked practicing, but I did it because I was threatened with grounding if I didn't. Or something. I practiced about an hour a day when I was in high school. Upon arriving at WSU, I was told I needed to practice between 2-4 hours a day. That was just overwhelming to me, and eventually I realized I couldn't hack it and I quit the program. Lately, I've been regretting that I didn't just get over myself and practice.
I had a goal this year to practice enough to revitalize my piano skills, but it's been difficult. In the past week or two, I've really been thinking about it and I've started playing again. Today I actually practiced for two hours.
Here's my ideal practice schedule
I'm keeping track of my practice time online. I'll be updating periodically to let you know how I'm doing, or you can check my progress anytime here. Find username Carolyn227 and click on "show log" to see my totals.
I think part of it is because of my practicing. I've never liked practicing, but I did it because I was threatened with grounding if I didn't. Or something. I practiced about an hour a day when I was in high school. Upon arriving at WSU, I was told I needed to practice between 2-4 hours a day. That was just overwhelming to me, and eventually I realized I couldn't hack it and I quit the program. Lately, I've been regretting that I didn't just get over myself and practice.
I had a goal this year to practice enough to revitalize my piano skills, but it's been difficult. In the past week or two, I've really been thinking about it and I've started playing again. Today I actually practiced for two hours.
Here's my ideal practice schedule
- 5 minutes of scales
- 5 minutes of arpeggios
- 5 minutes of Hanon exercises
- 5-10 minutes sight reading
- 5-10 minutes hymns/children's songs
- 15-30 minutes focus on each piece
I'm keeping track of my practice time online. I'll be updating periodically to let you know how I'm doing, or you can check my progress anytime here. Find username Carolyn227 and click on "show log" to see my totals.
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