Random thoughts or comments...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 15 Mar 2014, 19:42

Exactly. Setting goals that I can not possibly reach in too short a space of time is that saying. Learning anything takes time and you have to have the correct attitude...which I never had before. When I was a kid, I never learned to read in a month and I certainly didn't learn a second language thinking 'I'll never be able to speak Welsh like a Welshman....'.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 15 Mar 2014, 20:23

Feg wrote:
I'm glad to see that your new positive attitude is having positive results.

I feel like that bloke who had a conversion on the road to Damascus. What was his name, Darren or something....

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 16 Mar 2014, 14:30

dave brum wrote: I feel like that bloke who had a conversion on the road to Damascus. What was his name, Darren or something....

Kevin, I think.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 16 Mar 2014, 23:16

Yawn, zzzzzzzzz

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 17 Mar 2014, 22:14

I'll be up at 3am making a cup of tea as I'll have a raging thirst in the night now I've had a supermarket curry. The one I didn't have a chance to have because I was that tired last night after getting back late from Nodnol last night.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 18 Mar 2014, 14:03

Piano lesson today at 1515...and NO anxiety or apprehensiveness whatsoever. I must remind myself of the nice and encouraging things that she told me last week, and my 'threat' system/negative emotions will be managed and kept in tow.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 18 Mar 2014, 14:58

I suppose you know it already Gill but I've found out today the tune for Love Divine All Loves XL-ing is Welsh and it's called Blaenwern:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYUj7iyVqPE

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 18 Mar 2014, 17:41

Hope the lesson went well!
Blaenwern? If I had a shilling for every time I've played it I'd have more money than matey in Surrey with his 1.8 million quid on the lottery!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 18 Mar 2014, 18:05

It's always one of those closing hymens, isn't it?? Like Thine Be The Glory.

Piano lesson went okay. I'm really enjoying them now, it really is amazing how much positive thinking affects your whole attitude to learning. The only anxiety I experienced was when I got out of the car outside her house...and that petered out whilst walking up her driveway!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 19 Mar 2014, 09:15

I really am beginning to miss my Positive Thinking course. I really want to do the next chapter but my wife is home this week, and that means trash television from morning until night meaning I won't be able to concentrate on my work. And it's getting into the nitty gritty 'therapy' part now.

A television is something I can happily live without, especially as there are so many good evening concerts on Radio 3 nowadays.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 19 Mar 2014, 16:31

dave brum wrote: my wife is home this week, and that means trash television from morning until night meaning I won't be able to concentrate on my work.

That's why God made earplugs. Try it. I could do without telly apart from my nightly fix of Pobol Y Cwm!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 19 Mar 2014, 16:52

Well, I've got loads of klezmer music to listen to thanks to Youtube, plus a couple of MAGMA albums, who Steve Davis (snooker player) brought to London to do a gig in the 80s.

Along with studies of musical dot patterns that tie in with my homework for this week.

I may not be able to do anything else with regard to reading my book until next week but I have hundreds of pages of notes I've made that can be reviewed. I also picked up a Tony Buzan mind study book from my shop last winter that I've not yet had a chance to look at. Maybe I should take that to my smallest room, as the television noise cannot be heard in there so it's a good library!!!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 19 Mar 2014, 17:44

Our smallest room has a sign on the door saying 'Library'.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 19 Mar 2014, 17:52

Gill the Piano wrote:Our smallest room has a sign on the door saying 'Library'.

Nowhere better for having a little readipoos, obviously.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 20 Mar 2014, 17:10

Gill mentioned the other day that there are possible negative connotations with the word 'practice' when used to describe what piano learners are compelled to do, however in reflection so is the word 'learner', like we'll be learners for the rest of our lives and never play as good and as musical as a 'pianist'.

Pilgrims are what we are, a-la Pilgrim's Progress but in a pianistic sphere.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 20 Mar 2014, 19:04

Realistically, we aRE all learners for the rest of our lives. I don't think we ever stop learning and people who believe they've finished learning - however good - must be a teensy bit arrogant...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 20 Mar 2014, 19:11

But the fact that there are even the most proficient of pianists that still are finding things out, even the likes of LangLang makes us all learners. But in the same respect it's like walking down a yellow brick road of knowledge and insight with a huge piano-shaped rainbow at the end.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 22 Mar 2014, 08:46

Just to say from next week on, I won't be coming on here as much. I've got more books on mind therapy, understanding of depressive human emotions and CBT that I need to get through as well as my own positive thinking course, maybe even some piano practice if I have the time.

OneHandOnly · Post by **OneHandOnly** » 22 Mar 2014, 12:37

Stay well Dave, keep up the practice though. I've realised that although i'll never be any good, i'll be less crap then i am now and i'm not as crap as i used to be.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 22 Mar 2014, 16:43

Make time to play the piano; it'll do you good to think of other things. Don't get too bogged down in the CBT books to the exclusion of all else!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 02 Apr 2014, 10:32

Just a quick note just to let you know how I'm getting along with my lessons. They're going really well and my teacher is so sympathetic and really does want to help. And it's paying off, I can now play a grand total of SEVEN pieces from the Classics to Moderns book 1. I've never been able to play as much as that before, maybe three or four. But my teacher tells me how to learn each piece whether by bar or phrase, and at home by my piano, I really allow my emotions to run wild every time I practise. Again, I've never felt like this before but the feeling is so good, isn't it? She also is so encouraging and it really is so rewarding to play a piece for her and hearing her say 'Well done, David' at the end.

I'm also almost at the end of the red IYSR book, next lesson. I start the blue one (grade 1). Again, the absence of exam pressure just adds to the enjoyment and lessens the 'timescale' of having to do this/that by a certain time.

Also the rewards of playing the piano are beginning to manifest. I'm having more trouble with my inlaws and moreso now, it's lovely to just be able to come home, sit by my piano and play something, even if it's from A Dozen a Day (though it's usually from CTM 1). The therapy is great!

Will miss next week as she's got a funeral to play for, then after Easter, she's away. I shall miss my little Tuesday afternoonies while she's off

but never mind - so will all her other lovely students!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 02 Apr 2014, 15:28

I'm so glad it's going well. You're right, whatever the weight resting on your spiritual shoulders, a good thrash through at the piano can lift it. Hope the inlaw situation gets solved (perhaps by a falling piano?

)

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 02 Apr 2014, 18:24

Gill the Piano wrote: Hope the inlaw situation gets solved (perhaps by a falling piano? )

Please do not tempt me. 68 mile round trips to Coventry Walsgrave Hospital every day are taking their toll on us both.

How is Eric?

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 03 Apr 2014, 20:22

60 mile round trips every day to the Churchill hospital to get him nuked! 2 days into radiotherapy and counting. Only 6 weeks to go!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 04 Apr 2014, 18:26

Oh, Oxford......(sounds like Uncle Monty from Withnail.....)

Good to know Earache is giving the Churchill salute to his own 'Adolf Hitler'.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 08 Apr 2014, 19:12

Help! I'm getting a bad case of piano lesson withdrawal symptoms

And this is just the start.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 08 Apr 2014, 21:57

You'll be fine. Hang on in there, kid!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 09 Apr 2014, 08:33

Teach had a funeral to play for yesterday so no lesson. I have one next week, and of course it's a church organists' busiest week. She doesn't teach in school holidays and after that, she's away so my next lesson after that won't be until mid May or thereabouts. Hope she gives me loads to do that'll keep me ticking over for four weeks.

It's amazing though, I've only been having regular lessons again for 1 month and I've come on in leaps and bounds. Probably because I ENJOY my lessons now and my teacher just shows me what to do and I do it. If only 'Blaenwern' and 'Hyfrydol' were in Classics To Moderns 1!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 09 Apr 2014, 15:57

I think you could play the full-on version if you tackled it a bit at a time, gently. I like Hydrofoil. Which is just as well as I seem to play it at least once a month!

Post by **Feg** » 09 Apr 2014, 16:47

Gill the Piano wrote:I think you could play the full-on version if you tackled it a bit at a time, gently. I like Hydrofoil. Which is just as well as I seem to play it at least once a month!

I've just had a look at the sheet music - it's been years since I had to play those hymns. I don't see why you don't have a go, Dave.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 09 Apr 2014, 18:35

I really wish I still had 'that book', Gill. I was in Worcester earlier today (there are 2 sheet music shops there) and I was on the lookout for it just to see if Blaenwern was in it (probably it was) and exactly how playable it is for me but no luck. Neither tune is in 'It's easy To Play Hymns' but I know the LOB has it in. Twas out on loan last time I went up there.

Most of those hymens in A&M seem to be in minim chords in both hands, which may be a little bit beyond my ken at the present time.

Post by **Feg** » 09 Apr 2014, 22:36

dave brum wrote:I really wish I still had 'that book', Gill. I was in Worcester earlier today (there are 2 sheet music shops there) and I was on the lookout for it just to see if Blaenwern was in it (probably it was) and exactly how playable it is for me but no luck. Neither tune is in 'It's easy To Play Hymns' but I know the LOB has it in. Twas out on loan last time I went up there.

Most of those hymens in A&M seem to be in minim chords in both hands, which may be a little bit beyond my ken at the present time.

If you really want to play them, Dave, I'll write a simple arrangement of one or both if you would like?

What would you prefer - Chords only in the LH and melody in RH or movement in both ie single notes in both hands?

Fiona

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 10 Apr 2014, 06:34

I think both would be good. I could start with the chords in LH/melody in RH and then, when I'm confident with that move on to the 'big stuff' of movement in both hands, a-la Ancient and Modern, or even the Easy Play hymn book published by Kevin Mayhew.

A 'surprise' bonus piece that I could play to my teacher, maybe?

Many many thanks for offering to do those for me, Fiona - I sincerely appreciate your help very much. Yourself and Gill are determined to make a confident pianist out of me...but I never knew you were also a church pianist/organist as well?

Post by **Feg** » 10 Apr 2014, 09:22

Church organist/ pianist, moi? Never in a month of Sundays

I am, however, the musician daughter of a now retired primary school teacher who made sure her daughter earned her keep

As a teenager I played for school assemblies, school choirs etc and as an adult, I was the Mum who could be called upon to play for the local primary school end of term services and the like.

I have served my time playing from various hymn books, mostly at the piano and occasionally at a church organ sans pedals of course.

I'm glad you realise that Gill and I will ensure that you end up a competent pianist whether you like it or not!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 10 Apr 2014, 09:43

I was under the impression that you just tuned 'em, but not plays 'em, unlike Gill who both tunes and plays 'em!

You must have quite a good piano grade if you've done things like that in the past. Do you still get called upon to play piano for choirs, schools etc. or is the recorder your modern vocation?

I'd like to have a bash on a church organ sometime in my life if I can get the opportunity!

Post by **Feg** » 10 Apr 2014, 16:51

I've been playing pianos far longer than I've been tuning them. Unfortunately, I don't have any ABRSM grades to flaunt in either piano or violin (my first instrument) because way back in the mists of time, Scottish Higher Music practical was set at minimum grade 7/8 and I have an A pass in that exam.

I was good enough on violin and piano to be accepted for Bmus degree at Edinburgh Uni. I was a bit of a music nerd in my day.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 10 Apr 2014, 17:46

If you can get an old hymn book it's the best sight reading you can do, Dave, as it instils a sense of harmony in you and helps understand chords. I was amazed to find I could 'do' keyboard harmony, despite not knowing why I was playing what I was playing, thanks to years of singing/playing hymns... Most second hand book shops have some old hymnbooks stuffed away somewhere. You can play leaving out one or more 'voices' in the arrangement; top and bottom voices together will give you an arrangement sounding like 'Easiest Tune Book' ones.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 10 Apr 2014, 18:18

I once got the music edition of A&M Revised out of the old Birmingham Central Library, picked out a hymn tune I know and tried to play it. It took me the best part of an hour just to play one right hand bar! These editions are probably not written with unconfident pianists who've only been back at lessons for one month in mind...and probably in an age where churches never had any problems in finding someone to play a Sunday service each week.

That said, I could get the book out again, see if there is something really easy in there and have another go. The LoB has the Kevin Mayhew book out on loan until the 12th, providing the loanee doesn't renew. No secondhand bookshops here, only shops similar to the sort of things I work in and I've not yet seen any music edition traditional hymnals (as a pose to modern charismatic type 'praise and worship' songbooks) in any of the Oxfam Books and Music shops around the Birmingham metro area.

And the Oxfam online shop has two copies, but judging by their size, they're words editions.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 12 Apr 2014, 13:15

Gill, would you say that God Save The Queen in A&M Revised is playable for someone of my standard? I had the book out of the old library two years ago when Gizz came to stay with me, and I thought at the time it was definitely not, but I didn't study the pattern of the notes properly. Well, I didn't have time, I did have a guest to entertain!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 12 Apr 2014, 13:37

I would say so, with careful study beforehand and methodical learning (as you are being taught now). Don't forget, you can always leave a part out, maybe playing the tune only in the RH and playing the L as is. Or just the bass line if you feel that's too much.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 12 Apr 2014, 14:55

I've just been faraging around in the spare room and I've found this: The Usborne Book of 100 Easy Piano Tunes. The old Jan Struther one 'Lord of all hopefulness...' is in there (although it's just credited as simply Hymn Tune and no credit to Jan Struther/Joyce Annstruther) as is 'Glorious things of thee are spoken', better known as Deutschland uber Alles/das Deutschlandlied. Made a start on them both, which will increase my repertoire into double figures.

Need to get that A&M out once more and check it out. Aren't they all in four part harmonies??

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 12 Apr 2014, 19:48

Probably wisest just to concentrate on the stuff I'm doing with my teacher for the time being. I've spent two 15 minute bursts on both of those hymn tunes and it's such a struggle at the moment. It will not be so in say six months time though but I seem to be making careless mistake after careless mistake just playing the first phrase, and that's solely down to being a bad reader and not having consulted my teacher beforehand for her sterling help and advice. Having a repertoire of 8 after 4 weeks is still a massive achievement and something to feel good about.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 13 Apr 2014, 14:38

ps. are the Hambleden Valley churches working you to the max this Holy Week then, Mrs

?

Deutschlandlied now into the second phrase. Sehr gut auf das Klavier, Herr Brum as they say where they also say vorsprung durch technik.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 13 Apr 2014, 19:37

Yes they are 4 parts but you can leave lines out!!!! This was a revelation to me when I was struggling with an accompaniment and my friend said 'well, just leave that bit out.'.

And I did. And nobody died. Nobody even noticed. It's called cherrypicking!
Good Friday 1 gig, Easter Day, 2 gigs (involving cross country speeding, cursinbg at poxy lycra clad idiots with nothing better to do than find the narrowest lanes they can and BLOCK them by cycling so slowly the bike barely stays upright.

)

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 13 Apr 2014, 19:52

Gill the Piano wrote:
Good Friday 1 gig, Easter Day, 2 gigs (involving cross country speding, cursing at poxy lycra clad idiots with nothing better to do than find the narrowest lanes they can and BLOCK them by cycling so slowly the bike barely stays upright. )

Are you sure you're not really Jeremy Clarkson?? I want to learn to ride a bicycle when I'm a little lighter, with the support of my keep fit instructor. I shall expect oodles of intimidatory chav drivers merely centimetres from my saddle

So how do you play the hymns then?? Just the treble and bass part leaving out the alto and other part?? Because that would make it much easier for me!!!

Not sure what to do on Easter Sunday as everywhere will be closed

Post by **Feg** » 13 Apr 2014, 20:24

You will be able to adapt all sorts of music once you have done your music theory course. It helps to know how it is put together before starting to miss bits out

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 14 Apr 2014, 18:30

No. I play all the parts. However on occasion without Rakhmaninov size pandies, one has to leave the odd note out!
I have no problem with cyclists who are going somewhere in order to do something. It's the ones who cycle for the sake of cycling that annoy me. And they come up with the 'lovely scenery' defence but as far as I can see they're just looking at tarmac or the bum in front...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 14 Apr 2014, 19:09

It's all these rings you wear. They restrict your movement in the hands!!!

I really must turn up incognito to one of your gigs. If you see a bloke sitting near the organ with an abnormal interest in your playing one Sunday, that'll undoubtedly be me!!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 15 Apr 2014, 17:17

Just had another enjoyable piano lesson but I shall miss them for the next 4 weeks. Have to book one with you, Gill. How old is your tea, and hope it's Aldi's finest!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 15 Apr 2014, 18:06

dave brum wrote:It's all these rings you wear. They restrict your movement in the hands!!!

Stupid boy; never heard of weight training?

Our tea is probably quite elderly as we hardly drink it at home; Eric hates it and I drink at least one cup per piano at work...