Random thoughts or comments...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 25 Jun 2014, 15:58

Blaenwern. Good enough for a church organ??

https://www.youtube.com/user/Pianobloke1/videos

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 26 Jun 2014, 14:31

Made some progress with this today:

I've now reached the end of the piece in the LH but I'm still having trouble with those chords in the RH in bars 21 and 22. Should learn them before 13/8 anyway!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 26 Jun 2014, 18:47

dave brum wrote:Blaenwern. Good enough for a church organ??

https://www.youtube.com/user/Pianobloke1/videos

You've got 2 gigs Sunday if you want 'em!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 26 Jun 2014, 19:15

Huh! I only know 2 hymns! And I'm not even a member of any church lest what usually happens (the organist usually allows someone else to play one or two hymns for good practice).

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 26 Jun 2014, 21:22

Organists are like gold dust. Pianists will do at a pinch. Some churches would alternate Blaenwern and Hydrofoil forever just to keep you on board...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 26 Jun 2014, 21:39

The same two hymns every week....someone decided to open a radio station way back when with only ten records played over and over again and called it Atlantic 252. So that MIGHT work

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 27 Jun 2014, 19:34

It sounds like 3 Counties Radio; Band of Gold is played EVERY BL**DY DAY.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 27 Jun 2014, 19:50

Atlantic 252 used to be beamed over on Long Wave from eastern Ireland in the 1990s. Large parts of rural Wales could receive nothing else when Radio 1 went to FM and in Aberystwyth Tywyn and Barmouth it was playing in every shop cafe pub and workplace. It really was like lobotomy audio.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 28 Jun 2014, 08:37

I seem to be making rapid progress on my homework piece, over halfway now. The piece is in Dminor but after 6 bars modulates to Aminor. There are sharpened Aminor melodic 6ths and melodic/harmonic 7ths throughout the piece as well as Bnaturals and C#s for the key of Dminor and playing both scales (which I already did with Mabs weeks ago) beforehand is a boon. But not that 1980s bike riding detective played by Michael Elphick!

Landler, that piece that was causing me all that grief in May and most of June is now uploaded on my channel. It only took me one take to record it. Proves that practice does indeed make perfect.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Pianobloke1

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 28 Jun 2014, 16:14

'Scuse me, are you related to that bloke wot come on 'ere some while ago saying he'd never be able to play Landler?

Dda iawn, bach!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 28 Jun 2014, 18:37

Gill the Piano wrote:'Scuse me, are you related to that bloke wot come on 'ere some while ago saying he'd never be able to play Landler? Dda iawn, bach!

I wasn't related to him at all. I WAS that bloke. Part of what I suffer with my dear, the most insignificant and trivial problems feel like I want to go and commit Harry Carpenter. Quite why, I don't know.

Gizzy once said to me that I'm my own worst enemy - and I'm sick of it. I want to be my own best friend for a change. No mutation on 'da iawn' by the way, Gertie!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 28 Jun 2014, 18:39

dave brum wrote:No mutation on 'da iawn' by the way, Gertie!

Sorry miss.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 28 Jun 2014, 19:00

You will be. I'll email the vicar at Fingest and tell him/her you aren't using the pedals.

(or that you're secretly sneaking blues scales into your canticles).

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 29 Jun 2014, 15:38

My wife told me today that she's certain I'll chicken out of 13/8 about a week beforehand 'because she knows me too well'.

But another positive thing. Today is the start of the holy month of Ramadan and for the duration, I will refrain from posting anything implying that I cannot play the piano, any reference to the topic I talk about most on here (a five letter word beginning with S and a seven letter word beginning with R), or any form of self-depreciation, as Allah is my witness.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 29 Jun 2014, 15:49

dave brum wrote:You will be. I'll email the vicar at Fingest and tell him/her you aren't using the pedals.

(or that you're secretly sneaking blues scales into your canticles).

a) He knows
b) I'm not intelligent enough to understand a blues scale.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 29 Jun 2014, 15:51

How are you with the stops, do you know the function of each and every one and the various sounds they produce through t'pipes??

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 29 Jun 2014, 15:54

Only by yanking 'em out and experimenting. I know the names of the stops I like - the woody, flutey ones - and how to rattle the rafters and how to play really quietly for communion, etc.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 29 Jun 2014, 15:59

What d'ya play when the bread and Ribena are being distributed to the masses then?? I can't remember what Mrs Fosdyke plays at feedie time at our local queenie church as it's been so long!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 29 Jun 2014, 17:05

I have some fabulous books by CH Trevor, Early English Organ Music For Manuals. Something in there for every occasion. Today I played a bit by Attwood (no, I hadn't heard of him either) and Walond. CHT gives some little snippets of biographical info which are v. interesting. Particularly in a long sermon which I've heard at the previous gig when the vicar and I have had the same schedule.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 29 Jun 2014, 17:37

Had a look on Amazon and Ebay, but all I can get are covers. Then I put the author and title into Google images just to see the sort of music we're talking of, and I got a fairly easy looking (by easy I mean around g3 or so) piece, but unverified as to whether the page is from the CH Trevor book or not. There are five or so books in the series so also unsure as if, like Classics To Moderns each book gets progressively more arduous. In other words, gets ardour.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 29 Jun 2014, 17:44

I can see one from the series there; it's called Diapason Movement by Kemble .And another, 'Short Voluntary'.
If you look on Musicroom.com it lets you look inside. There's a fair mishmash of grades in every book - nothing over G5 I would think.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 29 Jun 2014, 20:04

Never thought of Musicroom off hand. What is 'grace music'?? I've had nosies round organs before and found music books with this on but never sure of how it is defined, but I would think of it as 'vicar not ready to start yet' music.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 30 Jun 2014, 18:40

dave brum wrote:What is 'grace music'??

No idea...Gracie Fields songs, praps?

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 30 Jun 2014, 19:01

There are ABRSM exams going on at the URC church on the corner of Chantry Road metres from my shop. If I see Mrs. Fosdyke in the shop inbetween accompanying jobs, I'll ask her about grace music. Young kid who was just about to do her g5 piano came in the shop today with her mother. I was able to wish her the best of luck, and recall my past exam experiences (POSITIVE ones).

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 30 Jun 2014, 19:32

Having goggled it, I find Grace Music seems to be happy clappy stuff and that Grace Music is the name of the publishers.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 30 Jun 2014, 21:25

Not good for non-fundamentalist churches then?? I'm sure I saw it in an Anglican church...still never mind. Bit of Al Bowlly and Ravi Shankar at the shop today.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 30 Jun 2014, 21:46

I love Al Bowlly; I have a CD with him on it. Transported instantly to the 1930s.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 01 Jul 2014, 06:11

He's on 'that film''s soundtrack, and that's how I know about Al Bowlly.

Are you a sponge or a stone?

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 01 Jul 2014, 08:20

I am the music man
I come from far away. And I can play....
What can you play?
I play the Piano

(altogether now...)

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 01 Jul 2014, 15:54

What's "that film"?

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 01 Jul 2014, 16:30

Google the part of my last posting in bold type and you'll know. Or 'We want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here and we want them now!', 'We seem to have gone on holiday by mistake' or even 'Miss Blennerhassett, telephone the police!' Always watch it when I'm feeling depressed.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 01 Jul 2014, 16:48

Withnail?

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 01 Jul 2014, 16:58

Gill the Piano wrote:Withnail?

YES!!! Miss Blennerhassett's first name is Mabs, like my piano teacher (Hurry up Mabs, keep them here till they arrive). On another forum somewhere I was 'Presumin Ed', whom was played by Eddie Tagoe.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 02 Jul 2014, 18:51

Another trip to my favourite Brum suburb I came across three teenage boys on Chantry Road, with ABRSM piano pieces books in their hands. Caught sight of the grade number of one, Grade 5. You brave little boys you! Hope you did well.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 02 Jul 2014, 19:23

Sat in the exam waiting room with a twitched mum whose brat was doing the preparatory piano. Said a relaxed 'Good luck' to her daughter then as the door closed, sprang up and flattened her earole to the door. I offered to fetch her a glass to help her hear better, but she just glared at me. Sprog came out happily clutching her exam certificate. Hope she doesn't get pushed though.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 02 Jul 2014, 19:35

So you do accompanying work too in exam season?

I was looking out for old Fanny Fosdyke's Ford on Chantry Road (as that's where she usually leaves it having seen it there twice before) but wasn't there. I think today's roster was solely solo piano in Moseley.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 03 Jul 2014, 07:44

The ABRSM obviously haven't automatically set an auto update on their website for 0001 this morning as nothing about the new piano pieces for 15 yet. But it has given me the chance to look at the requirements for each grade. As Grade 5 seems to be popular in Moseley I notice that the scales requirements are 'all the...' scales/arpeggios. Twelve major and twelve minor?? That must take ages to do, considering it's only G5 and the other aspects (pieces, SR etc). I shudder to think what Grade 8 is like. It must take a whole morning to do, and if the examiner's football team lost the previous evening (or even worse, his jockstrap's too tight) then maybe longer still!!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 03 Jul 2014, 10:03

BREAKING NEWS they've just been released:

http://gb.abrsm.org/fileadmin/user_uplo ... lete15.pdf

Bad news, the (expletive) has not gotten any easier, if fact it's a case of 'no change'.

The GOOD news, The Lincolnshire Poacher's one of the pieces for g1. OOOOOOh, tis my delight on a shiny night as I take me grade one 'ere! (does this mean we can now take our rifles as well as our scales and arpeggio books into the exam?)

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 03 Jul 2014, 16:52

Yep, playing/played for G2 oboe, G2 trumpet and G5 trumpet this session.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 03 Jul 2014, 16:57

You amaze me, Gill. Not only for an AB examiner, but for a shaky student who's just as petrified of you as he/she is of the ABRSM bigwig!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 03 Jul 2014, 17:51

They aren't bigwigs and they WANT you to pass; the lady at Henley was really lovely.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 03 Jul 2014, 18:02

Gill the Piano wrote:They aren't bigwigs and they WANT you to pass;.

Do they?? The bloke I did my g3 with in Moseley gave me entirely the opposite impression.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 03 Jul 2014, 20:15

There's always the exception. You mustn't go in all hedgehoggy either!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 03 Jul 2014, 21:13

There's a bit in 'These Music Exams' about the examiners wanting us to pass, and waiting to hear us perform. But I suppose I've had it from Mabs that these things do NOT suit me. She'll give me mock exams, and I can bribe her with home made cakes and home grown organic veg to omit the twenty one marker. I can't do that with the AB examiner!

I have to email her now about another matter that's been bugging me and that my wife and I have just been discussing over a cup of tea.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 04 Jul 2014, 19:59

I've seen the new Grade 1 pieces as they're on sale at Shades Music in Moseley. Yes I think I can play them on my own piano or at the church hall where I do Keep Fit. Maybe even at the Library of Brum. But I'd never be able to play them in front of a critical ABRSM suited official without feeling panicky and unwell. Even playing them to Mabs would give me the collywobbles!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 05 Jul 2014, 06:21

Here's a random thought or comment and a half. Is it good, wise thinking to want to play 2 hymns on a church organ only five months after recommencing regular piano tuition, or am I (yet again) expecting way too much too soon and building my castles in the air??

Is it better to say wait at least another year or 18 months (when hopefully my confidence at the instrument is better)??

Post by **Feg** » 05 Jul 2014, 08:54

With respect, Dave, you are overthinking this one. Just have a go and enjoy the experience.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 05 Jul 2014, 10:12

dave brum wrote:Here's a random thought or comment and a half. Is it good, wise thinking to want to play 2 hymns on a church organ only five months after recommencing regular piano tuition, or am I (yet again) expecting way too much too soon and building my castles in the air??

Is it better to say wait at least another year or 18 months (when hopefully my confidence at the instrument is better)??

I made that posting before I went into my music room and discovered this, the back of my piano was wet, CTM1, which I had on my music stand at the time was ruined, and also this:

This is clearly an Act of God, a warning sign from above.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 05 Jul 2014, 10:22

Feg wrote:With respect, Dave, you are overthinking this one. Just have a go and enjoy the experience.

I just think I may not be ready YET, which is why I'm so nervous and full of dread over the whole thing. Other opportunities may surely arise but why am I rushing? I'm 44. It was 8 years between Gill starting piano lessons and touching a church organ for the first time. The reason why I'm unsure if I'll actually ENJOY the experience is that I don't have experience as a musician, that I'm too immature. But that will change in time.

I just do not want to make a fool of myself, especially in front of someone I've not met or spoken to yet such as Gill.

Post by **Feg** » 05 Jul 2014, 10:40

If there was a church organ sitting on the sales floor of your local piano shop, would you sit down and try playing it, or hang back?