UK Piano Page Piano Forum

I was also saddened to hear that Pete Seeger had died.

On a brighter note (I hope) I am being treated to my first EVER one to one violin lesson tomorrow. All the ones I had in my yoof were group practice then orchestra. Thank you to my better half for the early birthcake present. It's probably in the hope that the family hear slightly sweeter noises coming from over here

Let us know how you get on with your lesson. I suppose Nutcutlet can act as your piano accompanist then .

Pete Seeger's familiar song 'Little Boxes' always reminds me of the gargantuan estates of identikit housing in Batchley, Woodrow and Matchborough in Redditch and Woodside, Sutton Hill and Brookside in Telford...'and they all look just the same'.

Good luck, Nutroast; I hope you have a wonderful time and that it's the Start of Something!

Need to do some Mensa brain training. Possibly an idle unexercised grey matter is the reason why I'm finding it so difficult to learn the piano. I am on meds, unemployed, lonely, unhappy and sedantary. I was none of those when I learned Welsh so success was easy because my brain was active at the time.

I've just done the online Mensa test and got 72%, good but needs 'wuckin 'on, boy'!

DB, any one of those could mess up the neuros that would help with learning but, the fact that you've already got to the level you're at is testament to the fact that you can do it anyway!

My lesson was great! I've got lots of tips on correcting my violin hold (which I knew was bad) and my bow hold (that I thought was ok)! Some good pieces to practice to try and another lesson next week. I'm feeling determined, though the piano's not going to take a back seat either. Nutlet is practicing grade 2 pieces and g2/3 scales and arpeggios and grade 4 aural I'm making this my year to 1) play the violin 2) improve my French and 3) lighten up a bit and enjoy things more.

Wish it was easy as that, Nuttiecrunch. I have too many 'issues' (as I believe the youth of today eloquently retort) that need working on. Grade 3 was not a pleasant experience but I shall not go into that right now. Very tired, just driven up from Buckinghamshire in driving rain and wind.

Nutella's leaping ahead in mile long strides musically then! Glad you enjoyed your violin lesson. I had a piano lesson with an excellent teacher in Cardiff called Lynne in November and that was the very first piano lesson I actually enjoyed. It's a magical feeling coming home from a music lesson you've enjoyed!

Went to Stratford today, which has the only Musicroom store in the Midlands. It's like a 'Mecca' for piano teachers and learners from the conurbation twenty or so miles to the north of it and the place was indeed full of 0121-ish musicians leafing through the reams of music on offer that they can't get (but should be able to get) nearer home. And I bought something as well, a theory workbook for £4.

Saw all three volumes of Fanny W and Lady Harewood's Piano Lessons for £10 together with more classical CDs I wanted (including some Philip Glass) that I wanted but couldn't afford in the OB&M in Knowle, near Solihull.

According to the online newsletter of my local anglican place (where my former piano teacher is Director of Music and principal organ pounder) there is something there that always gets my brain racing and dopamine pumping - a Quiz Night similar to Eggheads to be held at the church hall on the 15th.

Now, I can do a pretty good mock Scouse accent. Now I need lots of facial hair, a wig, spectacles, some new clothes, a Trilby and a walking stick I can hunch my back over so I can take part without fear of being spotted by the Director of Music.....

Well, that was short-lived I'd forgotten how uncomfortable it was to hold a violin for even just a few minutes and the sound I get is hideous to the extent that I won't even practice if there's anyone in the house. Without practice, I'm unlikely to get any better and don't think I can tolerate the discomfort anyway. Oh well! I'll stick to the piano and recorder, they're more than enough for me!

xx

I knew Alison had dome a video re. holding the violin (amongst other aspects of learning and playing the violin). For you, Nuts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMEg-wQLq30

I saw a TV advertisement for Aldi the other day in which a mother (who's an Equity member) says she could afford music lessons for her little boy (also a junior Equity member) with the money she saves from shopping at Aldi.

Then both of the Georgian houses in Liverpool featured on BBC2's Interior Design Challenge final had a piano in them. Now I know why there are so many music shops in Liverpool city centre (Curleys, Dawsons, Music Notes) to supply so many pianists and piano learners amongst other reasons for being in business.

I was talking with Gill recently about something that used to be a legend in these parts, and that was BRMB Radio (1974-2012), a very popular and effective Birmingham institution more famous for its proletarian appeal reflective of the highly proletarian city that it served. Its lowest cringeworthy moments were its Saturday sports show with opinionated herbert Tony Butler followed by its subsequent phone ins:

CALLER: 'Ullo Tone, what about the Villa today then??'
BUTLER: 'Yeah, what about them?'
CALLER 'Erm, nuffink really, just how about them.....Tarrah, Tone!'

(and that was just a clean one)

and who could forget Les Ross and his Round The World Telephone Call show on a Sunday morning. Brummie expats in sunnier climes had something very much to fear from that 'call from England'. Including a drunken Brummie in Santa Rosa, California who tried to discuss lewd things with Les live on air!

Anyway, this in a roundabout sort of fashion has something to do with a Conservative councillor in Oxfordshire who resigned live on air (and later changed his mind) after being pressed into a corner by Malcolm Boyden of BBC Oxford 95.2FM. It seems this councillor had decided to up sticks and move to Thailand whilst still holding elected office in Oxfordshire. Malcolm Boyden is from Birmingham and he used to present a five morning a week miscellany of pointless banter and low grade waffle on BBC WM, egged on by callers (usually simpleton over 50s) from the various reaches of the area - and Boyden himself used to add to the kitchen sinkery by 'putting on' this Black Country accent that, unlike those of Lenny Henry, Frank Skinner or Noddy Holder, sounded incredibly fabricated, nauseating and rather foolish. He earned this reputation as a bit of a popinjay - which is probably why the BBC gave him the push. Now he's back on BBC Oxford and guess what? The saft twerp appears to be 'putting on' a RP accent to scrutinise dodgy politicians on air!! I just think it's so funny, Radio 3 next, one wonders??

'Up and down like a merry man's backside', 'up and down like a pair of mad woman's draws' and 'I'm sweating like a glass blowers' backside' were phrases Boyden would bandy about liberally on BBC WM in order to persuade his listeners to feed his own ego. However he never had any red-handed politicians on his programme though. They delegated that to Ed Doolan (former presenter of similar programme on BRMB in the 1970s).

Humphrys and Paxman had better watch out, there's summat rattling down the M40:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ox ... e-26067453

(BBC WM now has Adrian Goldberg in Boyden's old slot - which does make me grateful I have the Birdsong channel on DAB, or Radio 3).

LBC going DAB on Tuesday unfortunately. I bet steve Allen's been told not to take the pee out of poor sods who live in Blackpool or Mantchesterford any more. Boo.

It must be going onto the Digital One plex nationwide as it had been on the various regional DAB transmitters (West Midlands, Severn estuary, Yorks and Humber etc.) before they were done away with a couple of years ago outside of London.

That'll probably be the 97.3 talk service only rather than that plus the much better 1152 AM all-news station. The sounds of Birdsong will be shot down by the 'offend to capitalise' conservative shock jocks of LBC then. Travesty!!!

http://www.ukdigitalradio.com/news/disp ... ar=&id=407

There is, however, a danger that Global Radio (owner of brands Classic FM, Capital, Heart, Smooth, LBC, XFM and Gold) can attempt to force other broadcasters such as Talksport, Absolute etc. off the D1 in future. Already Jazz FM has disappeared from it, as D1 expect more broadcasters to pay higher and higher premiums to use the plex.

When I was learning Welsh there used to be this chap on Radio Cymru called Dei Tomos who used to present an early morning show from Bangor between 6 and 8.30am called Blas Ar Y Bore ('Taste The Morning'). It was a really gentle laid back mix of conversation about anything (but not politics current affairs or anything controversial), farming news with Gerallt Pennant, horse racing tips, and 'plant ysgol' in which primary school children would do poetic and musical items, usually on a religious theme. The news was strictly limited to a 15 minute broadcast at 7 and similar at 8, no commentary, no opinion, just a reporting of news from Wales and the world which surrounds it. The music was strictly Welsh folk (Sian James, Dafydd Iwan etc.) plus one or two old Sain pop tracks from the 70s/80s. I used to listen to it every morning in Shrewsbury and it used to set me up for the day. Radio Cymru seem to be going for ratings rather than quality these days - and if that's what Wales wants, it has the option of switching to Chris Evans on Radio 2, or Nick Grimshawe on Radio 1 amongst other media. I wish Blas would come back...I feel an email to Radio Cymru yn Gymraeg coming on.....

There used to be this geyser called Eifion Jones from the north-west who always liked to call himself Jonesy who popped up during the late 1990s on Radio Cymru (he's also done stuff in English on Radio City 96.7 in Liverpool) and basically he was the Welsh Malcolm Boyden.

To be honest, I've not had Radio Cymru on for years. I don't know why I don't as now I have a good Internet connection and listen to worldwide stations playing classical/jazz.

Just seen this - Solfege piano lessons:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/business-servi ... 1048003729

Yep, that's the solfa method Feg was talking about. At the end of the 19th century every child was taught it.

A good day at the shop. Three customers bought more than one classical CD. A volunteer asked me how the piano was going and I was talking with him in the shop about learning. I was overheard by a music teacher called Ann (no 'e') who really cheered me up by saying the local piano teacher who insulted me should not be allowed to teach piano!

She also was talking with me about doing duets and she agreed with me that they are essential for any piano learner. And two music books I'd had in since October were sold to Ann!

She told me not to give up. That was before I got home tonight and sat at my piano.

I have had two music books come in today, they were 'The Organists Wedding Collection' and 'The Organists Funeral Collection' both published by Cramer Music. Have you heard of them Gill?

Is this the sign you have on your harmonium, Gill??
(from this lovely instrument at Tanworth in Arden Anglican Church)
You dare tamper with that organ....or Justin Welby will be round with 'the firm'.

My wife looks at me and says 'You've not done your piano practice yet today, have you??'

Nope, I really don't fancy a journey up to Newcastle in all this wind and rain with a lorryload of coals. If anyone knows how difficult it's been for me to learn the piano in eight years, it's my wife. She knows I want to learn, but as she has experienced too much misfortune in her life also, she is the only one upon whose shoulder I can cry.

I haven't told her I've suffered yet another major setback. Yet she too wants me to succeed. If there was any justice in the world, I would succeed! Now, to work out how to tell her - or not to. Can't write to Claire Rayner on this one, she's in a better place.

Sometimes even Google doesn't answer a question.

Case in point. As an act of sheer desperation I just put 'how to learn to play piano' into Google and every result I got on page 1 alone seemed to highly contradict each other.

So, how to learn to play the piano. Does anybody have a scooby doo???

And why can't I succeed at it, am I some sort of unteachable old birdbrain or something, despite the enthusiasm and willingness I show???

Faced more scrutiny last night about my piano practice. Quick thinking old me came back with the fact that I wanted to spend her day away from work with her (though I was bored out of my brain. Russian olympics from dawn till dusk, followed by the news made me want to smoke marijuana).

I'm really an old romantic at heart.

I've stopped chucking my toys out of the pram now! The violin is improving rapidly and cutlet is practicing trills on Rosie while playing "Spring" from the Four Seasons, so all's good in the world!

One of my main problems is getting a good enough hold to free my left had to play. This has been helped by fixing a rolled up pub bar towel to the shoulder rest with a couple of elastic bands. Works a treat.

2014 book of G2 piano pieces came with the postie this morning - it's got the Flintstones them tune in it

Hats off to you, DB, it's a struggle, but I hope you keep at the piano. I'm a rubbish player, but I can't go a day without playing something. Music is a great language to speak.

x

Well Nutty, nobody can say that I've not tried! Many piano learners just cannot be doing with the rigorous practice and that was something I was never afraid to do. I do honestly think I've run out of lives/options and if I don't get any fresh ideas in the next 29 days, that really will be that. I can think of a hundred and one things I'd like from Ikea including a new bed that the money from its sale would be spent on!

Unlike Nut Cutlet. I really do hope she doesn't make the same mistakes as I did with her musical journey. I hope she is enjoying the experience. She deserves to!!!!!

I've found some video footage shot by my wife from my first teachers' concert from 2009. Now, you all know me. I am what's known as a fair man and I give credit where I think it is deserved. She has filmed other players besides myself and do you know which clip I thought was by far the most musically astute??

Mine! (from somebody who hates his self). Might put it on Youtube later.

I do hope you're alright Gill, and I mean that...and that not too much damage has been caused by the floods in Marlow to your home.....and all those lovely musical instruments contained therein!!!

I've just seen the forecast for next week, calmer weather forecast but not after yet another band of rain crosses England on Monday, albeit with strong breezes rather than gales, storms and force 12s.

I would be seriously worried if this happened in June or August.....but it is February after all. We have seen deep snow in March and 29 degrees in October, together with the Great Lakes frozen solid.....now, is there such a thing as global climate change and rising sea levels, Mr.Farage??? (leader of extreme right and anti-environmentalist Ukip political party in the UK).

I wonder if that 'Edition Peters' Buxtehude is still in the shop??

I might take some photos tomorrow of my sheet music displays and post them. I restock and tidy up every Monday and it seems to be paying dividends! (not that I actually advocate a shareholder society, being a Leftie!)

Buxtehude? Crazy name...boring music! Or at least, the bits in my various collections are. I might be doing him a disservice, but I never played a piece I wanted to play again. I prefer our own lads!

Yep, still there as are The Joy Of Organ Music, The Organist's Wedding Book and The Organists Funeral Book.

Have taken some photos of my displays, though I was a little bit short of stuff to put on them today so it was just a bit of easy little titivations here and there. It was also the last time I'll see my boss John as he leaves at the end of this week. He did me a great favour in giving me an opportunity to come and work there and I never forget people who genuinely help me out.

Will upload some of the photos later so you can all see what I get up to on a Monday, amongst other duties.

Tidy, in all senses of the word! Good selection by the looks of it...

Thanks Gill, and it was all my idea as well. I may be c@@p at playing the piano but I can sell a few classical CDs and items of sheet music - and stuff is beginning to sell now. Back in August there was just three shelves with hardly any stock on them.

I really like those Edition Peters titles you see on one of the pictures that I've put out on display. To see one of those sat on the music stand of an Edwardian piano would certainly convey a homely aesthetic...if only we had the space for one of those in our shop (so customers could 'try before they buy!') Though there are a hell of a lot of facsimiles of those knocking around that, frankly, are unsaleable.

And all with John's managerial help as well.

STOPPIT with the negative comments about your playing; count 'em up and see what you're doing to yourself!!!
I love the fact that the Peters editions haven't changed for years; you're right, it lends a sort of timeless quality to the heaps of music. You should come here and sort out my music room...

Those are not all of the EP ones we have in, there are some more in one of the Piano green trays but it's has some ink in it so I've put it a but cheaper even though it's perfectly legible (but not to me though as I no speeky notazione graddo ocho). I have to painstakingly go through each one with a pencil eraser and carefully obliterate the scrawlings various music teachers have written in for the benefit of their students so I can sell them at a good price and use them to build up my display.

I've got lots of 40s/50s popular songs, music hall stuff that would have been available either as sheet music or 78rpm record that I've priced at 49p just to get rid of...all in the Popular Music tray, with Michael Aaron's Piano Course no1 (blue), Making The Grade 1, More MTG 1, A Dozen A Day mini and Book 2 amongst other tutorial stuff in the Learn Piano trays. Calling all musitians and pianists of Brum, come buy my wares instead of traipsing all the way to Stratford.

There's some easy-ish Einaudi as well in good condition, if you're into minimalist stuff.

I'd rather listen to paint drying than play Einaudi'vefoundachordandamgoingtoplayitforthenexttwelvepages...

Bloody traffic. The M5 is, as English motorways go quite trouble free, however I got stuck in an almighty traffic jam going north between Michaelwood and Cheltenham. It has taken me nearly three hours to drive back home from Bristol. 'Sally Traffic', I shall blame you.

I left a customer's house today to find my rear offside tyre flat. Rolled to the tyre place to find I needed a new tyre and the other rear one had little tread left so bought a pair. The money I put in the bank yesterday is all gone... Who leaves nails in the road?????

Nobody leaves nails in the road. They throw them into the Thames along with the pramwheels and used prophylactics that have been washed ashore in recent days and blown around by the force 10s. We had to have new tyres last October as we had two that were both balding. We called them both Clare.

dave brum wrote:We had to have new tyres last October as we had two that were both balding. We called them both Clare.

Just closed my Youtube channel down as it has a very negative and self-critical title. Reopening it soon under my own name.

I'm SO PROUD of you!

Did you know the emotions you arouse when you are critical of yourself are exactly the same emotions you get when someone else bullies you?? So why bully yourself???

And the human brain has evolved to NEED and respond to kindness and compassion. Our anxiety system is just for warning us of danger and threats, it can bring us down but we can train it to work in harmony with our other two emotion systems.

Books, books, books. Malala Yousafzai was right, we NEED books, they keep us alive. The Rough Guide to Music Theory is in the lav.

Good article in the Birmingham Post website about the 'cult' of BRMB Radio. Incidentally I was never a fan of it. I personally thought its competitor Beacon Radio was much much better - in fact when we moved to South Shropshire in 1985, we could still get Beacon clearly but BRMB was inaudible on FM and on AM was seriously interfered with by a station in Manchester also using the 1152 frequency:

Oddly enough, BRMB could be heard on 1152 as far south as Bristol, much further from Birmingham than south Shropshire! The old FM service on 94.8 had difficulty reaching some southern suburbs of Brum!

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/ne ... ed-6732216

Have you read the Inner Game of Music yet, Dave? Talks about the little critic we all have inside and how to disregard it. Good book.

No I haven't but as soon as I've finished my self help course I'm going onto The Rough Guide to Music Theory/Reading Music. It's much more digestable than the ABRSM pink book I think. Plus I got it in my bookshop!

Gill the Piano wrote:Have you read the Inner Game of Music yet, Dave? Talks about the little critic we all have inside and how to disregard it. Good book.

I can second that. It works on all sorts of levels

If you ever see the ABRSM little red theory book, grab it, Dave. Everything you'll ever need to know condensed into one tiny book.

Gill the Piano wrote:If you ever see the ABRSM little red theory book, grab it, Dave. Everything you'll ever need to know condensed into one tiny book.

Ta, Gill. It's not available on Musicroom but Presto, whose HQ are in Leamington not far from me, have it:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/sm/733 ... tAodFVcARg

Though The Rough Guide To Reading Music is pretty good too. I want to look out for The Rough Guide To The Piano in similar sized book. The sort of thing Blackwells in Oxford or Chappells in London would sell, maybe...or there's a music shop in Kensington whose name escapes me.

The Rudiments and Theory of Music is the book you're after, and it's ABRSM and it's out of print. Damn fine book, better than the pink jobbie that superseded it. A6 sort of size.