progress

[nathan34]

Hi All

I am relativly new to the piano, have been learning/Having lessons for about 2.5 years now and i sometimes wonder how well i am progressing it usually takes me about 3 months to learn a piece that my teacher sets me, i have attached a link to a youtube video, this took me about 3 months to get to here with it, what do you think?


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

Any comments, help, advice or criticism would be gratefully recieved

Many Thanks

Nathan

[dave brum]

That reminds me so much of my own Youtube piano videos before I quit, as you stick the camera in exactly the same place as I did. (I used a blob of Blutack to hold the camera in place also - a necessity).

The video was most enjoyable to watch. I could only dream of doing that with my piano and I've been trying on and off for 8 years. Maybe, and this is being over pedantic, but you could try relaxing your hands a little - and perhaps a bit of raw LangLang emotion also. But this is just nit picking. Could you upload some more vids please as I'm eager to see more. Thank You.

[chrisw]

Bravo. I enjoyed your performance and consider you are making good progress if you have been learning for only 2 or so years. Also taking only 3 months to get to this level of performance, including dynamics and well executed decorations is a good achievement.

I imagine keeping control of nerves during the recording was a challenge; it certainly would have been for me. Thank you for introducing me to this movement of the sonata no.25.

[nathan34]

Hi All

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch my video and for your kind comments.

Dave, After I read your comment about relaxing my hands a little i tried this during my practice last night and although it will take some work to do it without thinking about it i could tell that it would definatley be a benefit to my playing, this is something I will work on! and of course some more emotion I will post more vidoes soon

As for the decorations Chris, i think i could have learnt it in half the time without them, they always seem to take forever to get them something like also you are very correct about the nerves, this is my biggest challenge of all, playing in front of others is very difficult for me and is at a much lower standard than when I am alone, though i am sure this is the case for most amatuers, I do think that making the videos will be helping though as it does alsmost feel the same as having an audience.

Thanks Again

[dave brum]

Have you done any graded exams, Nathan?? Just as a matter of interest. Plus I gather from your other YT video of Feel My Love you're a singer too!

[nathan34]

I have done grades 1 - 5 theory but not any practical exams yet, i would like to at some stage work through them all though, my teacher doesnt seem over keen to go down the grades route at the moment, he is currently giving me peices from ABRS grades 6 - 8 at the moment.

I did wonder if anyone would notice my attempt at some vocal/piano - its the first bit of singing i have tried really, i do find it hard to do the two together.

I have included a link to my latest upload - I will think again before doing it on a Sunday night again - its left me rather bleary eyed today! I'm not a hundred pecrcent happy with it - think the tempo is a litte fast.

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

[dave brum]

Let's hear it for New York!

Look on it as putting your own stamp on Alicia's tune with regards to the tempo. Though I bet she doesn't release Youtube videos of her playing in her PJ's. 'The Pyjama Pianist'... I see a gimmick here!!!!

[Berni]

I have just done my grade 5 today Thursday and just as before with my grade 4 nerves got to me and there were errors throughout every section but I soldiered on.I scraped through my grade 4 in this way amazingly enough.I have taken advice from the forum about this and have played in public to help deal with this .The first time I did ok in public and thougjt ok maybe it id a stratergy that works.The second time was total meltdown though which makes me feel reluctant to do the same again in case it hapoens.The problem I find is because I am playing happily and calmly by myself at home, the effects the nerves take in turning all fingers to saussages and the music score and keyboard turning unfathomable in front of my eyes a bit daunting.I am well up for doing the grade5 again and pushing onwards.
I just wondered if any adult players out there have come up with any other stratergies
for dealing with a meltdown .
Mine are just to plough on.Trust that the examiner can see the difference between someonr who has been working and knows their pieces and someone who hasn't bothered.Focus on just enjoying playing Inspite of the nerves running riot.See it for what it is a snapshot in time.
Let me know what you do

[dave brum]

I would need cognative therapy and/or hypnosis before I did another piano exam - yes I've done them in the past. At least when you're a child you don't have these inhibitions, neither do you build your expectations before, during and awaiting the results. But it's good that you had a go and discovered a coping strategem for getting through them.

[lantran]

I could only dream of doing that with my piano and I've been trying on and off for 5 years

[lantran]

I could only dream of doing that with my piano and I've been trying on and off for 5 years

[Gill the Piano]

Read 'The Soprano Who Stood On Her Head' and 'The Inner Game of Music', both excellent books on performance anxiety and musicians.