Hello all :-)

[sparkley]

Hello there everyone

I'm so sorry that I vanished from existence on these forums last year! I have missed you all and it is so lovely to come back and read all your messages!

My absence was due to a whole mixture of things: being extremely busy at work, moving in with my boyfriend and not having internet for ages, and most recently, applying for new jobs! I'm very unhappy in my job as a Research Scientist at the moment, so I've decided I want to become a Science Teacher. I have been working so hard getting work experience, applying for PGCEs etc, all whilst trying to fit my current job around this! It's been mad!

I moved in with my boyfriend back in December Its brilliant, we live in a barn in the middle of nowhere and have adopted a cat who lives with us! My piano has moved with me too I'm still having my piano lessons and making progress! It's been nearly a year since my first lesson now! I have just started learning the 1st movement of the Moonlight Sonata which is sooo exciting! Its quite difficult though and my hands are having to stretch like they've never stretched before!

Anyway, that was just a quick update! Dave and Anna, its so brilliant to come back and read your posts! I can't wait to catch up with you both and get posting again! I hope you can forgive me for disappearing for such a long time!

Sparkley xxxxx

[Moonlight]

YAY!

Hello Abi I missed you! wondered where you went, but now you explained it, it all makes sense.

Not that much has happened to me, I was STILL out of work but just only yesterday I have been offered a 2 month internship, with the possibly of fulltime employment after maybe. So I’m very very relived about that! I was getting very depressed about it .

As I had quite a lot of time on my hands my piano practice is doing well I’m doing grade 2 in July (teacher wants me to skip grade 1). I have a new teacher and I really like her, I didn’t get my first teacher and I don’t think she really liked teaching adults. I have gone a bit Chopin mad lately and have been learning some preludes and now a waltz in A minor Op poths.

I’m really happy you are learning the 1st movement of Moonlight sonata, it’s wonderful when it comes together. I managed to memorise 2 pages and a half (only had about 15 more bars to go!), but then stopped. I will need to relearn it some time. I think thouse big stretches will do you good, they hurt my hand a bit at first but now I don’t mind them.

I'm happy you are back

Hello Dave! thanks for texing me, I thought I knew who it might be!

[sparkley]

Helloooooo!!

thank you for the lovely replies! I can't believe you two met up in real life, how exciting!!

Dave, I have discussed exams with my teacher, but I'm not looking to take any just yet. Also, now that I'm starting my teaching course in September I might not have enough time for more exams!

Anna, well done on getting an internship!!!! That is FANTASTIC news!!! And well done for progressing so much on piano! Grade 2 in July, how exciting!!! Its so great that you are playing Chopin too, I've never played any as I thought all his stuff would be Grade 8+! What pieces by him have you played?

[Moonlight]

Welcome back Abi!! We've really missed you and in the time you've been away things have happened, notably that myself and Anna have met each other! (I have the photos so if Anna doesn't mind, I could send them 2u via email! - Pm me)

Hi Dave

Yes you can send the pics of me to Abi I don't mind. But I like to remain 'hanonymous' ( ) on here though! It would be fun if we could all meet up one day if nobody minds. The only people who whould mind would be the piano dealers! lol

[Moonlight]

Helloooooo!!

Anna, well done on getting an internship!!!! That is FANTASTIC news!!! And well done for progressing so much on piano! Grade 2 in July, how exciting!!! Its so great that you are playing Chopin too, I've never played any as I thought all his stuff would be Grade 8+! What pieces by him have you played?

HIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!

Thanks for your reply to!

Not all of Chopin's pieces are grade 8+ The balades are, and most of the etudes, concertos etc, and other hardcore stuf would be that level! But some of the preludes, and a waltz, would be ok for more advanced beginners. Some mazurkas, nocturnes, waltz, preludes, would be ok for Intermediate players. I have only played:

Prelude 4 in E minor - Op 28 ( never finshed it ), Prelude 20 in C minor - Op 28 , Prelude 7 in A major - Op 28 , Waltz in A minor Op -Poths. I think the version of this I'm learning from Pianist magazine has be made easier but its still very nice.

Other ( Intermediate ) ones that might be assessable latter would be:

Prelude 6 in B minor - Op 28 , Prelude 15 in Db major - Op 28 (Raindrop), Nocturne in C# minor Op Poths. Thats some I know of...So I can't see why you need to wait to be grade 8 to play his stuff, give it a go if you think your are up to it. The easiest I would say
( technically ) are the prelude in A major and the waltz I mentioned, they are good to start with.

[sparkley]

Aww thanks Anna, that's fab, I might ask my teacher about some of those.

Dave I'll pm you my email address!

I had the best news this morning. I'd already applied and been accepted on a PGCE course in September, but I also applied to do a GTP (Graduate Teacher Programme) where you do a years course working in a school and train up to be a teacher whilst getting paid. I applied to it back in March, not expecting to be sucessful as its really competitive, but I got invited for an interview and finally this morning they have got back to me and offered me a place. WOOHOOO!!!! I am SO excited!!! I'm going to be a Biology teacher, yay! Its just the best news ever as I'm really hating my job at the moment. I start at the beginning of September so I can't wait to hand in my notice at my current job and say 'farewell'!

[sparkley]

Abi hope you got the photos okay, I mailed them to you last night. Excuse for a party I think, I finished chopping up all the rubbish and nicotine stained outdated furniture the previous occupants of this house left us with, so the patio will be nice and clear when the binmen come! Handcream for me tonight I don't want Britney (not my new teachers' real name) to think I don't look after them!

Hi Dave and Anna

I got the photos thank you!! Anna your piano is very similar to mine I have the CLP340 but I'm very jealous as it looks like you have the next one up with the nice extra legs on the front!!! Hehe The shop that you two are in looks amazing!! I have heard of it, but never visited. I think I may have to now. When you are bored do you ever browse the internet for your 'dream piano'...or is that just me?!! Hehe!

I need to go do some piano practice, I haven't been doing much recently Then I'm going to make some fairy cakes as we have eggs that need using up! Dave I'm the same with my hands, I often worry that they look nasty when I'm at a piano lesson!!! I'll never go to a lesson with old chipping nail varnish on and always have to remove it beforehand!!!!