I was overheard today when picking my son up from pre-school saying that I'd been playing piano with Oldnotes and had a lovely morning. This lady (who's Russian) asked if she'd heard me say I played piano. Not knowing what was coming I said yes I played a bit but was really a clarinettist. She then told me she was a pianist and invited me round to her house sometime.

Sounded a great idea I said yes.

Tonight I've found out that she's a concert pianist, graduated from Conservertoire etc. She's suggested we put on a concert in our village. I feel it's a little ambitious and admit to being a little overawed by the whole experience. But also quite like the idea if I'm honest.

I have to admit that I'm unsure what exactly a conservertoire is. Heard them talked about but not really familiar with the term. But I guess it means she's really really really good!!!


I wouldn't dare touch the piano with her but she may accompany me on clarinet do you think? She mentioned including my "friend" - that's you Oldnotes Doing 4 hands etc.

So.... Would this be doable? or a bit ambitious? Opinions please.

Oh wow! Let me know when the concert is and I'll try and get to it!

Go for it! If it isn't fun you don't have to try it again but I bet that it will be great playing alongside a better player. She will inspire you to even better things. Do it!

Ooooo. Can I come?

Please please do a video recording. I can't turn up (airfares aren't cheap ), but I would SO VERY MUCH want to listen to you!!!!

How exciting. You don't have to play something that is too hard for you. Just play something you can do and do it beautifully.
What a lovely opportunity.
Bev

I'm amazed by all these positive comments. I honestly thought it would be a little ambitious. I haven't even played with her yet! I don't think it'll be the immediate future if anything does come off but I think she was talking about in our village hall. I really don't think I'm up for a piano debut - Alongside a CONCERT pianist!!! But I'd LOVE to perform again on my clarinet.

You've filled me with optimism. I will follow this up and keep you posted!!!

Flossie: Maybe you could PLAY!!!! ? (Not sure what form this concert would take yet - if it comes off at all....)
have any Flute/clarinet/piano pieces????

Go for it Dawn, I would, you can only get pleasure from it and also you may learn from her experience.

ET

Sounds exciting! I have played a duet with an ex-concert pianist - ok, so he's my teacher and it was during a lesson - does that count?

Wow, what a great oppurtunity! Definately do it, you'll get so much out of it! Don't be worried about playing with a concert pianist, she is only another person like you are!
I can see why you're slightly nervous about playing with a concert pianist, my teacher is A Concert Pianist and I was really nervous before the first lesson, but she is such a lovely person, and really supportive, and she is really inspiring.

Good luck, have fun!

Jacob.

I wonder if she's got a fantastic piano at home, and hopefully you'll get to play it when you go round to her house!

I know it must seem a bit daunting, but she knows you're not a concert pianist so she won't be expecting you to play like one. Look forward to hearing the next instalment!

I thought this too. If she has a fantastic piano it'll seduce me into playing it!!!! I need to find a lovely piece i can play right through, that's not too difficult, and practise it up a bit before I play though. I have a couple of lovely grade 5 pieces that I could pretty much play a while back so with a bit of practise I might not be too embarrassed about playing these for her. Think there's a bagatelle, a piece called drifting and a piece called Am Abend to name but a few. I hope she won't mind playing to accompany my clarinet playing too though - THAT's my comfort zone.

If anything happens I'll post again. The difficulty will be fitting a practice round our chidren. She has a baby too. Her son's about the same age as mine though so they could play. Not the same as a child free practise though is it? Evenings may be possible or may be out due to sleeping children. We'll see.

I wonder if she is the same Russian lady concert pianist I heard give a recital at my old uni a few years ago? She did the Davidsbundlertanz (among other things) Can't remember her name, though, and even if I could, I probably couldn't spell it.

I think she's a farmer's wife? That can't be too many people answering that description in this part of the world!

Lucky you - have fun.

Would be fun as I don't get to play with an accompaniest very often.

Not sure I'd be good enough though - especially when you've got all those 14 and 15 year old players around with grade 8 and diplomas and stuff.

Maybe we should just be adults only then?

As I said, not exactly sure what she had in mind anyway. Could be good to have her perform, some duets (not necessarily with me though - unless very easy!!!) And some other soloists perform with accompaniment and maybe even some small scale ensemble thing... (Maybe I'm dreaming.... Still need to discuss all this with her again. Perhaps i should invite myself round for coffee and a chat )

Well we have a time and date set for a week today (when the kids are in preschool). I've clarified with her that I'm not really a pianist and that I'm really a clarinettist. She sounded impressed that I've taken up piano as well. I told her I'd only done easy duets with Oldnotes and mentioned 1 by name. She said she could play for me to do clarinet. She said bring whatever I want and she'll be able to just play it (Feel the need for a WOW !! smilie but there isn't one) She said she'd not really worked out the concert idea, just thinking as she went but maybe we should just have a go for pleasure first. She said I'd inspired her and she was glad she'd met me!!! (Couldn't believe that!!!!) I'm under the impression that she was previously in Durham and even had some pupils there. But since moving here has not found the opportunites to play/perform.

I'm looking forward to it (if a little bit nervously)

How exciting! If you do have a concert, I'd like to go!

I'm glad the duets with Oldnotes went well - I better it all went much better than mine...

I'm sure it will be wonderful. As you probably know, it is much easier to play with someone better than you (as long as they are not condescending about your playing and it doesn't sound like she will be).

As I didn't hear yours I don't honestly know. We've had about three attempts now and this week was the first time we got trout almost perfect so it's not all fantastic but I believe it will do me a lot of good if I can do it.

The clarinet/piano stuff was much better. That's my area really.

Just had a phone call from my pianist friend (yes she is becoming that) and we've arranged after a couple of abborted attempts due to ill health and other reasons to get together this afternoon - her on piano and me on clarinet. + hopefully = (beautiful music)

Weeeeellll.....

I really enjoyed it She's a really great pianist and her sense of timing and rhythm is impeccable!!! (Something mine's not I'm afraid )

We did the Mozart concerto. Starting with the Adagio which i think we made a good job of especially as we hadn't played together before.

Then we started to look at the Allegro - which we took down tempo by quite a large notch to start off with. However, I was truggling a little at such a slow speed -my instict wanted to keep pushing it and also breathing was awkward when playing so slowly. She was concerned about me managing the quicker bits but we increased the speed to not much below normal performance tempo (I think) and it seemed to go much better. It was amazing how many of the semiquaver runs and chordal/arpeggio just flowed off the fingers!!! To say I've not played this at anything like speed all the way through since I was 18 and i don't think I've ever played this movement with an accompaniest I thought I did rather well It was a rehearsal rather than a performance in the sense that we stopped, started, reran bits and slowed bits down the speeded them up etc but it was great fun!!! And it was amazing what difference having a very competent pianist accompanying me (but in a sense leading me too) made.

It was really great fun!!! I guess we'll be doing it again too as she asked to borrow the music to check a couple of bits. I've a few bits to work on too. The lessons are helping too as I spotted a few places where alternative fingerings helped too.

It sounds like a wonderful afternoon of music-making! I'm so pleased you've at last played together and hope you'll be lucky enough to do so on a regular basis.

Nice one! I'm so jealous! Was the piano gorgeous?

You know it was actually really normal! - nice but normal. she doesn't have a huge house or anything so it's not a baby grand or anything. It's an upright - "Knight" ???? means nothing to me as I'm not up on my pianos. I didn't play it today. we just did the Mozart with me playing clarinet.

My teacher (also a concert pianist) said she used to own a Knight piano while living in Pakistan, and told me she loved it, and wishes she didn't leave it behind. She has a Steinway model D concert grand now, so I don't think she misses it that much compared with her beautiful current piano!

I've not played a Knight piano, but they are apparently quite good, definately have a play if she offers!

Hope you continue to enjoy your playing with your new friend!

Jacob.

That sounds wonderful - fingers crossed that it'll be a long partnership!

Thankyou well wishers

I'm glad you enjoyed it

It sounds like you had a lovely time, hope you'll do a concert one day, I'd love to come and listen!