I am playing La Joyeuse (Jean Philippe Rameau) out of Classics to Moderns 5.

Steamboat Rag (Martha Mier) from Jazz Rags and Blues

Both of these books were recommended from this site back in March, I looked at them then and put them away, brought them out a couple of weeks ago and found that I could tackle them.

Really getting up to speed now with Steamboat Rag, such a change to do something jazzy!

I am also working on a duet "The Trout" by Schubert, for Pro corda when I meet up with another forum member here and we will tackle it together, I am working on the treble clef part.

I have touched on Mozart sonata in C major KV 545, my teacher wants us to make this a project.

And I am working on my Grade 5 pieces, Allegro con affetto, Von Fremden Landern und Menschen,and Staccato Beans.

Although still practising the exam pieces, I have kind of put them on hold for a bit whilst I have a bit of fun.

When I am at Pro Corda I hope to be able to get a chance to have a go at improvising, last year I was too nervous to get up and have a go, this year I hope that I wont be.

There are other pieces that I also play around with, I like to have a go at everything and anything, I am lucky that I have good sight reading, but then I think that is because I have never been frightened to pick up something new and have a go at it.

ET

My Lady's Garland from the Diller Quayle Book 3. I never mastered it when I had lessons years ago, but now it's coming together!

awfully, at the moment, through lack of time to practice

*is none the wiser*

Sounds sort of like when you accidentally hit the edge of the adjacent key before fully depressing the one you want, hence a "flub" sound...?

I wouldn't know - I never do that...

(kidding! )

I think I know the answer to this, but could you detail exactly what you consider to be the cause (or causes) of a 'harsh tone'? Thanks.

Pray tell.....earth to MadTom!

You mean you do, but pretend it didn't happen, hence the audience are none the wiser?

True professional!

Not much at the minute, I've recently started 6th form, and i'm finding it hard to fit in practise amongst the tonnes of homework!

Clair de lune- Performing this in 2 weeks at a competition! I played it for my A level music class this morning and it went well, so I'm hoping I'll do ok!

Rachmaninov Prelude in C# minor- I've already performed this, but i'm playing it again tomorow, but have been going over it- There's always more room to improve!

Bach Prelude and Fugue in F Minor- I'm struggling with this, the Fugue is scary!

Brahms Rhapsody in G minor

Brahms Intermezzo in B minor

Dvorak Slavonic Dance no.4, Lower part

Dvorak Slavonic Dance no.5, Upper part

Hornpipe.....Purcell.

On piano?

Clair de Lune wihch I have to play for our practice GCSE performance to the class. Still practising it!!

My teacher has also got me doing some harmony work using my hymnbook, and I'm starting to learn some Haydn sonatas.

After I successfully managed a Burgmuller study performance in public without too many mistakes I'm playing around with some of the others in the 25 easy (HA!) and progressive studies book.

Doing Jack in A Juke Box from the Jazzin about book which I'm really enjoying.
Trying desperately to get my head aroung Bach's 2 part invention number 4. It will not beat me

Other than that I'm refining my Grade 3 pieces.

I've tentatively dipped my toe in on one of the Grade 4 pieces too. On the Swing from the Cool Piano Book Much to my amazement like ET I bought the book about 6 months ago, put it away almost straight away after attempting a few bars. Picked it up again a couple of weeks ago and found I could tackle the piece slowly. Yay I must be improving

Lois

I started learning the Rondo Alla Turca the other day. It's far to hard!

I'm also thinking about starting to look at grade 8 stuff soon!

Following Dyrham, I've been inspeired by Frederic Chopin, and am working through the ABRSM Easier Piano Pieces No 39 (Chopin introductory) album.

My teacher is going to buy me a collection of Mozart sonatas, and he wants me to try the A major one.

Yes, it was on the ABRSM grade 3 syllabus a couple of books ago.

Please view Mitsuko Uchida plays 545 2nd mvt here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQpsL_kh6pE

Not sure if this will upset people here, but I really don't like Mitsuko Uchida's recordings (the ones I've heard/bought).

I bought some CDs which feature her playing, and really didn't like her Mozart 20th piano concerto at all. I like Ronald Brautigam's performances much better

As a side note, I can't watch her videos on youtube and take them seriously, as her facial expression suggests she's doing a number 2 through most of it...

What makes it really hard was in my lesson the other day, the teacher was demonstrating how it should sound and said (while playing effortlessly) 'It's not as hard as it looks really. The left hand hardly does anything at all.'

Oh well, I supposed it will come with practise.

Good luck... I personally will be spending probably the whole of half term practising it (and the rest of the sonata!!) and it will still be molto adagio!

My list of pieces is expanding rapidly! Absolutely loving it, and I'm feeling much healthier too as I'm spending more time practicing rather than down the pub!

Added:

First 4 Burgmuller Op.100 Studies (can play these all the way through to an reasonable standard now)
Alan Haughton - Stephanie's Song (for Gr.4)
Schubert - Moments Musicaux #3 (in progress)
Schumann - Frohlicher Landmann (about to start)

I absolutely love the Burgmuller Book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something different around Grade 2-4 Thanks to the piano repertoire thread in Teachers for that one!

Haydn XVI/52, or 'the big Eb' to give it another name. I actually prefer XVI/45 but it is Mozartian in character and I need something Beethovenian to balance my programme (apparently) - just not Beethoven 'cos I can't make the stretches required in most of it.

No one seems to have recorded no.45 and I don't know why; the only probable recording means buying a complete works by someone or other (Schiff?) at some hefty sum that I would rather not lay out.

Never mind - they're both gorgeous.

Just a couple of new ones at the moment

Openness (first one in the Burgmuller op 100)
Kabalevsky Night on the river.

My new piano teacher is trying to get some technique problems sorted that my old teacher didn't notice or ignored (lack of left hand strength being a biggie!) So spending some time on a few easier pieces

I wonder if you will find the 3rd Op.100 piece as "interesting" in the LH as I did at first!

hmm, might get some glue and stick those pages together.....surely he won't notice

LOL! Don't, it's a great piece, but when you try to play those semiquavers in the LH at the same speed as the right, it might fall to pieces! (it's the "Arabesque" by the way - I think the 3rd one, I'm not at home to check).

Ah, no it's the second. have tried the first four bars with some success then get scared! oh well, something to ...er look forward too!!

Okeydokey, in that case, the Pastorale is really nice too, look forward to that one!

Aw no, feels like the challenge has been set now lol! going to have to give it a serious go! like you, it'll keep me out of the pub, I think the landlord has started to put up missing person's posters

LOL, when you play the piano, does it feel like you're cheating on a loved one?

The landlord is probably sobbing into a hanky!

[quote name='Juniper' date='Oct 13 2009, 12:55 PM' post='883785']
Just a couple of new ones at the moment

Openness (first one in the Burgmuller op 100)

I remember that one! It's lovely.

The book is great, I think I have played pretty much all of them.

My favourites were :-

The Clear Stream
Restlessness
Barcarolle
Tarantella

ET

Latest piece I've started learning is JSB's Minuet in G minor.
Never heard it before, but even through my stuttering starts, I can hear something beautiful forming.

Just starting:

"Among the poppies" Eric Coales
"Moonshine lullaby" from Annie get your gun

It's a much nicer piece than the G major one IMO.

[quote name='Solari' date='Oct 13 2009, 01:39 PM' post='883806']
[quote name='Juniper' post='883798' date='Oct 13 2009, 01:24 PM']
Aw no, feels like the challenge has been set now lol! going to have to give it a serious go! like you, it'll keep me out of the pub, I think the landlord has started to put up missing person's posters
[/quote]

LOL, when you play the piano, does it feel like you're cheating on a loved one?

The landlord is probably sobbing into a hanky!
[/quote]

I tend to find I feel like I'm cheating on the pieno if I go to the pub. I find myself "practising" on the bar

[quote name='eldatom' date='Oct 13 2009, 02:18 PM' post='883824']
[quote name='Juniper' date='Oct 13 2009, 12:55 PM' post='883785']
Just a couple of new ones at the moment

Openness (first one in the Burgmuller op 100)

I remember that one! It's lovely.

The book is great, I think I have played pretty much all of them.

My favourites were :-

The Clear Stream
Restlessness
Barcarolle
Tarantella

ET
[/quote]

I only got the book last week but have had a look and they do look great perfect for improving technique I think. Not sure about Tarantella, the thought of spiders may put me off

Agreed. Although I find myself drawn to pieces in minor keys. Not sure if this is a good thing, or what it says about my mental state.

Me too Especially C#m and Fm

Mel, you can get recordings of most of the later Haydn Sonatas on Naxos label for a fiver each CD, played by Jeno Jando.
No 45 (from memory its in E Flat like no 52) is certainly on one of them and you dont need to get the whole set.
I bought mine in three or four 'goes'. I'm not at home for a couple of days so cant give you the exact catalogue number. Try Naxos Website.
No 52 is a class above all the others, and I agree Beethovenian.

[quote name='Juniper' date='Oct 13 2009, 03:38 PM' post='883847']
[quote name='Solari' date='Oct 13 2009, 01:39 PM' post='883806']
[quote name='Juniper' post='883798' date='Oct 13 2009, 01:24 PM']
My favourites were :-

The Clear Stream
Restlessness
Barcarolle
Tarantella

ET
[/quote]

I only got the book last week but have had a look and they do look great perfect for improving technique I think. Not sure about Tarantella, the thought of spiders may put me off
[/quote]

don't think of them! I have the worse phobia ever and never thought about it other than as a dance when I learnt it.

You need one more [/quote] underneath the last one, Eldatom

Er, aren't Tarantella and Tarantula completely different things?

[quote name='Solari' date='Oct 13 2009, 05:29 PM' post='883893']
You need one more [/quote] underneath the last one, Eldatom

Er, aren't Tarantella and Tarantula completely different things?
[/quote]

I read somewhere (think it was one of the Schaum books) that it was used for warding off spiders or some such thing. must remember to look tomorrow

[quote name='Juniper' date='Oct 13 2009, 06:03 PM' post='883903']
[quote name='Solari' date='Oct 13 2009, 05:29 PM' post='883893']
You need one more [/quote] underneath the last one, Eldatom

Er, aren't Tarantella and Tarantula completely different things?
[/quote]

I read somewhere (think it was one of the Schaum books) that it was used for warding off spiders or some such thing. must remember to look tomorrow
[/quote]

Yep you are right, it was a dance that they played after someone had been bitten by the spider. I have the proper explanation in a very early learner piano piece, where a boy had been bitten.

It's a lovely piece though, not easy, I think it was a grade 5 about 3 years ago.

[/quote=juniper]
I read somewhere (think it was one of the Schaum books) that it was used for warding off spiders or some such thing. must remember to look tomorrow
[/quote]



yes that's it I knew spiders had something to do with it
Maybe one day I'll be good enough to do the piece justice

Haha I think it's towards the back of the book? My teacher seems happy for me to work my way through the lot so I'll get there soon-ish I think!

"Progressive" is the right word for that book going by a quick visual skip through!

It is quite near the end, Knight Errant is the last, must get it out and see if I can do that one now, that one got me beat!

It's a lovely book, maybe I will bring it with me on the 24th, I haven't looked at it for quite a few months.

A friend of mine has recently got it and we have had quite a few discussions about the different pieces in there.

My son had taken the book in his room as he loves "Sighing"

ET

Doesn't it contain "The Swallow"? a grade 5 alternative. my friend's been playing that recently.
(dreams) maybe one day!

I'm trying to figure out how you have so few posts, as you strike me as quite a prominent person on here, Juniper!

Maybe it's just that your name is the same as something I work on!

I think maybe it's because I float around many of the rooms and add as I feel I can. I read much more than I write as thare are far more knowledgable people here but pick up loads of tips