Cool : I'll get to work on both the Bagatelles and the Concerto, and we'll work out a performance opportunity in 2010

We were saying in the pub that most of us have unmusical friends and it's usually a case of "nobody understands me!", however, yesterday, everyone knew exactly what everyone else was talking about, which is what makes it so great!

Concerto too? Excellent - I will order that now!! I look forward to bringing the world of Gerald Finzi to anyone who'll listen - so many of his works are immensely beautiful. And he had such a tragic life (for those of you who aren't familiar with him, he lost his teacher and his three brothers in WW1 - maybe it's just me, but I find the 2nd mvmt of his Clarinet Concerto is a haunting lament for things lost, possibly in the manner of the poetry of "Dulce et Decorum Est").

Yep, I'll get the Concerto looked at too . The 2nd movement is very good, agree...

Finzi was very kind to us clarinettists, and I really like his music...

Yes that is right Sol, it is so good to be around people that think the same and have the same passion for the piano. It is so wonderful how we can all come together and feel like we have known eachother for ever.

I really got a lot out of yesterday and I was so pleased that I managed to do my 6 page Beethoven Sonatina without too many slips. I have never before played anything more than 3 pages long so it was quite a feat for me. I also felt a lot better myself as the first session we did back in November I felt a complete loser.

So thanks guys for giving me the confidence and making me feel comfortable enough to give it a go. I reckon a few of these and who knows maybe I will be able to give another exam another shot. (Of course I may have to get some of Mini mo's beta blockers for that! lol.

All an anti climax after such a lovely day yesterday. I would liked it to have just kept on going lol

I think that nerves are definitely something that have to be tackled head on and conquered and this is a good way of doing it. The problem I find is that when I get nervous, I either begin to speed up to try to get to the end as quickly as possible (which usually results in crashing and burning), or I just end up trying to play the right notes, so phrasing and dynamics just go out the window.

I'll get on the phone again today to sort out the next one. I wish I'd had more time to practice stuff other than exam pieces beforehand - I'll give a bit of consideration in future with the dates, as having them at the same time people are doing exams could either be a blessing or a curse, depending on which way you look at it!

Have you started on any of the stuff yet out of the Jazz on a Winters Night? I was having a go through it last night and it is a really lovely book. Once you get used to the jazz idea of the carols, they are just lovely.

great : might be nice to have a mix of close-to and far away from exams Grand Gatherings to cover all bases.

"Silent Night" - I can play. I started on "Santa Claus" is coming to Town and have just got my head around those jazzy little phrases with the quaver rests and triplets. I'm hooked on the Chopin Op.28 No.20 and the Mozart K331 at the moment, though, I spent most of the evening last night going over those and a few of the Graupner sheets I got off the web!

Hello everyone. I am still buzzing by the way! Buzz buzz buzz!

This is a quickie as I have absolutely loads of work on and so will have to log out as to avoid temptation today. I'll try and reply to my Pm's this evening.

Missy Piano, can you send me your e-mail address, so I can send you what you wanted. It was lovely to meet you... I felt like I had known you for years! Also what is Raindrop also known as? I have it on my ipod but have so many Chopin pieces I cant remember which one it is!

As for the next date Sol, I may have to give a Jan date a miss as already commited to the St. Albans date and we all know Jan is a bad month for finances!

What time did everyone leave the pub? I felt very tired on Sunday. Funny as I came into work this morning and someone had a DOOM BAR drinks coaster!!!! DOOOOOMBAAAARRRRR!!!

I really enjoyed Saturday, both on a musical aspect and a social aspect too. You are all a great bunch of people.

Haha... I laughed! I don't remember what time we left the pub but the social part of it was great - I didn't expect such a big turnout for drinks

Hopefully you can make it next time! I wouldn't mind doing a duet at some future event, they look like quite a lot of fun

Easy to hit the notes. Hard to make it sound convincing. However, Nos: 8, 16, and 24 are the killers for anyone mad enough to want to learn the whole set. For something flashy and impressive, but actually rather easy take a look at No 22.

This is very good news! As you are now officially "into" Mozart, you should take a look at the sublimely beautiful Adagio variation from the last movement of K284 and the slow movement of K311 - then you will be hooked forever.

I often start my practice with that! It's really great for waking up sleeping-in teenagers

I'm trying to play it with relaxed hands, which is easier said than done! Definitely don't want a repeat of last time's aching thumb..

Mini_mo I've just pm'd you but forgot to mention the Prelude no. in it!! Raindrop is chopin's prelude Op. 28 no. 15.
Also here are the 2 youtube clips I mentioned at the restaurant:
Liszt - Un sospiro. I've never heard a better version than the one from Marc-Andre Hamelin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLHU2ES51uw...feature=related
I went to see him twice in concert. He shows no expression at all when playing but he plays sooooo beautifully!!!!

Liszt - La campanella played by Evgeny Kissin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpnM1ahqzdw

I bought both sheets of music when I started to play the piano!!
I'm hoping that in 40 years time I'll be able to start learning them and in 50 years time I'll come to a forum playday (with my zimmer frame ) and perform them!!!

[/quote]
Mini_mo I've just pm'd you but forgot to mention the Prelude no. in it!! Raindrop is chopin's prelude Op. 28 no. 15.
Also here are the 2 youtube clips I mentioned at the restaurant:
Liszt - Un sospiro. I've never heard a better version than the one from Marc-Andre Hamelin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLHU2ES51uw...feature=related
I went to see him twice in concert. He shows no expression at all when playing but he plays sooooo beautifully!!!!

Liszt - La campanella played by Evgeny Kissin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpnM1ahqzdw

I bought both sheets of music when I started to play the piano!!
I'm hoping that in 40 years time I'll be able to start learning them and in 50 years time I'll come to a forum playday (with my zimmer frame ) and perform them!!!
[/quote]


...and we'll all be there to listen how beautifully you play them

For those who haven't seen them, here is the link I promised for the IGUDESMAN & JOO website:

A Little Nightmare Nusic

WARNING: You will never look at music the same way again!

these two guys are brilliant!!

^Those guys are awesome!

Hum, learning new stuff today should be fun with a hangover...