Learn to play the piano (well)

I haven’t practiced much through the summer so far, but I’ve already signed up for next semester’s course. Lately, I’ve been trying to play a few songs that we didn’t have time to learn in the spring, but it’s been coming along slowly.

Goes to show how much a class can force me to schedule practice time…

Summer’s approaching, so the last piano class this semester is next week. I won’t be able to sign up for the fall semester until the end of the month, and I’m sort of wondering what I’m going to do in the meantime.

Breaks aren’t good for me and pianos. I need the direction to keep practicing pieces until I can play [very] well on my own talent. Otherwise, I don’t play many songs and practice increasingly dwindles.

Well, for our final, we were to take a piece of music and rearrange the sections to our liking. It was actually really fun, even though it’s not my favorite piece of music. I’m excited to hear everyone’s renditions, but pretty nervous to play my own.

Next semester, I think there are recitals – which is just out of my comprehension at this point. I can’t imagine having a recital; I’m nervous enough just playing in front of other classmates.

Anyway, the instructor caught me in the restroom (ew) and asked if I had music in my background because “you’re very good; there is something about your talent that seems very natural.” It was nice, since sometimes I feel like I’m not very good at anything.

I’m surprised how much I’m enjoying the piano – enough to think that giving lessons to kids would be fun. I’ll start with my niece some day…

My niece is 4 years old and walked into our home office with a mini piano toy – the ones with multicolored keys – actually playing each key up and down.

P said she should sing as she plays and be like Hannah Montana.

“But Moo doesn’t do that!”

I’ve been enjoying this recent piece we had to learn lately. I love jazz music, well – Billie Holiday / Coralie Clement jazz/blues, but never found the craving to play jazz piano. It just wasn’t my “style,” I guess. But this piece is really beautiful and even P said (as he danced around the kitchen), “I feel like I’m in a movie.”

So, I thought I would share Bit of Blues by Roger Grove if anyone cares for it. It’s a fairly easy piece, but I wouldn’t suggest using the pedal until the very, very, very end of practicing. It’s easy to get carried away with it and it ends up sounding awful. I actually don’t use the pedal, except for a few measures (especially #34 – #37 so that the chords blend nicely).

And, if you need any help or tips/tricks to learn the piece, feel free to ask.

By the way, join pianofiles.com and enjoy free sheet music from peers. You can find me here but I don’t have much up since most of my sheet music isn’t digitized yet.

Piano class, second year, will start in late February and I’m really excited. Except, the school’s system never works and I still don’t know what books I’m supposed to have.

With just one course to take this semester, I figure I’ll really be able to concentrate on practicing.

Mozart, here I come!

I’m debating whether to continue at the college, but it is the best deal for your money. Private lessons are a bit much right now…

I can definitely play, and I still love it. But, I’m going to consider “play well” as a more advanced level, and I’m not there yet. But, at least I still find the piano as a relaxing time.