A week of....

Chopin.

Celebrations in his native Poland.

200 years since he was born.

There is disagreement about his actual birth date.

So, they are holding a WEEK long performance.

It covers both the suspected dates.

Day and night you can hear his piano music.

Which has got me thinking.

Do you have an exam or performance soon?

How about a week of YOUR music?

Think of it, playing those pieces whenever you get the chance?

Maybe not the same ones all day AND night. Hz

Dynamics

p mf ff sf > pp

So many people just ignore them.

Maybe you do as well?

Varying degrees of loudness.

All the extras that give our music intensity and shape.

What helps our music make sense.

The interesting features.

Without them our music is likely to be dull.

Like reading aloud with no expression in your voice.

So come on, be dramatic and add the dynamics!

I'll hold onto the roof when it gets really loud. Hz

Sounds like

Curious about what you sound like?

You could record a piece you play well.

One of these will do -

a mobile phone, a computer, a video recorder,

an old Dictaphone or tape recorder.

Find someone to press the buttons for you.

Do a trial run first, then go for it.

Listen back with a sense of generosity.

Write the date on the recording and put it away.

Listen back in a year's time and see how you've progressed.

You might be surprised. And it might be fun. Hz

Polishing

I know it's only November, but the countdown has begun.

Lots of people are already planning for the end of year.

Rehearsals for festivities, celebrations and shows might have begun.

Far away relatives and Great Aunts might be coming to visit.

So, how about preparing a unique gift?

You could prepare some pieces to play, maybe with a friend?

Maybe for a gathering or event?

Choose a piece you enjoy playing.

Polish it into a thing of great beauty.

And you know what? They'll just love it.

Go on. Look through your music and find that lovely piece you've forgotten about. Hz

That playlist

Got a piece ready?

Great!

Now we need to keep it on the boil.

Remember to try it a couple of times a week, straight through.

Listen carefully to make sure you are making a good sound.

You might want to start a list in your notebook.

You might want to keep a playlist pile you can find easily.

But more important than that - find an opportunity to play it.

This could be to your teacher, a friend, someone in your family.

Start small and see how it goes.

Bet they love it. Hz

Playlist

How about another small aim?

Once you have finished a piece you like, how about adding it to a playlist?

What this means is that over time, you will develop a repertoire.

This is a good thing for all sorts of reasons, like.....

You could play to Aunt Bertha when she comes round for tea.

You could perform at the charity fundraiser.

You will have audition pieces ready to play for the band/orchestra/show.

You can have a jam with friends. (More about jamming in another post.)

So, choose a finished piece or 2 that you really like.

At the END of your practising session, have a play of it aiming for no blips.

This is what we are really aiming for. It's so good to play it all in the right order, but only when you can DO it. Hz