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Does anyone fancy a piano chat thread?

878 replies

LemonViolet · 28/07/2021 23:01

I’m awaiting delivery of a new piano, squeee!!! I haven’t played regularly for 20 years. I got to grade 6 as a teen, failed grade 7, carried on tinkering for a bit but have not really lived anywhere with a piano since age 18 so am well out of practice.

Whilst I hope/plan to put a baby grand in our front room, once it is done up - which may be some time - at the weekend I just realised, what am I waiting for, I want a digital anyways for playing at less sociable hours, so went ahead and ordered myself a nice Kawai digital and it arrives on Friday!!!

There’s a music chat thread on the extracurricular board but that’s more parents discussing their offsprings’ exploits, I have seen on the music board it’s quite pianissimo but there clearly are other grown up women around here playing/learning/relearning piano for our own pleasure, entertainment, therapy etc! So thought I’d post to see if anyone else is interested in hanging out on a piano thread to chat about our piano journeys, successes and failures, pieces we like, what we’re practicing etc?

It could be called the piano bar or the pianist beaker, seeing as this is MN

If there is one I’ve just failed to find, please point me in that direction.

OP posts:
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absolutelynotfabulous · 27/11/2021 13:32

@MatildaTheCat: what about Eb Major Nocturne (Chopin again). That's lovely and must be around 6/7?

LemonViolet · 27/11/2021 13:33

Lemon Violet - how long did it take you to get back up to playing G5/6 pieces?
A few months really, I was up to grade 6/7 at my “best” as a teen (failed grade 7). I started on grade 3/4 stuff this time but have settled at grade 5 being the level of pieces I am choosing to learn/work on, some grade 6(+) stuff that is re-learning/familiar or just so lovely that it’s not too “hard” to learn cos it’s nice to play.

Daphne wow go you doing a music festival!!! I wouldn’t have the nerve now. Must be exciting looking forward to finchcocks as well. What’s the theme of this weekend?

OP posts:
absolutelynotfabulous · 27/11/2021 13:35

Just rejoining thread for shamesake.Blush.

Just having a bash as Nikki Iles' Christmas carols.

Love a bit of Rutter, especially around this time of year. Gin.

As a matter of interest, can I ask please how much how much you listen to a piece before playing it?

I can't seem to really get going on a piece until I've internalised the sound of it. Am I weird,?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Knittingnanny · 27/11/2021 15:36

The Christmas Rutter book is lovely. I’d say about grade5/6

Knittingnanny · 27/11/2021 15:39

I’ve started listening to YouTube for new pieces. Something my teenage 1970’s self would have loved to be able to do. Mainly to give me an idea of whether I could tackle it or not! I’m finding grade 7 ish Chopin so hard but other grade 7 pieces in old exam books not so I suppose we all have preferred styles.

jamfirstcreamsecond · 27/11/2021 16:29

I love this thread and reading all your stories. I've always wished I could play something, anything really, on the piano and decided to do something about that.
Bought a very cheap keyboard just to tinker with and getting to grips with various chords.
I'm coming from a complete beginner position so nowhere near any of the grades mentioned on here.
Still loving it even though it probably sounds terrible!

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 08/12/2021 22:22

@absolutelynotfabulous how are you getting on with Nikki Iles ? I've got silent night down, pretty ok on the Christmas Song if I go slow but my poor classically trained brain is boggling on all cylinders fir Santa Claus is coming to Town 😂. I can manage page one.... but I bloody love it

absolutelynotfabulous · 09/12/2021 19:31

@DaphneDeloresMoorhead thanks for reminding me to practise. I'm doing Winter Wonderland. I like the Silent Night adaptation as a jazz waltz.

I think the trouble with Iles is that she makes everything sound so effortly easy. She has such a light touch. I sound like a baby elephant - I'm always tempted to pedal too enthusiastically.

Jazz is very difficult to read when notated to be fair. I listen a lot to embed the sound first before even considering playing anything. Unfortunately I've mislaid the cd of that Iles volume...

I like Santa Claus is coming To Town too. Only a couple of weeks left to polish up. Xmas Grin

absolutelynotfabulous · 09/12/2021 19:34

Agree with the tinkling Steinway in a 5 star hotel.

I have visions of myself in a lbd with a Sobranie in a holder looking all elegant and tinkling away at that light jazzy sort of stuff.

Ain't happen in'Xmas Grin

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 09/12/2021 20:22

There are some reasonable versions on YouTube worth checking out

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 09/12/2021 20:24

Oh and I forgot

THIS TIME TOMORROW ILL BE AT FINCHCOCKS !!!

absolutelynotfabulous · 10/12/2021 08:45

Let us all know all about Finchcocks. Looks fab on the website. EnjoyWine

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 10/12/2021 09:36

@absolutelynotfabulous I've been before, it is utterly fabulous. I can't wait, I'm taking some Chopin preludes & nocturnes;, Nikki iles and Christopher Norton microjazz Christmas material and some Clementi. Plus burgmuller I use to warm up

absolutelynotfabulous · 10/12/2021 09:41

Christopher Norton Christmas? Xmas Smile

absolutelynotfabulous · 10/12/2021 10:36

I've only gone and ordered b*dy Christopher Norton Christmas Microjazz. Xmas Shock

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 10/12/2021 11:49

Sorry not sorry 😆

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 10/12/2021 11:56

Some pics from last time. I stayed in Kilndown; this time I'm in Goudhurst - I'll be sure to post some pictures

Does anyone fancy a piano chat thread?
Does anyone fancy a piano chat thread?
Does anyone fancy a piano chat thread?
Mrsorganmorgan · 10/12/2021 12:29

I have a John Broadwood baby grand, whih I can't play anymore because I have arthritic hands. The piano has a Harrods label on it.

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 10/12/2021 23:33

Perfect Finchcocks evening !

Dinner
Seared scallops with curry emulsion and leeks
Rump of lamb with Boulangere potatoes
Vanilla pannacotta with raspberries and crispy cereal

Wine flowing, very convivial company and lots of music chat. Very interesting group including a Russian lady who lectures on Russian music. Can't wait for tomorrow

Does anyone fancy a piano chat thread?
LemonViolet · 11/12/2021 05:59

Oh have a fabulous weekend!!!!

I’m heading to visit my parents today, staying overnight. Taking some music with me to take advantage of their piano whilst there! I missed playing during our holiday last week, especially as I had planned on using the downtime to work through some theory workbooks but they weren’t delivered in time to take with me Angry. It made me think that perhaps holiday cottages with beautiful baby grand pianos in them should be a thing! Although the combination of piano for guest use and dog friendly would probably be difficult to find I guess.

OP posts:
DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 12/12/2021 22:40

Well girls I had a superb weekend, I can MASSIVELY recommend David Hall, he's a fantastic tutor and really hot on theory, with some great exercises. He's also a really fantastic jazz pianist and helped unpick the Nikki Iles a bit for me. But phew it's sooo tricky.

Food and company was excellent and the course host, Helen Dacey, was delightful. She is a soprano opera singer and we were treated to a wonderful concert on the Saturday evening.

Can't wait for the next course in may

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 12/12/2021 23:17

Oh and oh my holy moly, he played Pink Minor from the current grade 7 syllabus - sightread it no less

It was so incredibly cool and lovely I think a bit of me died and went to heaven. This YouTube version is a bit wooden and doesn't really do it full justice but even so, you get the flavour

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 12/12/2021 23:22

Oh this is miles better. FF to 2.12 unless you would like to listen to this very elegant pianist talking about the piece in Chinese....

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 12/12/2021 23:31

God imagine being her. She's called Cheng Wai, her talent is incredible 😲. I mean I know she must work so hard but even so, I think i could play all day every day for 10 years and still not be as good.

While I'm here I'd like to also mention another young female concert pianist called Tiffany Poon that I follow - she recently did a YouTube series on the works of Clara Schumann