Instrument Players - Come and chat (Part III)

[CoteDAzur]

We continue our musical journey on the 3rd thread for amateur adult instrument players

Here is our 1st thread and
here's the 2nd one.

"I watched a youtube video about basso continuo but the thought of learning a whole new notation system (and way of thinking about chords - seems to be all about the bass notes rather than naming the chords in the contemporary way?) was a bit overwhelming!"

Tell me about it. I'll have to start basso continuo lessons next year

Côte - congrats to your DC . I was having physio but covid interrupted it, must make an appointment but too busy at work until the end of July.

Our conservatoire only did actual exams for the pianists as far as I know. But at the regional conservatoire in Toulouse (where DS17 is applying for the cycle specialisé) they are holding back all the end-of-cycle students. I suspect that DS's teacher arranged the exam primarily so that he could put something concrete on his application (he has only had one year of formal lessons, but he is obviously already miles better than me).

Cote - Congrats to your DC - that's excellent news.

I get entirely the learning of new tabulature. I'm almost getting guitar notation now, but whenever I switch back to something in treble clef, it feels like heading home.

Hi everyone. Those of you going to music schools: Is there any word on whether your lessons will start soon?

No news here.

Now my youngest is at preschool, I’m planning to do the music theory course on the JustinGuitar site. My husband’s been at home all week recovering from an op though, so I haven’t had any ‘me time’ to get started.

Raider - I'm sure that you won't regret it I hope your husband recovers soon

I've been having normal piano lessons for a while now but it's just with a private teacher rather than at a music school. I hope your lessons can begin again soon.

The theory course sounds good Raider - it was only when I delved into theory properly that music started making sense to me. It greatly enhanced everything for me - playing from sheet music, playing by ear and improvising - and made it all more interesting too.

I've been really trying to focus on piano sight reading over the last few months. At the moment I'm putting into practice the mantra of "never look at your hands" that many people advise. I didn't realise quite how much I was looking at them until I concentrated on NOT doing it! Looking down and then back to the sheet does seem to waste time and makes it more likely I lose my place. And also I think relying on feel / distance is making me more aware in my mind of where my fingers are and shifting my focus to intervals, which is supposed to be important for sight reading. I'm trying to work on 'decoding' chords rather than having a panic response as well. After all, I know many chords - if I read a chord symbol I can play it spontaneously - but I can't yet decode the dots in the speed needed.

Anyone have wisdom to share on piano sight reading??

In the last month or so, I started sight-reading music that I know but never played - just a half hour or so, every day. I am amazed that I can actually do it with both hands, albeit slowly, without looking at my hands. It doesn't work as well if I don't know the melody already.

The answer to your question is practice, practice, and more practice, just like with reading books. In the beginning, we read slowly and made mistakes. Now we don't even think about it and don't even consciously read all the letters to read a word. That is how we will get better at sight reading, too.

I haven't mentioned this to my teacher and aim to surprise her with my newfound sight-reading powers when my lessons start again

That's great Cote! How very good to uncover a skill that's been honed without even realizing it. Yes it's definitely easier when I know the melody. I guess then maybe we effectively play the melody by ear and so have more brain space to work on the rest by sight?

In terms of practice, I think I need to actively practice not looking down - ie practice in a different way to how I was practicing before. For sight-reading that is...for playing by ear I look down and I think there it's helpful to see the shapes in order work out what to play. Although it's probably useful to try to do that just by feel and sound as well... I've started doing scales without looking as I think that might help too.

I thought I would find not looking down very difficult and also annoying, but actually it's very rewarding to realize that you do get the right notes a lot of the time - sort of plucked out by magic. I reckon a lot of the time when I look down I was actually just checking something that was right - so it wasted time and I also didn't get the confidence boost of hearing that I can get it right without checking by sight.

It's interesting that I don't feel the need to look at my hands when I'm sight reading a piece for the first time, except where there might be a big jump.

I'm just not very good at reading rhythm, though, and I think that's why I find it much easier to play a piece for the first time if I already know the melody

I have the sheet music for Bach's "Lute Suites" - actually the music he wrote for the Lautenwerke, the Life-Harpsichord. It took me over a year to find it and you wouldn't believe how much it cost if I told you

Over the past week or so, I've been going through it page by page, sight reading the music and playing it. I love it

These are two of the suites I'm referring to:

BWV 995

BWV 996

BWV 997 (I played this one but on another score and many years ago, so playing it all again now without fingerings feels like sight-reading)

I started learning to play the tuba last year but can’t practice atm cos I have nasal polyps and breathing through my nose puts strain on my chest. My cat and neighbours will be happy. It is a beast of an instrument and I’m quite small so have to sit up very straight when playing. I taught myself to play the Z Cars theme, so that’s a start.

That sounds fun. I bet your neighbours love you

One of my best friends at high school went from playing the trombone to the tuba. He was one of the smaller boys at school, so it was quite amusing watching him lug a tuba case around, but he could get plenty of volume out of it! (The tuba, not the case!)

I’m onto Grade 2 of Justin’s theory course and have asked my husband to buy me a lifetime subscription for the rest of the course as a Christmas present (I don’t think I’d get through it all with a 6 month sub).

I did a creepy cover for a Halloween themed forum comp if anyone can face listening to me sing - soundcloud.com/user-894927165/angie-baby-cover

Love your recording Raider - you've got a great voice!

Raider - I loved that! You have a lovely, dynamic voice.

I think the range of this song is a little too low for you. You are visibly more at least in the higher notes than the lower ones, and you can hardly sing the lowest note. I'm not criticising you - this is exactly how I am in this range.

Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it.

How is everyone getting on? Lovely singing Raider!

I sat down yesterday (and for a bit today) at the piano for the first time in months and played some Brahms Op 118 and felt very happy. I think I have to accept I'm never going to play much at the moment while preoccupied by work and a toddler but maybe in a few years...

Otherwise, I attended a very enjoyable string quartet weekend course around six weeks ago, but otherwise have played very little music since March.

My harpsichord lessons started again last week Not on Facebook but in person, for the first time since March!

I have been working for at least an hour every day. My current pieces are Bach's lute-harpsichord suite BWV 995, a , a , and I just started .

Having lessons in person again sounds lovely CoteDAzur and impressed by your work ethic! I shall have a listen to the links, I've heard very little harpsichord music.

Hi there looking to join. Just started learning to play guitar 🎸. Used to play piano years ago, and dabbled with other instruments in high school. Have really missed playing music 🎶. Eldest DS was given the guitar by his uncle but DS is more into woodwind and comes natural to him.

Learning online and have now got a few basic chords under my belt. Just need more practice changing chords😂

Not going to be a Richie Sambora any time soon, but really enjoy playing music after all these years. Great way to relax and switch off from the stresses of life. Especially in these current times.

Hi blowinahoolie, what type of guitar have you got (electric/acoustic/classical)?

The Justinguitar website has a good lesson on one minute chord changes where you try to change between 2 chords as many times as you can in one minute.

I haven’t done as much structured practice this year as I’d hoped, but picking up the guitar and playing a few favourite songs or just having a mindless noodle has saved my sanity many times! 👍

Thanks Raider, will give your recommendation of Justinguitar a go. It's just an acoustic guitar, nothing too fancy. I do like the idea of trying electric purely so I could use headphones and play any time of the day though!

I discovered tab music on YouTube but the worst thing was following the notes as the bars zoom past at a fast tempo...had to keep pausing the video to play along. If you have any suggestions for similar, that would be brilliant thank you

Really enjoying it, it's very relaxing just sitting there playing guitar. Discovered the website 8 Notes too.

Yes, definitely relaxing playing guitar, could play for ages but as a beginner I am limiting myself to 30 minutes per day, breaking up the sessions so it's not too much all at once.

Meant to say that with the tab music I was trying out Scooby Doo theme tune. Loads of fun and was quick to pick up the notes. It's what is encouraging me to keep going, as well as learning new chords.