10/1, some improv, and the start of 10/2; 10/8, 10/9 and 10/12 with some yelling; getting closer with 10/10 and 10/11.
Archives for category: Chopin
In which: A Brahms tangent; Clara moments defined; a lesson with Chopin in 10/8; a before version of 10/12; lazy memorization all the way around, especially in 10/10 and 10/11.
Recorded April 9, 2011
In which:
A report on an informal house concert; why it’s hard to practice on vacation; last 10/7 before it goes on the shelf for a few weeks; early days in 10/11; the scariest measure in 10/10; beginning 10/8, and finding it strangely familiar.
Recorded March 19, 2011
In which:
Part of a “before” version of 10/10, including a momentary foray into theory geekdom; a slightly improved version of 10/11; just the sixteenths of 10/2; the danger in 25/12; a new strategy for 10/7; a quote from Schumann; why I find these etudes so challenging; cheating on Chopin with Mozart and Haydn.
Recorded March 5, 2011
In which:
The last 10/4 for a while; some good practice ideas for 10/2, and a realization about one reason I’ve been having trouble with it; finding out how well the Cortot exercise worked for 10/7; strange melodies in 25/12; some thoughts about memory and plateaus, which reminded me of a podcast I love; a reminder that the perfect is the enemy of the good.
Recorded February 26, 2011
In which:
A failed version of 10/2 (and some thoughts about why); newly discovered notes in 25/12; a new strategy for 10/7; 10/4 as a rhythm meta-etude; a painfully slow before version of 10/11; and a thought about balancing days.
Recorded February 19, 2011
In which:
A lengthy quote about George Sand from Proust; getting irritated with jazzy skeletons; a play-through of 10/1 before letting it rest for a while; a thought about 25/12 from this podcast; a memorized skeleton of 10/7; a play-through of 10/4; a partial play-through of 10/2; starting 10/11; and a plan for the spring.
Recorded Sunday, 13. February, 2011
In which:
Trying to make practice more like play; spots I love; partial jazzy versions of 10/4, 10/2 and 1/7; the measure I still hate the most in 10/1; clave-ish rhythms in 25/12; dreaming of cake.
Recorded February 7, 2011
N.B. Please comment below if you have trouble with sound quality, volume, etc; I’m hoping to do an iTunes launch in the next few weeks, and I’d like to have all the bugs ironed out. Other feedback is very welcome, too! Thanks.
In which:
The tricky parts of 10/2 and 10/4 in (possibly) excruciating detail; still muddling through 10/1 and 10/7; a before version of 25/12; a little tangent on Bach; a cheerful assignment.
Recorded January 30, 2011
In which:
Some ruminations about the last couple of weeks (which, frankly, have not been conducive to practicing) and the big picture; trying for bite-sized goals; assigned shopping lists; crash-throughs of 10/1 and 10/4; a truly dreadful pun.
Recorded Sunday, January 23, 2011
N.B. Please bear with, and accept my apologies for, the sound on this one; it sounds like a scratchy LP in places. I’ll take my gear (some of which is new) into the experts this week and try to figure out what’s wrong.
Play It Again Swig 