Archives for posts with tag: classical music


Practice vs. play (stringent/joyful) ; some Haydn; Chopin Op. 25 no. 3 and op. 25 no. 5; making choices in op. 25 no. 6.
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Practicing in the holidays; hope for Chopin op. 25 no. 3; thoughts on venues and audiences; op. 25 no. 5 with holes; a plan for op. 25 no. 6; yet another edition of these etudes.

You can hear the singalong song I talk about here.

PIAS 45

 

 

Results of taking a break; putting my shoulders where they belong; progress in Chopin 25/5; run-throughs of 25/3 and 25/11, with some screaming; a vaguely contrapuntal improv.

Also, for those of you in DC thinking of coming to the show this Friday at 8, here’s info about my band, and here’s the venue, in Columbia Heights. I’d love to see you there!

PIAS 44

Chopin etudes 25/3 and 25/5 in (probably excruciating) detail; seeking the right tempo for the winter wind etude; a start on the harp etude (25/1).

PIAS 43

How getting angry helped the Winter Wind etude this week; 25/3 and 25/5 in progress; a short improv with lots of rests.

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Practicing in little bits, at tempo; why Chopin etudes are like yoga poses; memorized versions of most of 25/3, 25/5, and 25/11 (with some screaming); a slightly Halloweeny improvisation.

PIAS 41

Why I can’t practice without my phone; strategies for Chopin 25/3; most of the left hand, and the first page, of 25/11; plans for 25/5; quotes about Liszt (look at him!); some great ideas from this terrific jazz pianist, leading to a plan that will surprise no one; an attempt at the blues.

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Bits of a dozen etudes; some ruminating on art vs. craft, Apollo vs. Dionysus, and emoting vs. actually getting anything done. Plus an unapologetically (well, mostly unapologetic) cheezy improv.

PIAS 38

Just the thumbs version of 25/3 (and the whole thing, too); a report on my first time onstage in over a year and a half, including some thoughts on stage fright; an unfortunate side effect of motherhood; Scriabin’s prelude for left hand; most of 25/11, under tempo; 25/9 after an hour and a half’s practice.

Warning: I’ve been practicing in my office at work, so my home piano is desperately out of tune!

PIAS 36

Some nattering about work/life balance; 25/11 under tempo; a plan for 25/3; some improv.

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