Archives for posts with tag: Etudes

Chopin 25/6 goes on the shelf; a weird practice week; the key to 10/6 (maybe); adding a new etude.

PIAS 54

A complicated week; making practice feel like the stage and vice versa (and a reference to this book); a rough attempt at  Chopin 25/6; simplifying 25/4 and 25/9; 25/8’s inconceivable tempo.

PIAS 52

A small triumphant moment that proves these etudes are making me a better player; a resolution kept; grinding it out in 25/6, including a really nerdy plan; the state of 25/8, the danger of practicing 25/4 and 25/9 together.

Also, if you’re near the California Central Coast the weekend of February 12th, come hear me and say hello!

PIAS 51

Report on New Year’s Resolutions; attempts at Chopin etudes 10/12, 25/1, 25/5, and a before version of 25/6 (with some yelling).

PIAS 49

New Year’s Resolutions; a sloppy version of the Revolutionary etude; taking stock, with the first few measures of all the Chopin etudes I’ve worked on so far; run-throughs of 25/1, 25/5 and 25/6, with plans for them; ii-V-I patterns.

PIAS 48

How to practice Op. 25 no. 1; tiny epiphanies in 25 no. 3; playing versus practicing in 25 no. 6; getting away with something by practicing jazz ii-V-is; an improv with scope for improvement.

PIAS 47

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

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.

pias 40