Tuesday 14th January - Piano Playalong 3

 It was  back on 8th January when I last posted a Piano Playalong, all full of enthusiasm to make this a year, a month, maybe a week? of piano playing... where did the the time go?

Still, I sat down for 20 minutes at the end of an extremely busy day and found 20 minutes peace and relaxation

I started by looking at three really simple pieces. I'm teaching one of my three adult students on Thursday. We were debating whether to put it off until next week as she was unwell and tired before Christmas, away over Christmas, and hasn't touched the piano this year. I suggested looking at a couple of 'quick wins' together; quirky pieces which, to be honest she could sight-read if she believed in herself more. She normally plays pieces at around grade 5-6, but, as I know all too well, one needs to ease oneself back in after a long break!

They are all copyright so I can't put full images up; but I can tell you how to find them on the Internet. I think it's copying and sharing which becomes dodgy.

So;

This I an old favourite of mine, from an ABRSM anthology called Spectrum 2. All the pieces are composed this century and range from grade 1 to grade rather a lot. You can see the whole piece by searching on Spectrum 2, choosing images and scrolling through.  I find it quirky, expressive and oddly compelling.

Another favourite; great fun and incredibly easy to teach and learn. I taught it to a seven year old who suddenly flatly refused to play one of his prep test (pre-grade1) exam pieces three weeks before the exam. He loved it and had it done and dusted in two weeks! Search on the title and composer, again pick images. You might be able to get hold of it from musescore.

Grade 2 sight-reading is much easier, and more attractive than when I went through that mill back in the 1960s! I thoroughly approve; sight-reading should be fun, not something to dread! Search on composer and title and look at images as before. 

Anyway, having gone through these three little pieces a couple of times I felt more inspired to continue (as I hope my student will too; she works with children so the titles are a good start).

....

I was really chuffed to find I remembered what I had done last time in the Grieg Arietta, and I've learned a few more bars. I've marked up repeated bars (second line) so that I know I only need to learn half the line, and just play it twice - brain energy conservation mode engaged! 

I've also stickered two bars that only appear once. They will need extra attention; all the rest of it gets revised just by playing through. 

I like using removable transparent highlighter stickers; I used them all the time when teaching, and also when learning pieces myself. After all, practicing is really a piano lesson given by me to myself!