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Thanks for the words (and thumbs) of support Farmgirl and Cathy.

In the end it all worked out OK, and I don't think its going to do me any good if I try to pick apart exactly where I went off the rails on first try. I am glad my teacher convinced me to get back up and give it a second shot, because I sure wouldn't have wanted that hanging over my head for the next year as I contemplated whether I should ever attempt it again. Now I know I can get through it and its really no big deal. The audience, which was a LOT bigger than I expected at about 150, was as kind and supportive as you could possibly want. I'll try to remember that next time.

Had my lesson today and as expected my teacher loaded me up with new pieces. Looks like I've graduated from AMB's notebook finally. Both of these new Bach pieces are really short one pagers. I asked her to pick a classical piece and she tossed in the Mozart, which looks like it might be one of his "easy" minuets that I never find too easy. The Chopin is coming along and I was able to play it through for her HT today on the first try without too many mistakes. Now need to work on keeping my right hand really soft while bringing out the melody in the left.

Lain, this sounds like an interesting aid for helping to memorize. What does a "visual map" look like?

I photocopied the score in a way such that the notes are barely visible, then numbered the sections I wanted to know by heart with a thick black marker. I then drilled myself by randomly playing different sections, using the physical location of the sections on the score as a cue. It was helpful initially, but I don't think I need the map anymore. Studying the harmony is probably most helpful for me, but I should probably study more music theory to add to my notes... Do you have any other tips for someone with a poor memory?

Lain that sounds really interesting! For shorter pieces I've tried writing the score out - obviously you can only do this for small pieces or for sections, but it helps me understand where my memory falls apart.

Denise - what a productive time you've been having - good for you!

Teodor, your friend is amazing!!!!!!...

JimF - did you invert left and right ? Melody in the left, background in the right?
Glad you are feeling "on track" again!

My lesson is tomorrow and I will show my teacher what I've done with the pieces she gave me last week. I haven't really touched one of them but I've done serious work with 2 of them to the point where I can play one without the sheet music albeit verrrrrrry slowly. The satisfying thing about the 2 pieces (1 Vinciguerra and the Beethoven) is that I can feel things I've learned before coming into play. Very satisfying indeed.

Lain, I use similar technique as yours. I number them. But I have not wrote down the first code for each section. That may be very effective. I do recall i had a hard time remembering the first code of a piece. It's the mustle memory. I read music when I am studying but I stop reading (being aware of the notes) once memorized. That's when, as you know, the bad thing happens. In order to prevent this, we have to know the construction of the piece.. As you mentioned, I think the theory is important. It does come into play here.. Otherwise we will play blindly (literally) soley depending on the musle memory which is very fragile and break down easily...

I "composed" (haven't written it down yet) a small piece that almost makes musical sense.

I called it the Haunted House and here is the story behind it.

Two couples decide to get away from the busy city life and rent an old house in the suburbs. As soon as they unpack and start getting comfortable strange things begin to happen all over the place. Nothing much at first but then gradually the ghost starts hunting them down one by one and one by one the people die. The ghost grows stronger and stronger after every death he causes, so in the end he causes the house to collapse, the chromatic cadence is meant to represent this collapse (it sounds explosive first when I play it as fast as possible and gradually slow it down) when the walls and ceilings are going down on the last survivors and then part of the main theme reappears but since no one remains standing it's ended in a resolved manner with a C octave in the left and C minor in the right hand.

Here is what I have so far.



But like I said it's really messy.

That sounds like it might be worth a try. Thanks for the idea!

Sorry, no. So far I've been mostly looking for patterns in the music and marking chords. I'm terrible at memorizing. (Maybe because I never tried to do it until just two years ago.) And I don't think my teacher is a great help in this area, because memorizing is pretty much effortless for him. That's why I asked you!

Lain - Sorry, no great tips from me for memory either. I do try to write in the main harmonic elements for most of my pieces. By this I mean I will write in the name of a chord above the notes as well as the scale degree designation (don't know if thats the right terminology). So I might end up with something written above the music like:

G(I) Em(vi) Am(ii) F#m(vii) D(V) G(I)

I've never done this specifically to help with memory - more in the hope that I will learn something about the music. Also, I've hoped that writing the chord names will help me to quickly see and identify these note combinations at some point in the future. It does reveal patterns, however, and that helps memory.

Cheryl - re inverting. The Chopin B minor prelude has the melody in the left and harmonic accommpanying chords in the right. And the right has to be played very quietly. Kind of the opposite of many pieces. Hence the challenge. I'm not familiar with Vinciguera, is there a youtube link you like? I listened to your Beethoven piece, its really nice.

Farmgirl - I don't understand what you mean by "first code", can you explain?

Teodor - Nice job. I'll take Professor Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick. (No, I don't suppose anyone here will get that reference)

Not quite sure of the Clue/Cluedo reference but it sounds like the house needed some pesky kids to stop the ghost getting away with it.

Sure!
This is the first Vinciguerra piece I learned - and really the first true bit of music I felt I'd played on the piano ..AND it is in E maj ! 4 sharps !!)
Vinceguerra, Verde Smeraldo (Emerald Green)
Another is Lilla that I played in the May 2010 recital, (only 3 sharps in that key sig.)

There are three pieces here - the last one is one of my assignements, (the one I haven't started yet) 3 preludi orientali

Vinciguerra's pieces are didactic and have themes. The first set were "preludi colorati" then the second I have is "preludi orientali" - he also has jazz preludes, preludes in the park and many many more. They are great fun.

Thanks for clarifying on the Chopin "inversion" ... I think it would drive me nuts at this point, I've just barely got my right hand playing a bit stronger than the left!!!



I got it, but it sounded more like Peter Gunn to me

Teodor, that's good fun - let's hear it again when you have more done!

I FINALLY found the sheet music to THIS version of the theme to Jurassic Park.



Its Hal Leonard serial number is HL.120905. Needless to say, I ordered a copy immediately. That got me excited.

I will divide the piece into meaningful sections. For example, Beethoven's pathetique 1st movement can be divided into 35 sections. Very similar to Lain's method, I number them and make sure I can start at any number. For me, it helps me to memorize a piece better if I remember what Chord or notes each section starts. I try to be able to tell a story, Example: Section 1 - the sonata starts with the c minor chord root position. Section 2 - starts with e flat octaves. Secton 3 - the second inversion of the c minor chord followed by chromatic scale .....

Cheryl - Nice. If it helps develop a rock steady left hand like the gal in the video it will be well worth it.

Farmgirl - Ok, makes sense now. I may try something like that with the next longer piece I get.

My AotW was eliciting the phrase, "Move on already" from my wife, the 15th time I'd played the same measure. Kind of strange for an AotW but the point is that I can play the notes OK, just not exactly right and that's why I was repeating them so much. A few months ago I wouldn't have even been able to hear it was wrong.

And I'm hoping my next week's post will be that I've finally cracked this measure!

Isn't it great to learn how to practice? Took me almost 2 years to "get it" that it's easier to learn chunks, & to learn them slowly.

I'll be done with the Beyer études in a week or 2, depending on schedules (mine & my teacher's) & on how long it takes me to learn the 100th (& last) étude in the book. It looks impossible right now but - chunk by chunk & I'll get there. I spent some time on it this morning & I've almost got one chunk figured out.

My teacher commented yesterday how much my technique has improved in the past couple of months. I think it's from being on the MOYD list - haven't missed a day yet! The thing I've noticed is that although I still make mistakes, the music in between the mistakes sounds so much more - musical! :•)

I didn't accomplish anything this week. But I travelled to southern California (for work) and took the time to visit 2 piano stores. One in Ontario (50 miles east of LA) and another in Santa Monica. Although I didn't walk out with the grand piano that I someday hope to purchase, I did buy some new sheet music: a Joplin book and the Charlie Brown theme song (I promised the boss that I would learn that song.)

Carol - good for you - how satisfying. Andy- that's a sort of compliment, really isn't it?
Michael - window shopping is a nice activity and going home with new music is great fun.

My AOTW is , for me, really quite thrilling.
I've been working on Gypsy Legend to make it sound prettier, flow more smoothly. really making sure I've got a handle on "leaping" about the keyboard. ..in Preparation for the recital next week, remember
Tonight I was playing before my evening class started - while I was waiting for my students.
One came in early and "caught" me playing, and asked me to play more. So I played GL, - and I did it REALLY well, with not a single glitch!!!! WHILE she was talking to me throughout the piece! lol. I know it is short but she chatted away (complimenting me). It was very funny and I was VERY pleased.!

That's great Cheryl - sounds like a good way to get "bulletproof" on your piece. You're going to play it beautifully.

i think ur doing great!

Wow, very beautiful