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Post by Zi on Jun 11, 2023 8:35:22 GMT
Misty, that's a lot to deal with all in one go so I hope it levels out soon. I'm now at the stage where I dare not look at my practice book to see when I last practised. However, I feel glimmers of enthusiasm returning so who knows, maybe I'll do something soon.
Is the piccolo very different from the flute (to play that is)?
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Post by pavane on Jun 11, 2023 13:18:37 GMT
Misty and Zi - you seem between you to be remarkably tolerant (Daughter doesn't like me practising flute ... so I kept it to a minimum) and well organised (I dare not look at my practice book). A pracice book??? The closest I have come to that is that when I dug out my son's old clarinet stuff from his primary school days there was his exercise book that the teacher used to send home weekly notes about what to work on, and I thought "I suppose I could use that". The thought was as far as it got. And as for not practising because it irritated my daughter, I think my response to her might have involved some travel tips, but certainly wouldn't have included any cutting down on my part.
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Post by Zi on Jun 12, 2023 7:16:02 GMT
I have sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) so I can understand Misty Daughter struggling with the sound of the flute. The recorder doesn't set me off luckily, and I've learned to cope. Mine developed at the same time as tinnitus and really with both it's learning strategies to cope. I remember the specialist telling me that I'd have to get used to it and being rather bleak as he believed it was a one-way switch. I think the brain is more plastic than that and was more optimistic and it turns out I was right in my case - my brain has learned to manage it. Some people don't though and it is bleak for them. I imagine being a music teacher and coping with either or both must be appalling! I use Paul Harris's book and I have loads of coloured stickers which Mr Z bought be during chemo as something to make me smile. I used to stick smilies on according to how the day was so I use stickers on the practice book as I found sticking stickers amusing. My last teacher used to use the stars I had to stick on my pieces if I did them well! Anyway, Paul makes me think about why I am doing things or else I'd likely just play stuff until it was 'error' free and not think much else about it. He makes think about how things join up and are coherent. I didn't study music at all as a child so I like a joined up approach. I'm not sure about organised now. I used to be - I had that kind of job where being organised was important to me. But I think now I've lapsed into a kind of benevolent chaos... if you know what I mean... If I was organised I wouldn't be starring into the non-practice abyss! Still haven't looked at book or recorder... edit - The last yukky thing is scheduled for today... so perhaps that will be the turning point...
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Post by Misty on Jun 15, 2023 13:47:53 GMT
I have sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) so I can understand Misty Daughter struggling with the sound of the flute. The recorder doesn't set me off luckily, and I've learned to cope. Mine developed at the same time as tinnitus and really with both it's learning strategies to cope. I remember the specialist telling me that I'd have to get used to it and being rather bleak as he believed it was a one-way switch. I think the brain is more plastic than that and was more optimistic and it turns out I was right in my case - my brain has learned to manage it. Some people don't though and it is bleak for them. I imagine being a music teacher and coping with either or both must be appalling! Still haven't looked at book or recorder... edit - The last yukky thing is scheduled for today... so perhaps that will be the turning point...
Zi - I hope "the last yukky thing" is now behind you and you are still all in one piece. Have you looked at the book or the recorder yet?
Like you, I have sound sensitivity, but I am okay with musical sounds. Things that trigger me are sudden loud noises (OH sneezing, for example), but I also struggle with people talking too loudly, and the television and radio being too loud, and have to turn the sound down or leave the room because it gets unbearable. I've even been known to ask for music to be turned down in (for example) a restaurant, and walk out of the cinema because I can't stand the sound and it triggers a migraine. I think people must think I am very intolerant! But one does learn coping strategies, and I now take ear defenders to the cinema with me. It earns me some funny looks but I can live with that.
Piccolo....now that's an interesting question! (It's also something else that requires ear defenders.) I'm trying to get in touch with my ex flute teacher to see if he can give me a start, but he doesn't seem to be around. I'm not even sure what register I am in, although can manage a few notes and a scale. I'm afraid that's it just now. It's different to play (from flute) because there is no lip-plate, and so it's easy for the instrument to shift slightly and I don't notice until the notes stop coming out. I really must get serious.
Recorders are not faring too well either, as recorder teacher is still away and I don't expect to see her until July. I'm going to start a new piece in the Van Eyck Der Fluyten Lust-hof today, as I need something new to get my teeth into.
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Post by Zi on Jun 16, 2023 8:18:24 GMT
Misty - I have a music stand in my study as well as one in the music room - I prefer playing in my study my recorders appear to have migrated here with me. So, the stand kind of looks at me - I can't figure out if it's reproachful or not. Yukky stuff appears to be resolved or is resolving. While we were dealing with other stuff, silly things started to pile up - for example we've now got the guttering fixed and the door replaced on the barn which the burglar had vandalised. So, things are definitely back on an even keel! The sound sensitivity thing is horrid but as you say, one learns strategies. I don't care what other people think of me and you shouldn't either. I work on the principle that they ought to have better things to do with their time than to focus on me. I can focus on me for me and I'll be much better at it than they are! That's interesting about the piccolo. Thank you! I hope you get your kick start - kick started... and the same for anyone else who is going though the hiatus. I'm hopeful still... I nearly played yesterday - maybe I'll get there today...
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Post by Zi on Jun 20, 2023 9:34:25 GMT
I made the phone call - so to speak. I've played for only a few minutes - some Susato on the treble (I love Susato) and Van Eyck on the descant. I couldn't actually find the descant I usually (used to) practise on so locating it is on today's list - maybe it has escaped to the music room... I'm also intending to make a list for at least one of the recorders. They were surprisingly forgiving and I ran up the scales (bottom F to top F and bottom C to top C) without any issues, hitting the top notes easily (when did that happen then? Or maybe my hearing has totally collapsed?) We have more domestic stuff tomorrow and I have to sort out a planting list for the new borders but perhaps the ice is broken. I hope so.
I do hope everyone else is well and happy! Above all happy!
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Post by keff on Jun 20, 2023 9:59:14 GMT
I do hope everyone else is well and happy! Above all happy! Thanks Zi, yes well and relatively happy. I am trying to make further progress with the Bach French suite in E flat before my piano lessons come to an end. Just two more to take place. The Courante is slowly getting better and the last piece to embark upon is the gigue. A friend who takes lessons with the same teacher is having a trial lesson with someone new in a couple of weeks.
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Post by Zi on Jun 25, 2023 16:54:29 GMT
@keff - relatively happy will do for the time being!I hope things get better than that though! This restarting lark is interesting this time as I no longer recognise which treble it was I found easier to play and for some reason I can hit top F without even trying and bottom F. I haven't played for months. I told Mr Z today that actually I think that one of my problems might be that I think about it all too much. I've been sight reading today - if I just play then it's fine but as soon as I start asking: What note is that? The whole thing collapses in a soggy heap and I can't play the thing. I wouldn't describe myself as practising regularly yet but the little I've done has been fun. It's mostly just turning pages until I find something appealing. Haven't touched the descant other than that first time...
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Post by pavane on Jun 27, 2023 7:30:55 GMT
Keff: I hope something works out wrt the piano lessons. I can imagine that it's a big issue leaving a teacher of long standing. Mrs P was once having lessons with a teacher who decided she didn't want to teach any more and that was a blow at the time, and she hadn't been going all that long. I'll keep fingers crossed that you friend's "road test" goes well.
Zi: glad to hear the restarting is going well. I think some of this stuff gets embedded in your brain and you know it even if you think you don't. One of my great parenting moments was when my son started secondary school. He wanted to learn an instrument and ended up with a sax. After his first lesson he took it out of the case and played a few shrieky notes and I asked if I could have a go. I had played sax as a teen and into my early 20s but hadn't touched one for literally decades at that point in time, but it just all came back and I was able to play it surprisingly well. My son was absolutely amazed - probably the last time he thought of his dad as a godlike being
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Post by keff on Jun 27, 2023 9:41:05 GMT
All things come to an end and at my advanced years I was wondering how much longer I should continue with lessons. Retirement of teacher, perhaps one year earlier than we expected has caught us out. The new teacher my friend is having her road test with was the person that taught daughter violin twenty five years ago. He is very calm, quiet and an excellent musician but I'm not sure if I want to expose him to my piano shortcomings.
Having lessons is a good motivator and way to keep going forward. On the other hand in order to move forward one sometimes has to leave pieces only partially finished and two that are standouts for me are the fourth Schubert Impromptu in A flat and the third movement of Beethoven's Moonlight. Just have to make my mind up if I tackle these pieces again as medium term goals in addition to the Bach French suites which could easily account for another two years of work.
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Post by Zi on Jun 27, 2023 10:41:12 GMT
It's a difficult question, keff, regarding having a teacher. I still miss mine and there aren't any local ones so the decision has been made for me. I most definitely wouldn't do it on-line as I struggle with understanding people via phone or vid so I think the experience might be extremely negative for a teacher. The bit I like about having a teacher is that they identify problems and suggest solutions and it's fun having the journey shared. But perhaps for you it's soon to be deciding what to do next and perhaps it will become clear once the dust has settled - so to speak.
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Post by pavane on Jun 27, 2023 16:41:25 GMT
It can be hard to find a teacher that works well for you. Mrs P has a friend who, a number of years ago, decided he was going to learn to play the piano. He found a teacher and just plugged away at it for years, eventually succeeding in reaching his goal of grade 8. Mrs P didn't have a teacher at that time and thought she'd give some lessons a go and, on the recommendation of the friend, went to the same teacher. She didn't get on with him at all - she packed in the lessons after a while and I think the whole experience put her off piano for years. Now, though, she is doing lessons again, this time via internet (very little chance of a local teacher) and she is really enjoying it. She doesn't have to interract which she would hate. Once a week, she videos herself playing, just her hands which she also likes, sends the video, and gets very comprehensive email feedback a couple of days later. There are some online exercises and videos of the teacher playing the more common grade pieces etc. Mrs P does exercises and recommended pieces but the teacher is also open to her saying that she wants to do such and such a piece, so she's doing a mix of things to make her improve and things she wants to do, and it seems to be going very well.
I think if there was a clarinet equivalent I would give it a go (it's more of a struggle than recorder) though the issue with woodwinds can be producing any/a good sound; in days gone by woodwind teachers would just grab your instrument and try it themselves which was a great way of working out where the problem lay, but since the days of Covid that is now a non-starter.
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Post by Zi on Jun 28, 2023 7:45:24 GMT
Mrs P's arrangement sounds like that would be close to ideal (for me). The Canine Psychology Diploma I did was on line and I had contact via email. It included making the occasional vids too. They were remarkably flexible as you were supposed to do things with the dog and The Collie was severely abused prior to living with us so she was terrified of some things so sometimes I had to modify what they asked me to do to accommodate her terror - I always made it clear if it meant I'd fail, I didn't care. I had no intention of practising as a behaviourist in any case but they were great and agreed my modifications were 'equal' to their original requirements and it worked very well. They were flexible (and compassionate) and I'd do a further course in a heart beat except I've gone as far as I can. The idea of having to constantly ask someone what they are saying makes me embarrassed just thinking about it. It'd never work for me. And there's the giggles. I get those. And The Collie's accompaniment. On-line in real time would fail before I started it.
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Post by keff on Jun 28, 2023 13:30:50 GMT
Well, that is it then, last piano lesson done and dusted but very good whilst it lasted.
Today some musical fun working out Rick Wakeman's intro to Morning Has Broken and playing a short duet from the the middle section of Holst's Jupiter (hymn tune to I vow to thee my country).
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Post by Zi on Jun 28, 2023 14:37:15 GMT
I'm glad it went well and ended on a high. I love that bit from Jupiter - it even sounds great on a lone recorder.
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