Day 299

On p.20 of Pete's book, and working on "Something" using Pete's ideas. Ordered another book and its accompanying CD's: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0793598788/ref=s9_simp_gw_s4_p14_t1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ZE3G56E4VFKA4QEXZXE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Day 298

On p. 19 of Pete's book, and worked on "Something" using Pete's ideas.
Dissappoined because I was going to post how "Something" sounds at this point but my USB input in the computer is broken...

Day 297

On p.18 of Pete's book; worked on "Something."

Day 296

Up to p.16 of Pete's book.

Surprise, surprise. Making yet another switch of Methods. I think that instead of focusing on just learning chords, I’d like to learn how to use chords in melodies as well as in conjunction with Left hand movement. After all, this is what fake book play means to me. So, I’ll be revisiting Peter Friesen’s Pop Piano Pro Books.

Day 295

Here we are at yet the end of another year, and at the beginning of a new piano year….What have I accomplished this year is mostly a familiarity with clusters used in Sudnow arrangements of songs.

So as we start a new year, where am I going with piano this year? Any goals? Glad I asked….

Foremost, I want to play full arrangements of songs that are presented in fakebooks and sheetmusic. On the fly. But I do not want to play just bare-boned arrangements. I want to sound good. I want to have good left handed and right handed movements with nice fills. I’d like to also play written music, like Scott Joplin, but hey, that just ain’t a priority at this stage in my life….

I know, I know, I’ve changed Methods and goals before…..But so what!

Here’s my new goal for this year……drum roll please……
I’m going to be working on Alan Swain’s Four-Way Keyboard System Book 1 (and 2 if I get to it). I’d like to learn how to play chords on demand, because I think that is what I’ll have to do to get this on the fly fakebook stuff “on the fly.” And I think the Swain stuff can help with that.

I thought about taking piano lessons, but hey, I don’t think my finances can handle that. Thanks to my piano buddy Swingin' Barb for helping me have confidence in self-learning.

These books are going to take discipline, but I think I can handle it. I’ll still have to learn how to play nice piano fills, and maybe I’ll add something in along the line there.

Some more piano dreams, while I’m at it…….
I’d like to play pop and jazz standards in a restaurant even if there is just a tip jar….. I'd like to just sit down and play songs for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of friends and family...
Not a big enough dream? Well how about this….I’d like to write songs using some of the things I’ll be learning! I’ve written songs before, but I want to take it to a new level of sophistication…
So there you have it.

Short-term goals: Work through the Swain books. Consider getting some material on learning fills. Long term goals: Restaurant playing and songwriting!

Worked on p.4 of the first Swain book....

I'm going to try something different. I'll be using Swain's stuff. Its going to take memorization, so its a challenge.

Day 294

Yesterday, I satrted work on the Beatles' "Something."
Here's how it sounded today:
http://www.box.net/shared/atl024v088

Its the last of my Beatles trilogy for this weekend.

Day 293

Here's "Here, There, and Everywhere" this morning....
http://www.box.net/shared/1aasaoof11

Also, learned and recorded "Yesterday." Here it is:
http://www.box.net/shared/ni8mnb56jd

Started to learn: "Something."

Day 292

Working on "Here, There, and Everywhere," and really like it. Its flowing better than yesterday's recorded take. Adding a nice Beatles riff over the words "...never care."
Really enjoyed it today, taking it slowly. Thanks again, Dr. Sudnow, and Swingin' Barb.

Day 291

Working on "Here, There, and Everywhere."

Trying to find a "happy medium" between memorizing some parts and not. Reading the melody slows me down, but I guess I should get used to doing reading rather than memorizing.

Sounds nice.

Addendum: Decided to record it. Here's how it sounds at this point:
http://www.box.net/shared/8u2kcdxvs0

Day 290

Interesting how this stuff seems to be getting quicker. Just as David Sudnow said.
Started work today on "Here, There, and Everywhere."

Day 289

Worked on "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem."
Here it is: http://www.box.net/shared/0159kmify7

Day 288

Working on "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem," getting my money's worth from my Christmas Fakebook. Using Sudnow Method for dominants !