Day 85

On pianoworld.com, I stated a How to Play From a Fakebook Study Group. It was decided to work on "America the Beautiful." Here's my contribution:
http://www.box.net/shared/1oqm6fxubj

On p.129 of the Method Book. On p. 11 of the Fakebook Method.

Day 84

I continue to be on page 127 of the Method Book and p. 8 of the Fakebook Method Book. I'm taking my time with the Fakebook Method Book, trying to go for understanding.

Day 83

(Should have posted this yesterday).
On p. 127 of the Method Book; p. 8 of the Fakebook Method.

Day 82

I know, I know.....I'm all over the place about the piano methods I use! Changed my mind again!
I'll continue to use the Alfred Method Books as a foundation. But I'll be using the "How to Play From a Fakebook" book by Michael Esterowitz also. I started a thread over at pianoworld.com in the Adult Beginner Forum for others who want to be in a study group using the Fakebook Book.

On page 127 of the Method Book. On page 8 of the Fakebook Book.

Day 81

(Should have posted this yesterday).
On p.127 of the Method Book.

Day 80

Just did some page 127 of the Method Book.

Day 79

Graduated to p. 127 of the Method Book. Still on p. 6 of the Pop Piano Book.

Interesting: Start on the of the sixth note of the major scale and play the same # of shaps and flats to play the Minor Scale. For example, in the key of C (no sharps or flats), the minor scale starts on the "A" note.

Then, sharp the 7th note of that scale to play the harmonic minor scale of that key. Using the same example in C, the C harmonic scale starts on the "A" note, and includes G# instead of G.

Day 78, and Hello to Bill!

Still on page 124 of the Method Book and p.6 of the Pop Piano book.

Thanks for the comment, Bill! I'll post a tune when I think its a good idea!

Cool Book

"Effortless Mastery" by Kenny Werner.

The artist's job is to bypass everything that the world tries to complicate our lives with: TV, sugar, and especially the critical mind that works against the artist's work. That critical mind says stuff like: "I'm not good enough," "I have to be perfect," "Because I stink at this, my practice will reflect my mediocrity," "I'll never be as good as ______ (fill in the blank)."

There is kind of two processes that go on with the artist and those who view or hear his/her work:

Within the Artist
1) We bypass the critical mind by focusing on what's important. (What's important is practicing). By tuning out the nonimportant stuff, we tap into something so much more wonderful.

Within the Audience
2) The audience thus is moved to also tap into something much more wonderful than everyday existence.

We are thus playing for God.

Day 77

Still on p.124 of the Method Book and p.6 of the Pop Piano book.

Found a great piano CD: Eddie Heywood 1950-1951

Day 76

Still on page 124 of the Method Book, and p.6 of the Pop Piano book. I'm finding that I may be better than I thought I was with regards to playing inversions.

As an aside, when I did Sudnow songs, I felt something of a letdown after I learned each song. On the other hand, with the Method Book learning, I feel a frustration when I begin each piece, and I feel great when I can play the piece. Probably because by utilizing the Method Book, I feel a sense of accomplishment as I go on to the next page, whereas with the Sudnow method, I felt that my progress was more subtle (for me anyway). By moving on in page numbers in the Method Book, I feel a sense that my progress can be quantified.

Day 75

I know, I know, I missed a day of practice yesterday.....

On p. 124 of the Method Book and p. 6 of the Pop Piano book.

Day 74

On p. 124 of the Method Book.
On page 6 of the Pop Piano book.

Day 73

On page 123 of the Method Book.
Also started a little on the Pop Piano Pro Book.

A Tiny Shift

Here's yet a new plan:

1) I'll continue to work on the Alfred's Method Book series. It seems to be a good foundation.

2) Instead of the "How to Play From a Fakebook" stuff, I'll be using this: "Pop Piano Pro" by Peter Friesen. It gonna be a stretch in that my prerequisite abilities may not be quite up to par to using this book/CD. But I'll give it a try. Its here: http://www.poppianopro.com/