A Hard Working Day at the Piano

Worked on Rainbow and Winding Road. Went ok, but had a bit of trouble remembering them! Maybe what I'll do is just start considering review of songs learned as an ***important part of practice that is just as essential as song learning.*** I used to mostly just go from song to song, and mostly not see review as a critical part of practice. But a shift of perspective might be in order here. All songs learned, I think, need to be seen as not just learned forever, but as continued works in progress.

Also worked on Crush on You. It's too easy to just see practice as the process of learning a new song, because of the novelty factor of newness that the new song brings. But, again, seeing the old songs as "works in progress" can help not only with making the songs sound smoother, but in the learning process of getting my brain more and more used to voiced clusters.

December 16, 2010

Worked more on "I've Got a Crush on You." Incorporated a new color tone for minor chords. Fun stuff, this is. Been listening to George Sheering, and really like his impressionistic, dreamy ballad stuff.

December 14, 2010

Just worked on smoothing out (and writing out) some rough parts of Winding Road and Rainbow. Worked on Crush on You also.

Working Part II !

Working hard on "Crush." Slow down! Played repertoie a bit too. Things getting somewhat jumbled, so will SLOW DOWN! Downloaded a bunch of Sudnow material to have as a hard copy.
S L O W
D O W N !

Working !

Working hard on "Crush." Sometimes just walking away from the piano when hitting a plateau. Did some repertoire stuff too.

Color Tones

Practiced "I've Got a Crush on You" utilizing some great color tones. It was great using some stuff I don't usually use....at least not lately. Also taking my time. Played some repertoire stuff also. The Sudnow Method Rules.

The Long and Winding Road

Here it is with mistakes (may need to copy and paste):

http://www.box.net/shared/ftrrssg9t2

Although its not perfect, I like it. I'll continue to polish it. Worked on Rainbow, and "I Got a Crush on You."

I Got a Crush Over the Long and Winding Rainbow

Practiced "Over the Rainbow" and "The Long and Winding Road."
I think the next song will be "I Got a Crush on You.". Been listening to Ella Fitzgerald singing ballads, and I'm getting into those old standards. She sure has a beautiful voice....getting some other similar songs sung by others soon on CDs.

Mastery

Today's work: Working on mastering "Over the Rainbow." It's getting there. Though it may be sometimes difficult to know when it's mastered (and time to move on to a new tune), I think I will just feel it.

Effortless Mastery

Been reading Kenny Werner's book, "Effortless Mastery.". What a great book. He offers some great advice which really has some practical value....master what you are doing even in small doses...go for mastery, not sloppy execution...

Thanksgiving Day, 2010

The Long and Winding Road is complete, but needs practice. Sounds very nice! Interesting how what seems very difficult at first gets easier with practice. Also playing Over the Rainbow. Looking for a new song to voice....thought of What a Wonderful World, but decided against it. I think it may be one I did awhile ago, and want to play again....another Beatles song with a beautiful melody: She's Leaving Home. Or maybe another beautiful Beatles tune: If I Fell.
Addendum....started working on She's Leaving Home....in a different key from the one I did awhile ago.

November 23, 2010

Practicing "Over the Rainbow" and working on "The Long and Winding Road."

"Over the Rainbow (2010)"

Here's how "Over the Rainbow" sounds today memorized.... Again, its not perfect, but it gives you a good idea what I'm looking for.
You may need to copy and paste into your browser:
http://www.box.net/shared/ly36cnsycp

Trying not to get ahead of myself by trying to move on too fast, but started "The Long and Winding Road." Its too easy to move quickly when the sounds sound so gorgeous using the Sudnow Method.

November 19, 2010

Over the Rainbow is coming along nicely, taking it slow. Thinking about using lead sheets with memorization as opposed to focusing on only memorization. Thinking also about ditching the goal of playing fakebook songs on the fly in favor of just having a repertoire of songs that I can play even if I need to look at the lead sheets every now and then.

Taking it Slow

Taking it slow is I think, key for me. Not playing a song at slow tempo, as much as learning the song slowly, trying to incorporate learning what the song has to offer. Trying to memorize chord configurations and closed voicings as I go. Slow, concentrated learning is better than fast and sloppy attempts at learning a song. For me, anyway. And letting go of the ego in learning the piano is also a good thing for me. Slow, concentrated egoless learning is the ticket.