Search found 41 matches

by OneHandOnly
02 Aug 2014, 18:28
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Random thoughts or comments...
Replies: 1635
Views: 1271037

Re: Random thoughts or comments...

[quote="dave brum"] That's not my face you can see, it's actually my posterior. You would never tell the two apart:- Then you have a very stern looking b*tt lol. I find it hard to look "cool" playing, maybe once i know a piece inside out and can play it blindfolded i relax more b...
by OneHandOnly
02 Aug 2014, 18:12
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Random thoughts or comments...
Replies: 1635
Views: 1271037

Re: Random thoughts or comments...

It seems i was a bit hasty in stating the failure of my exam, having just opened an email sent yesterday by my teacher, it seems the piano gods have blessed me ( and the examiner must have taken pity). I've scraped through :) Grade 6 and 7 sight reading ordered :twisted: Dave , what's your youtube c...
by OneHandOnly
24 Jul 2014, 18:24
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Random thoughts or comments...
Replies: 1635
Views: 1271037

Re: Random thoughts or comments...

The question is, can you REACH that goal without putting yourself through masochism suffering and purgatory? Absolutely not,but isn't that what makes acheiving it all the more fulfilling? Besides the suffering will really start when i get good enough to play Liszt and Rachmaninov.My hands ache at t...
by OneHandOnly
24 Jul 2014, 18:03
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Random thoughts or comments...
Replies: 1635
Views: 1271037

Re: Random thoughts or comments...

:lol: :lol:
Great idea, but seriously, my goal is a diploma so i'm going to have to force myself to get over the nerves.
:piano;
by OneHandOnly
24 Jul 2014, 17:52
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Random thoughts or comments...
Replies: 1635
Views: 1271037

Re: Random thoughts or comments...

I only do the exams because i want the certificates. I already know my level, luckily my teacher is also an examiner so i know i'm grade 5 level, but a grade 2 level under exam conditions :oops:
by OneHandOnly
24 Jul 2014, 07:51
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Random thoughts or comments...
Replies: 1635
Views: 1271037

Re: Random thoughts or comments...

Thanks for the support :) I will never stop playing piano, i love it too much. Dave, you're right in that i don't enjoy the experience of exams but i want(ed) to do them so i put up with it. It was grade 5, and the sight reading went like everything else , badly. I don't have problems at home so may...
by OneHandOnly
23 Jul 2014, 16:19
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Random thoughts or comments...
Replies: 1635
Views: 1271037

Re: Random thoughts or comments...

Dave!!! This positive thinking lark doesn't work for me , i've just failed my exam 2 hours ago :cry: :oops: Better prepared than ever, pieces almost perfect but the gremlins inside took over my hands :lol: A restart in every piece(although played well 2nd time around). The only positive thing i take...
by OneHandOnly
14 May 2014, 15:50
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: What's Made You Happy Today???
Replies: 796
Views: 623401

Re: What's Made You Happy Today???

Well, i started off ecstatic,my teacher is putting me in for grade 5 in July :D . Now that it's sunk in i'm terrified of another exam(cue sweaty hands and palpitations) :oops:
Dave, which model Kawai does she have? i'm thinking about trading in my upright for a shiny new grand :piano;
by OneHandOnly
22 Mar 2014, 12:37
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Random thoughts or comments...
Replies: 1635
Views: 1271037

Re: Random thoughts or comments...

Stay well Dave, keep up the practice though. I've realised that although i'll never be any good, i'll be less crap then i am now and i'm not as crap as i used to be. 8)
by OneHandOnly
18 Mar 2014, 08:36
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: What's Made You Happy Today???
Replies: 796
Views: 623401

Re: What's Made You Happy Today???

dave brum wrote:
OneHandOnly wrote: and basically play like Love!!
WTF!!! I most definitely didn't write that, is there some kind of filter here? i play like S H * T, the smelly stuff you spread on your garden.
I'll try your suggestions Dave, i get nervous playing infront of the dog lol.
by OneHandOnly
17 Mar 2014, 22:11
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: What's Made You Happy Today???
Replies: 796
Views: 623401

Re: What's Made You Happy Today???

All grades were between 110-120, they should be up about 130 but my nerves get too bad, my hands shake and i tighten up,lose all musicality and basically play like Love!! There is one exam board where you can send in videos, showing everything in 1 take, i know i'd easily pass that but i like the AB...
by OneHandOnly
17 Mar 2014, 21:52
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: What's Made You Happy Today???
Replies: 796
Views: 623401

Re: What's Made You Happy Today???

I'm good thanks. I've started preparing for grade 5, every exam i swear is the last( i can't play infront of anyone) but eventually i relent and do another. If i pass the next one, i'll treat myself to a grand piano :piano; I'm glad you're on the mend, this piano lark is really testing my mental sta...
by OneHandOnly
17 Mar 2014, 21:17
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: What's Made You Happy Today???
Replies: 796
Views: 623401

Re: What's Made You Happy Today???

You're back then Dave. i've not connected for a while, have you done any more exams lately? i can't be arsed reading millions of posts. :P
by OneHandOnly
19 Jul 2012, 20:13
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano Guarantee
Replies: 1
Views: 4003

Piano Guarantee

Hi All, Don't know if this is the correct place but i can't post in the Tuner/Trade section.If anyone can shed any light on the matter i'd be grateful. Ok, i bought a brand new Kawai last year and it has a 5 year guarantee,but the guarantee from the dealer stipulates that they have to tune it. I've ...
by OneHandOnly
26 Apr 2012, 19:14
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: What Is The Weather Like Where You Are?
Replies: 58
Views: 83676

Re: What Is The Weather Like Where You Are?

Just cooled down to a more manageable 21c but it is 8pm.The only water i hear or see is the lovely fountains and the waves lapping the beach 8) .
Missing my kawai but not the rain :lol:
by OneHandOnly
24 Apr 2012, 18:43
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

I'd love to be practicing right now,unfortunately i also love warm weather so i'm sunning myself on the beach in the lovely 26degree spanish sun 8) . Hope not to have to practice with the fingerless gloves when i return on saturday. Glad to hear you're on the mend Dave but don't sight read better th...
by OneHandOnly
22 Apr 2012, 11:16
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Well i only managed a very disappointing 119 :( but given my mordid fear of playing in front of an audience,albeit an audience of 1, coupled with hands that wouldn't stop shaking and a mind that went blank on entering the room, it was better than i had expected.I'll save the distinction for grade 8 ...
by OneHandOnly
21 Apr 2012, 18:10
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

I'll give you a good reason Dave, just got my results....... passed everything :D i don't know how i managed it as i thought i'd messed it up badly. So there you have it, from nothing to grade 2 sight reading in 2 months.Believe me,if i can do it , anybody can :piano; Just taking a break from the pu...
by OneHandOnly
05 Apr 2012, 19:14
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Dave, stop moaning, pay the money and go for it.You won't be able to do any worse than me and failure is always better if you can share it with another no-hoper :D
Joking aside, i'm sure you'll pass with or without reading well, you've got the rest of your life to learn.
by OneHandOnly
03 Apr 2012, 17:37
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Excellent news Dave,you'll soon be enjoying it. I intend to follow the syllabus all the way to grade 8 but not do the exams :wink: . Grade 3 sight reading starts tomorrow, hurray!!!! :piano;
by OneHandOnly
03 Apr 2012, 17:27
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Sorry to disappoint you Dave, i sight read ok, i just don't do exams :lol:
You are still the king and long may you wear the crown :twisted:
by OneHandOnly
03 Apr 2012, 07:32
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Well, my sight reading has come on in leaps and bounds lately :) ,that is, until my exam yesterday :cry: Not so much reading as playing random notes and running out of fingers :oops: Failed everything due to an overwhelming fear of playing to an audience,even of 1 person.NO MORE EXAMS EVER!!!!! :evil:
by OneHandOnly
23 Mar 2012, 21:40
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Great, you can take them with you in the afterwhile and spend an eternity doing 2 a day :twisted:
OR you could post less and do half an hour a day,try it for a month, who knows, with some faster improvement will come the joy of sight reading :P
by OneHandOnly
23 Mar 2012, 21:30
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Hi Dave :) Well, what can i say? Your posts have given my a right laugh :lol: .Seriously, i think you're taking it too seriously and nobody enjoys making mistakes,i fregularly feel like taking a hammer to my piano :evil: but i resist. As for sight reading, you'll get it when you get it,then you won'...
by OneHandOnly
18 Mar 2012, 21:08
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

hahahaha, not every day, just the weekends, half an hour in the week as i don't have any more time.I've seriously neglected sight reading , in fact i'd never done any until a month ago and i've been playing 17 months.It's now an official part of my practice sessions.By the way, i have the purple gra...
by OneHandOnly
18 Mar 2012, 20:21
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Having to do two????? :lol: I've just put in 2 hours of bl**dy sight reading, now i see notes when i close my eyes.I guess it's a necessary evil that both of us will have to get used to,at least my level's easier than yours :lol:
by OneHandOnly
17 Mar 2012, 18:16
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

More than 9 points would be great :D Going forward i'll practise it everyday,it has to get easier eventually :mrgreen: .
Not to bothered about performing in public though, but i've promised myself an expensive grand if and when i get to grade 8 so could do with passing this one. :piano;
by OneHandOnly
17 Mar 2012, 16:50
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere
Replies: 106
Views: 58979

Re: Grade 3 in the summer sitting for old turniphead 'ere

Good luck with the exam Dave, but please don't talk about sight reading :( I got talked into going for grade 2 in less than 3 weeks time and only started sight reading 1 month ago, can you still pass an exam without being able to read jack s**t :?: . Well, this could be my first and last exam as i c...
by OneHandOnly
30 Oct 2011, 13:29
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: First piano
Replies: 7
Views: 10842

Re: First piano

Many thanks Colin, There is no longer going to be a new kitchen!! I had to prioritise and the Kawai won the argument 8) . Some new tiles and a lick of paint and the rest of the money earmarked ,well, i've just spent it :piano; As for the exam, should be grade 2 early in the new year( if nerves and s...
by OneHandOnly
30 Oct 2011, 12:43
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: First piano
Replies: 7
Views: 10842

Re: First piano

Well ,just an update.After a month of trawling piano showrooms and scouring second hand ads, i fell in love with a piano,upped my budget and bought a brand new Kawai K3 yesterday :D :D . Can't wait for it to be delivered next week...... now all i need is to learn to play the damned thing :lol:
by OneHandOnly
25 Sep 2011, 18:56
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: First piano
Replies: 7
Views: 10842

Re: First piano

Thanks for the speedy reply Barrie :D , my teacher will go with me to view anything i see, and his tuner as well,will look at your suggestions 8)
by OneHandOnly
25 Sep 2011, 18:23
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: First piano
Replies: 7
Views: 10842

First piano

Hi all, First post for a while, been learning for about a year on a crappy little keyboard, my teacher is preparing me for grade 2 and suggests i get a real piano sooner rather than later.Now the big question concerns money, i can scrape together 2 grand but that's the limit, apparently new kitchens...
by OneHandOnly
23 Feb 2011, 16:16
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: POLL: Everybody or just the tuners??
Replies: 11
Views: 9071

Re: POLL: Everybody or just the tuners??

Well i read the posts most days , but as a "newbie" of just a few months, i know sod all about pianos, play like sh*t and can't really contribute :( . Keep posting for F***s sake, even reading about other peoples experiences inspires me!!! :piano;
by OneHandOnly
08 Dec 2010, 16:00
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: it's official - i hate winter!!
Replies: 15
Views: 8154

Re: it's official - i hate winter!!

well the good news (he says sarcastically) is that i won't have to walk 5 miles to work again this winter, or ever again for that matter, the b*****ds are making me redundant on christmas eve!!!!!!!!... ......... i guess i will be a full time piano student until i get another job :D :(
by OneHandOnly
01 Dec 2010, 20:07
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: it's official - i hate winter!!
Replies: 15
Views: 8154

Re: it's official - i hate winter!!

[/quote] 5 miles is a long walk through snow- had the public transport stopped then? I presume you are far North. Hi PianoLove, Not really north, i'm on the border on Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, unfortunately there is no public transport at 5am :( .normally it's the push bike but today was impos...
by OneHandOnly
01 Dec 2010, 12:59
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: it's official - i hate winter!!
Replies: 15
Views: 8154

it's official - i hate winter!!

last night my teacher cancelled my lesson as his house wasn't accessible :( this morning i had to walk 5 miles through 2 feet of snow only to be told on arrival at work to go home :evil: another 5 miles!! frozen to the core, but now my hands are thawing i get an extra 4 hours of practise :D it's not...
by OneHandOnly
29 Nov 2010, 16:46
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Struggling
Replies: 10
Views: 10241

Re: Struggling

Hi pia noidea :) Can't comment on whether it gets any easier, it's still bloomin' hard for me.Started learning one month ago and i've had 4 lessons,i started trying two hands together after 2 weeks and i can manage a few tunes(although i wouldn't call them that, they only last 20/30 seconds).My teac...
by OneHandOnly
28 Nov 2010, 15:33
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: hello everyone
Replies: 14
Views: 10441

Re: hello everyone

dave brum wrote:I often wonder how church organists cope, having to sit in freezing cold churches and play, I bet their poor little pinkies must be perishing!!!

and their fingers too! :D :D :D
by OneHandOnly
28 Nov 2010, 12:49
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Christmas 2010
Replies: 38
Views: 16362

Re: Christmas 2010

dave brum wrote:Does anybody have any 'top tips' about keeping cats away from Christmas trees? how about the CATTERY!! :lol: only joking, i love cats but mine stays home alone while i go to spain, a woman comes twice a day to look after her.Unfortunately already booked the holiday but as i hate chri...
by OneHandOnly
28 Nov 2010, 12:41
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: hello everyone
Replies: 14
Views: 10441

Re: hello everyone

hi all :D thanks for your comments. Yeah, i already know that the keyboard won't last long, my teacher has a grand piano and i love it :piano; but i have to decide whether to go with an acoustic or a digital. can practice 2 or 3 hours a day in the week and 5 or 6 a day at weekends (believe me , i ne...
by OneHandOnly
27 Nov 2010, 19:34
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: hello everyone
Replies: 14
Views: 10441

hello everyone

just saying hello... finally decided to have a go at learning the piano after years of wanting to do it but not having the time. now, as a slightly old man of 39 years it's time. Found a teacher(i hope he's patient :D ) and bought a keyboard, i know, i know, not ideal but as i've never had any attem...