Idle chit-chatterers' corner

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 06 Sep 2008, 00:01

Gill the Piano wrote:Just don't expect to sound like the CDs!

Na... I don't expect to, I'm not Daniel Bareboim!! At least it will get me used to those evil looking leger lines in the bass clef grrrr

.I suffer form insomnia too sometimes, mostly every month.

Hi Dave!

Yeah sorry I will PM you to mo with my email, bit bussy at the moment.

See you to mo! bye!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 07 Sep 2008, 23:18

See Dave? Just starting Grade 1 and already showing off at the first chance! What'll you be like by the time you get to Grade 8?

sparkley · Post by **sparkley** » 08 Sep 2008, 11:34

Wow Dave, look at you entertaining guests with your piano playing!!! That's fantastic though, its brilliant how much your confidence has increased since your first piano lesson.

Aww bless you Gill, my Mum went through all the hot flushes recently and it was a very difficult time! Did you watch The X-Factor on Saturday?? Some very funny people on there this week - such as the Scottish lady confused over Whitney Houston songs!!!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 08 Sep 2008, 17:11

dave brum wrote:Thought you'd left us, Marky! How are you? Have you been sunning yourself in exotic parts like Bodrum, Negril or Colwyn Bay?

I'm doing fine thanks. As for sunning myself - hardly. Not unless flourescent classroom lights can give you a tan! I started back to work two weeks ago and have been up-to-my-eyes in paperwork and admin. For teachers, September, December and June are the three main blackspots for work overload!

louttrim · Post by **louttrim** » 08 Sep 2008, 17:14

hi Jan

My daughter is 4, and she isn't sure about me practising on the piano either...! I've bought a book called something like 'the Princess piano book' and it's got music in it from Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White etc. All pre-grade 1 arrangements, and perfect if she ever wants to start learning, but also good for me to warm up with if she's there - as she knows the songs and can sing along. That way we're both happy!

Linzy

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 09 Sep 2008, 23:38

But your breaking bad habits when you encounter those fingerings. Don't give up on them so quickly. Practising pieces slowly is actually a good method for refining fingering, hand position, note accuracy and so on.

Besides, you don't want to end up coming home on the bus from your next music lesson with your fingers in plaster-of-paris!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 10 Sep 2008, 19:22

As I said in reply to your e-mail, that piece is a little tricky for someone tackling Grade 1 so don't get too discouraged!

Celestite · Post by **Celestite** » 10 Sep 2008, 22:41

joseph wrote:RH (same fingering makes more sense if i start it on D though, so you can see why C has a 2) HONEST IT WORKS!

D-1 D#-3(or 2) E-1 F-2 F#-3 G-1 G#-2 A-3 A#-4 B-1 C-2 C#-3 D-1 etc

LH

D-1 D#- 3 E-2 F-1 F#-4 G-3 G#-2 A-1 A#-3 B-2 C-1 C#-3(or 2) D-1

This is what I meant. Also it facilitates contrary motion scales in a way that the AB fingering doesn't, and its faster.

Yes, yes, yes! At last someone else is advocating the fingering I was taught as a child! It takes a smidgeon longer to learn, but boy, is it faster once you've got the hang of it and there's so much less tension in your hands when you're using four fingers instead of three. Trust me guys, I'm a teacher!!

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 11 Sep 2008, 16:06

Yes Celestite,

I find that the ABRSM fingering of 131312 etc only works to get the child over the notes in the first instance. Using that fingering in a piece sounds clumsy - imagine doing it in a Chopin study or a Mozart concerto - you'd quickly come a cropper!. Let's have a campaign for good fingering......

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 11 Sep 2008, 19:34

Hi Dave!

That dot thing sounds intreresting is it a tip for sluring, did you find that out some where or did you make it up?

I simply drop my arm on the 1st note of the slur then roll off at the last note without moving my finger, with the rolling motion theres no need to move the finger it preses the note automatically. For slurs with more notes then 2 you need to play the notes in the middle legato and roll off at the end, Well thats what it says in my book.

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 11 Sep 2008, 20:01

Well, thats normal!

I do air Hanon when watching tv etc. sometimes

...not in the air on a flat surface, of course!

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 11 Sep 2008, 20:30

Thats intresting!

But I don't quite have big enough legs to do a scale on my thigh, I would probably be able to do the 1st tetrachord and then my hand would fall off

Yes, lets hope maby Jan has opened the bubbly to celebrate, and not drown out memories of her bad lesson.

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 21:23

dave brum wrote:Marky, it's certainly easier to do it the book's way if you learn to roll that wrist, suppose that's what the editor wants you to do when he/she put in the change of fingering from 2 to 1 on the D instead of playing thesame note with the same finger. Just so you can get that staccatoey sound right.

Worth training the fingers to do alongside the Hanons.

Sounds about right Dave. As well as this, Hanon is someone I turn to quite often to train the fingers again, particularly during term time when Grade sixish 'school music' tends to be the main portion of my repertoire.

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 21:25

I was sitting in the staffroom at breaktime today and subconsciously was playing my blues' runs on the table. I didn't even notice until a colleague asked what I was playing!!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 21:53

Huh! At 28 years of age, I don't exactly feel grown up myself!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:00

It must be my expert command of syntax and grammar!

louttrim · Post by **louttrim** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:00

28?? a mere youngster!!?! When I first started learning I'd look on Youtube for clips on how to play the pieces I was learning, and I gave up after I saw a SEVEN YEAR OLD playing Prokofiev's 'dance of the knights'.. I can do the first few bars and that's it!! Grrrr!!!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:01

Oh flip sake! Don't tell me I've been laising with folks from the local fold!

louttrim · Post by **louttrim** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:05

local fold??? don't know what you mean.... !

Apologies for being ageist! Your syntax and grammar are indeed exemplary

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:08

I was joking about the grammar....

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:08

....oh and, of course, about the local fold too!

louttrim · Post by **louttrim** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:10

chortle

we're only jealous - neither dave nor I will see 35 again!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:13

Well, so long as you didn't get mixed up with your typing and mean that you'll never see 53 and not 35 again, sounds like things aren't that bad!

louttrim · Post by **louttrim** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:17

no no no!! definitely 35 and not 53!!

and you do the music at your church? what kind of church? Is there an organ (and do you play it?), or is it more modern? so many questions...

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:20

It would be more modern praise and worship. It allows me to use my improvisation and fancy stuff as modern Christian music encompasses so many styles. Some of the more traditional hymns tend to be in more traditional metres and stuck in the same music style so at least in my church, I still get to experiment musically!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:26

Was that one of the mission praise range of books?

The problem with those books is that they are written in four part harmony. You'll probably notice that booth hands with be playing two notes each? It's technically laid out for SATB. Useful for choir masters but not so much for the pianist or organist...

louttrim · Post by **louttrim** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:26

sounds perfect! We're still looking for a church that fits us - we moved here 6 months ago. The church in the village here is very traditional, and lovely in lots of ways, but doesn't have very regular services.

I've been practising lots of carols lately.. love Christmas!!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:32

No it's okay. I think I know the one you're talking about. It is kind of difficult to read music like that at Grade 1 standard because of the sheer number of notes that have to be read and played at the same time.... bit like Rachmoninov's stuff to be honest!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:39

I'm blocking all future correspondence!

louttrim · Post by **louttrim** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:41

much as I'd love to stay and chat, it's time for bed. Daughter and dogs will be jumping on the bed at the crack of dawn.. Good night all

Lx

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:42

Okay 'night!

louttrim · Post by **louttrim** » 11 Sep 2008, 22:43

no, indeed! It's more likely to be the dogs first!

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 12 Sep 2008, 17:12

dave brum wrote:Now why did I imagine you to be about mid-40s, Mark! Moral of story dear readers, don't rely too much on your pre-conceptions.

haha

did you Dave? How old did you think I was? It would be intresting to know, how old do I sound ( type )?

I can't really say how old I thought you were because I found out your age in one of the posts. I probably thought your were 40 or 50??? but thats before I got talking to you!

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 12 Sep 2008, 18:03

Age is only a number folks! Its funny, I'm 28 now, I don't see old people or young people in general, I just see them all as people. People with more experience than others perhaps? I know people look different as they get older but to be honest, I don't even think about it either.

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 12 Sep 2008, 21:40

joseph wrote:Age is only a number folks! Its funny... I know people look different as they get older but to be honest, I don't even think about it either.

True say Joseph, true say, theres no point in age barriers; if I cared about age I wouldn't be talking on this forum.

Dave, I have no idea what your on about! But yes you have out weirded me when praticing

. Is it a cartoon youre talking about?

I can play the theme tune to the Rugrats, only 80s and 90s people will know what I'm on about...maybe.

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 12 Sep 2008, 21:47

dave brum wrote:Going WEEEEEEE whilst doing chromatic scales is Anna's

I only did it ONCE its not a habit. I like to do chromatics scales with the damper pedal held down now, it sounds SPOOKY!

oooooooohhhhh!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 21:50

joseph wrote:Its funny, I'm 28 now....

Warning dave and louttrim - more "youngsters" on the loose in the piano forums!!!

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:01

Thats nothing me and Sparkley are 23, we're almost young enough to be the lerry kids from your school Mark!

What are the kids like that you need to put up with at school? are they still cocky little gits? What language do they speak, I last left 'teenage speak' when I left college 5 years ago so I'm a bit out off touch with da in way of talking.

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:06

Well I teach in a primary school and the kids are not that bad. I don't have classroom control issues! Although, because the kids come from the countryside, they tend to have a rather broad accent which was a bit of a shock at the time!

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:12

Oh well thats good then, there nice country folk and are primary school kids! I thought you taught year 7s and higher in a secondary school, in the city or something. They would eat you alive!!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:15

No I opted not to teach secondary fairly early on! I did teach in a large town school but was made redundant and this is how I got to this new school. I missed the town school because of the business but I wouldn't care for the secondary level kids - more hassle than some of them are worth!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:19

Having said that, I still get to use my musical skills at a fairly high level. Our seniors are doing a remake of "High School Musical". I'm pretty much going to have to rewrite and rearrange the music for that!

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:22

hear hear!!!

I was going to ask you but maby its only secondary school music teacher thing, do the pupils need to sing out 'yes Mr Markymark' when you do the register at the start of your lessons? and you would need to play some chords on the piano as they sing out your name. I remember doing that when I was at school!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:24

Moonlight wrote:hear hear!!!

I was going to ask you but maby its only secondary school music teacher thing, do the pupils need to sing out 'yes Mr Markymark' when you do the register at the start of your lessons? and you would need to play some chords on the piano as they sing out your name. I remember doing that when I was at school!

Sometimes if I get them to line up or something like that! Sometimes my classroom looks like a localised Barney show!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:25

dave brum wrote:Markymark, let's have a wee bit of respect 4 your elders

Oh.... old Mr Brum has arrived! Make way so that he can get his zimmer frame past everyone!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:30

You see? It's not easy being young and vivacious!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:32

Moonlight has gone very quiet.... she's still there....

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:32

I also remember when I was in primary school and we had a music lesson once, we were doing something called 'Jazzamataz' and our teacher told us to make any sound we liked. So naturaly we made all kinds of nosies, hiting the table, howling, stamping &c, and she got angry our teacher! No idea why, we were just doing what she said; make a sound!!

Moonlight · Post by **Moonlight** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:32

I am still here!!

markymark · Post by **markymark** » 12 Sep 2008, 22:35

I try to vary the music lessons for the children. IN the afternoons, I take Years 3-6 in the afternoons (not all at the same time) and we develop topics or do something that ties in with their main classwork. For example, YEar 6 are doing "Frankenstein" as their class novel this term so we're doing some work with ostinatos and are leading towards making our own atmospheric, scarey music to compliment a section of the text that will support the mood of the extract.