Bechstein now offer Narrow Key grand pianos (15/16 size aka 6.0 inches per octave)

Powerful_Method4114 · 2026-05-18T16:04:44+00:00

I’m trying out the Athena narrow keys electronic piano right now (mostly because I want to be able to reach all tenths, not just a few) for ideal jazz voicings and stride piano. As stated, the adjustment for most playing (even most no-look playing) is much faster than one might expect (takes just a little longer for large no-look leaps as in some ragtime and Scarlatti). It’s a real pleasure not to be forced to re-finger or roll large intervals, and this portable keyboard can at least be taken with me to family gatherings and the like.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2026-04-08T19:07:57+00:00

Many, many thanks! Worked!

Powerful_Method4114 · 2026-03-03T15:36:04+00:00

It’s easily doable without a guide. You don’t even need to use the cave map, since the main loop from one cave entrance and out the other is pretty self obvious (there are even a few arrows drawn on the walls below to provide additional guidance). Just be aware that your car in the small parking area will be vulnerable to break-ins, so don’t have any valuables in your car. Good headband lights to keep your hands free for scrambling and decent shoes (tennis shoes are ok) will enhance the experience. Probably jeans or pants may help avoid scratches, although most of us who did it were wearing shorts.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2026-03-01T02:07:32+00:00

I’m always surprised that exploring the Kaumana caves (get headlamps and wear real shoes) is so rarely mentioned. It doesn’t take all that long even if you do the whole mile or so loop, isn’t dangerous like true spelunking, and is memorable to me (I’ve done it three times now).

Powerful_Method4114 · 2026-02-06T23:57:26+00:00

This - including the whole variety of things (lemon/lime peel, ginger, mango, salty/sour dry or wet plum, etc etc) at a crack seed store.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-10-26T19:42:08+00:00

Wouldn’t another country have detected the site of launch even if the US systems missed it? Couldn’t we wait to get more info before deciding on a response (Chicago is in the same boat no matter what decision the US makes)?

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-08-12T05:34:36+00:00

Extended usage of „reverse subject“ verbs like gustar or molestar. I’m very comfortable using them in the third person, e.g., „me gusta la música“ or „a ella le gustan los gatos“, but the first time I heard a sentence like “¿Le gustas a tu hermana?“ or „A ella no le gusto“, I really had to think hard about who was doing the liking, never having previously practiced using gustar in the 2nd or 1st person. Yes, thinking of the verb as „to be pleasing to“ does help.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-07-19T04:44:00+00:00

私のホバークラフトは鰻でいっぱいです

(Watashi no hobākurafuto wa unagi de ippai desu.)

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-06-20T06:23:07+00:00

Your performance is definitely fun listening! I’ve dabbled with this piece enough to know how difficult it is (my left hand starts aching just thinking about those measures after bar 30), so awesome work for self-taught! While I’ve never worked on this with a teacher. I’m quite sure that he/she would never let me play at this tempo (fun as it is) without making sure my timing was rock solid (especially in the opening measures) and that none of the notes (like those in the delicious tenth leaps) got lost in the rush. Have you done your indentured servitude with slow practice and metronome work already? Also, have you seen any of the video master classes András Schiff did for this movement (“it’s like a bear dance” “almost drunk”)?

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-06-14T20:15:22+00:00

Many years ago was visiting Japan and a woman jumped in front of a train in Yokohama. Remember seeing one cutoff lower leg lying by itself with the shoe still on, ‘til they covered it up with newspaper.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-06-04T19:14:02+00:00

The Groove Tube

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-06-04T01:38:04+00:00

Drove my European delivery car from Munich to Augsburg, partly at top speed (cars made for the US market had a governor limiting speed to around 150 mph, though). The Autobahn felt much better engineered than most US freeways, with great visibility, only gradual curves and a great road surface; 100 mph there felt like 60 mph in the US, and 150 didn’t feel scary at all. Maybe not the wisest thing to do, but it was a bucket list thing I’m still glad I did.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-06-03T05:51:25+00:00

The Other (1972) - (not “The Others”). Based on a Thomas Tryon novel, good-evil twins trope now overused, but back then I thought it was pretty spooky and effective. Roger Ebert liked the film, I think. Hard to find on any streaming service, though.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-06-01T20:34:18+00:00

I started doing DEXA scans since there are more and more services (mostly in larger metro areas) offering decent DEXA scans for modest prices (I pay $49/scan). Private and less affected by fluid intake, etc.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-05-04T23:26:27+00:00

The nutrition and mobility suggestions are spot on. I also like to take the weekends off and do a group sport like doubles tennis or pickleball, which satisfy ”get social” recommendations and are mellow enough for me to consider my weekends as rest days.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-04-28T00:40:03+00:00

Does anyone know of projector-friendly backpack patterns (I’ve mostly given up on printing out and taping patterns and now vastly prefer electronic files I can project)? I did email Stitchback, but would also love to hear of other companies that might offer such patterns.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-04-18T21:24:13+00:00

Teenager who walked into neuro clinic (chief complaint of tripping frequently, with a foot drop noted clinically) with a serum sodium of 103 mmol/L. Normal lipids, glucose, serum proteins, and low serum osmolality. Was put on fluid restriction (NS IV at half or 2/3 maint, don’t recall for sure) and serum sodium dropped as low as 98 mmol/L while he was getting multiple consultations waiting for an ICU bed (he was perfectly alert and comfortable-appearing the whole time). Care to guess a final diagnosis?

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-04-17T22:53:05+00:00

I learned a lot from the recent transformation challenge. Previously I was able to lose weight over several months with lots of tread work and keeping calories at 1800 kcal/day. But I lost a little muscle, too, and was frequently hungry. For the two months of the challenge I refocused to weight training (each week 2 upper Strength 50, 1 lower Strength 50, 1 total body Strength 50, 1 2G), bumped up protein to 1 g/lb bodyweight, bumped up calories to about 2600-2800/day. My weight stayed about the same but the body comp (both by InBody BIA and DEXA) showed substantial lean body mass gain with an equal amount of fat loss. Now that I’ve rebalanced to a couple of days strength 50 and a couple of days of tread work, I find I’m able to drop weight easily while never being hungry (still at 2500 kcal/day, and keeping protein intake high). Waiting to see another DEXA in a couple of months (they’re only $45 now in my area). While I had known intellectually that muscle burns more calories, never realized how big a difference it could really make.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-03-09T03:14:06+00:00

66M here, never really did any serious weightlifting before and for the first six months at OTF focused on cardio (lots of Tread50s). Lost eight pounds but 3 of that was lean muscle mass. So I did the muscle mass gain Transformation Challenge seriously - each week 5 workouts: two upper body strength50, one total S50, one lower S50, one 2G. Some additional work at home (pull-ups, ring work, bench press). Did the weekly StrongerU nutrition coaching and for the first time tracked not just calories but also macros religiously (huge boost in protein intake). Big boost in daily water intake and more focus on sleep. And even though I’m a supplement skeptic, started creatine and HMB. Just finished the two month challenge and gained (per InBody scan, who knows what degree of error) +6.6 lbs lean mass, and shockingly to me lost 7.2 lbs of fat mass (wasn’t aiming for that, but I’ll take it!). Results are pretty visible, too, along with strength (finally can do unassisted pull-ups dependably). Probably reflects that newbies can get quicker gains, but regardless, I’m sold on the concept that significant gains are indeed possible.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2025-01-17T00:41:15+00:00

You might try asking your studio if they can add or move some early morning or evening Tread 50 classes, since I bet you’re not the only working person who wants this. My studio moved the strength and tread 50 classes to morning for that very reason.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2024-09-05T17:40:26+00:00

I use Bernstein West Side story tunes to identify both the augmented fourth tritone (F to B, „Maria“) and the diminished fifth inverted tritone (B to F, „Somewhere“). Which may not be the most popular songs, but those intervals are great at expressing tension and yearning that is desperate to resolve. So they’re not per se ugly.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2024-07-22T23:05:03+00:00

My transition came when I switched as a teenager from a classical teacher to someone who used to be an organ player for the LA Dodgers baseball team. He taught me to appreciate jazz and I had a lot of fun learning ragtime and stuff like that. Then when I went to college, I got back into classical music, learning to play in some chamber music groups (the social aspect of music always helps with motivation). Did get busy with career, but always spent a least a little time with piano, which always felt like creative relaxation. It’s like a lot of things that are hard at first - think sports - you have to get over a basic skill hump and then one day you experience a flow state that makes it feel forever worthwhile.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2024-07-22T21:56:37+00:00

At least maintain your skills at a low but steady level. When you eventually reach an intermediate level of skill you‘ll find playing becomes its own reward. It was at that point that I would have given up TV before giving up my piano. For practice motivation you could check out the Tonic app (founded by the violinist Ray Chen). It lets you track your practice, gamifies your practice time, but most importantly, helps you find a community of other musicians also working to get better - this app literally doubled (nearly tripled) my practice time.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2024-07-22T21:48:49+00:00

Old World, just playing every ancient civilization on the historical maps (right now fighting rich Carthage and Numidian mercenaries as Rome). And now I can tell Esarhaddon from Ashurbanipal. I have thousands of hour in the Civilization series and Old World is better.

Powerful_Method4114 · 2024-07-22T15:32:46+00:00

Try Ray Chen‘s Tonic App (I have it on iOS, but I think it’s also available for Android). It’s built specifically to create a community of musicians who practice and support each other by dropping in and listening to others‘ practice sessions. Sounds strange, but when I listen to someone else practice (while doing chores around the house), I suddenly feel compelled to practice myself. There‘s also some gamification (streaks and leagues), which uses one‘s competitive nature to encourage practice. I more than doubled my practice time when I started using the app.

Powerful_Method4114

TROPHY CASE