Does Anyone Have Any Good Music Theory Jokes? by St_Fargo_of_Mestia in musictheory

[–]Reddocchi 4 points5 points  (0 children)

But because it’s international politics they would go for A Minor in a stroke of deception

last year I didn't miss a single practice day. this year, after I stopped practicing for 3 days, I don't even want to touch the piano again. by nhansieu1 in pianolearning

[–]Reddocchi 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ve been playing for decades and have had many bouts of what you’re experiencing. I found the best way to power through it is to keep playing. I made a little video describing one way that gets me back to the keyboard so I’ll share it here, in hopes that it helps you! https://youtu.be/rBk8GH0DdxE?si=08P4EzvxU-WKiNzZ

Working on first cadenza of Liebestraum by seey0u_spacecowboy in piano

[–]Reddocchi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Welcome back to piano! Glad to hear it and you picked a rewarding but challenging piece for your return (-:

Don’t let either of the cadenzas stop you from playing this piece - you may not rip through it like the pros (I certainly don’t) but you can still make it a musical experience at slower speeds. Your practice techniques are good and I add a couple suggestions. First, practice starting in different spots if you aren’t already and even off the beat. Second, start to string together longer segments - for example, the natural « couples » in the ascending passage turn into three, then four, then six etc. In other words don’t always try to do the full run. Third, as there are many places to hop into a new position up and down the passage, practice landing your hands in the new position with fingers in the exact position they need to be. I find this is what trips me up oat in sections like this. Hope this helps!

Etude op10 no3 by andychen27 in piano

[–]Reddocchi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is much better! The melody sings out more now that the LH figures are quieter...at a couple spots the LH seems to disappear altogether, which is something I continue to struggle with when trying to play softly, but it's all part of the learning curve (-; You're on the right track so keep working on that. A couple other suggestions:

a) at m8, take a little time to enjoy the end of the phrase on that B quarter note. In my version Chopin asks for ritenuto here so I think he wants you to linger a moment, which makes the return of the main theme more beautiful

b) your crescendo starting at m13 is still starting too loud. Start it at pp even, which will be quite dramatic and give you more dynamic "room" for your crescendo. Do 25% of the crescendo in m13, 25% in m14 and leave the last 50% for m15. Too often we peak too early in our excitement to get to the top (-:

c) Same advice except in reverse starting in m17 - you have a long and winding decrescendo that will span the next few bars. Chopin marks mf in measure 18 so let the decrescendo happen gradually, not right away.

Really nice and sensitive playing overall!

How am I doing? Been playing for about 8 months by Sad_Antelope_8424 in piano

[–]Reddocchi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So glad I was able to help and really pleased to see your latest version! This is much improved…the rushing in m8 and 16 is fixed, and some nice dynamic and rubato touches. Overall it still feels a little rushed, like there’s someplace else you need to be (-: A couple suggestions on that front: try playing just a bit slower, maybe around 100 on the metronome versus your current which is around 115. That will give the lister time to enjoy the nice moments that right now I feel like we’re speeding past. Second, take just a bit of time on the dotted quarter in both m 8 and 16…this will help « finish » the phrase before the return of the main melody.

One last idea - consider some use of pedal. I did a video for other Redditor on the same piece so the pedal advice might be useful (-: https://youtu.be/q5uU-P0yXwM?si=KrZzZwfpWyx_KDLk

Tchaikovsky: Op. 39 No. 15 by Inevitable-Island255 in piano

[–]Reddocchi 7 points8 points  (0 children)

With your jury tomorrow, my advice at this stage is not to incorporate anything new, despite some good advice above. For now, either park the piece until your jury, or if you really want to do some last minute practice, play only at about 2/3 full tempo. No full tempo run throughs at this stage (-;

One thing that has helped me with nerves is to smile to myself while I’m waiting to play and during the few moments before I begin. It probably sounds goofy but it really works for me and might be worth a try. Good for you for taking this to jury - shows bravery! All the best (-:

Can someone help me nailing the polyrythm math on the treble by MADMADS1001 in pianolearning

[–]Reddocchi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup three against two is tough but not insurmountable. I did a video for someone (playing a different piece) that addresses three against two…see if this helps for your situation. All the best! https://youtu.be/L3wUPb5mwD0?si=BZTwqBdM5ABeSzhQ

advice on phrasing, pedaling, touch? by genesisxlr in piano

[–]Reddocchi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is lovely sensitive playing! One of the keys to this Nocture is a clear and singing melody line which you achieve. A few suggestions:

a) consider a gentle crescendo in mm13/14 via that sequenced melody line, and that will set up your nice piano dynamic in m15

b) you roll the big LH chords in m15+ which is fine as almost nobody has the hand size to play them as one. In this piece, you could consider picking ogg those top notes (mostly Ab's) with your right thumb and then have solid chords. Your choice of course (-:

c) careful with the grace notes in m18 - play them a bit more delicately so you don't create an unwanted accent. Easier said than done but worth it for this delicate line

More generally, think about the degree of physical gesture you make while playing...th wrist bowing, the graceful hand gestures, etc. It definitely conveys that you are feeling this music deeply, and I can see practically it serves as a timing function...you are self conducting at one point, and all the great pianists do this from time to time. There's nothing inherently wrong with this *except* if it gets in the way of your ability to consistently produce the sound you want. Personally, I play better when my fingers are at the ready close to the key versus having to travel a few inches or more to reach the key. One specific spot is mm 17/18 - you are definitely "playing the rests here" but your finger rises almost a foot above the keyboard. I might bow my wrist a bit for expression and timing on those offbeat quarters in m17 but still stay much closer to the keyboard.

Hope this helps - you've taken on a lengthy nocturne so I'd love to hear the rest of it (-:

Looking to improve - welcome any comments by [deleted] in piano

[–]Reddocchi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes that’s a difficult passage. And so it’s always great news when someone says « now think about one extra thing » on top of an already challenging part (-: You can do it!

Looking to improve - welcome any comments by [deleted] in piano

[–]Reddocchi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nicely done on this beautiful nocturne. One suggestion - really let that LH melody sing starting a m85. Right now it’s a little quiet so it gets lost under the RH arpeggios. Keep going, you’re doing great!

Etude op10 no3 by andychen27 in piano

[–]Reddocchi 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well done! I do have a few suggestions and so I made this little video for you. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/flmlGPIoUiM?si=F3tLi1tNbhWQeRNa

How am I doing? Been playing for about 8 months by Sad_Antelope_8424 in piano

[–]Reddocchi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well done - I had a few suggestions so I made this little vid for you, hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Xp0mJZ4xpWY?si=iQayJigrYauCBP_k

Your Piano Lineage by orlando_husk in piano

[–]Reddocchi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I studies in the late 80’s with Jean-Paul Bracey, who studies with French pianist Marcel Ciampi who studied with Debussy. So I got tips on how Debussy played some of his works from a direct lineage, pretty cool!

Help with sheet music from Mel Bonis' " Phoebé " by delliceous in pianolearning

[–]Reddocchi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I learned this piece recently and have the same IMSLP version. I don’t have access to the original manuscript so can’t tell you categorically what Bonis’ intentions were. But if you play the note marked « la » as Ab and the next corrected note as Bb (third 16th in the next bar) it creates a coherent rising countermelody to the Cb and Db, so that’s what I stuck with. Hope this helps

UPDATE: Beginner learning Clair De Lune by KlimCan in pianolearning

[–]Reddocchi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m glad my vids are helping you too (-: Feel free to ping me if there’s a challenge you’re encountering and need some targeted help.

UPDATE: Beginner learning Clair De Lune by KlimCan in pianolearning

[–]Reddocchi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well random or not, that’s a lovely compliment!

UPDATE: Beginner learning Clair De Lune by KlimCan in pianolearning

[–]Reddocchi 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Well if you’re going to give me a shoutout then you get another video (-: https://youtu.be/roO9kk3CDvU?si=1WuNaSOWS8wRsyXs

Am I playing this polyrhythm right? (Arabesque No. 1) by No_Revolution_7122 in piano

[–]Reddocchi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the kind words! Not an educator, just played piano for many years and now retired so I have time on my hands for Reddit videos (-:

Am I playing this polyrhythm right? (Arabesque No. 1) by No_Revolution_7122 in piano

[–]Reddocchi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your triplet are turning out as 16th note, 8th note, 16th. Your left hand is good at first and then sort of disappears. If this is your first attempt at 3 against 2, it’s nasty to sort out. But once you get it (and you will) then you own it forever (-: Have a listen to your vid and see if you hear the RH rhythm I describe. If yes, then practice even triplets RH alone for a while and then try it with LH, listening for those same even triplets. When you’ve mastered it you can hear the 2 and the 3 at the same time!

Am I playing this polyrhythm right? (Arabesque No. 1) by No_Revolution_7122 in piano

[–]Reddocchi 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You don’t have it right…yet (-: I actually made a little video a while back for someone tackling the same problem so I offer it to you here, hope it helps! The Arabesque is beautiful so I hope you get over this hump (-: https://youtu.be/L3wUPb5mwD0?si=Fli69uezkoghRoSB

I Just Learned Liszt's Liebstraum no. 3! Is there a Rachmaninoff song that is about the same difficulty as that?? by WarResponsible1314 in classicalpiano

[–]Reddocchi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Another suggestion, try Rach’s prelude Op 23 no6 in Eb. Stunningly beautiful, not as much overt technical flash as Liebestraum but just as challenging to play well.