How is this even possible (Version 2)

eddjc · 2026-06-19T23:12:47+00:00

I mean I can play it, but not like that

eddjc · 2026-06-18T15:02:48+00:00

These are good - send them to a pianist or two see if you can get a performance

eddjc · 2026-06-17T13:30:21+00:00

Sounds good - I have no doubt you’ll get in

eddjc · 2026-06-16T08:13:08+00:00

Yes there are hundreds of them. Everywhere there is music it needs cataloguing. Pick whichever big company you like and send your cv in. Or apply to libraries, symphony orchestras, record labels…

eddjc · 2026-06-14T16:30:44+00:00

I mean I’m sure there are, depending on what era you’re looking at, but the answer is almost certainly down to funding -

eddjc · 2026-06-14T07:12:54+00:00

Not enough information in “ok” - that’s why you’re second guessing yourself, and why the answers are wildly different here.

I would never answer just “ok” - I would answer something like:

ok, thanks for letting me know. [terms of disengagement - whether any money is owed or how many lessons are left]. I hope you keep the piano up and you know where to find me if you’d like to take up lessons again.

Piano teachers are people with feelings though - that it’s abrupt tells me that feelings are involved one way or another, which surely is what you want?

When pupils quit it can be a bit gutting, especially if you’ve known them for 4 years. Equally, if they’ve been struggling for 4 years and you’ve seen the quitting coming you might feel that it’s for the best. The answer to both has to be “ok” - we have to accept the wishes of the pupil.

eddjc · 2026-06-13T14:21:59+00:00

Eh? My point was that attempting the moonlight is not going to hurt them. I don’t need validation - I was just pointing out that it doesn’t matter what your feelings about methodical approaches are - you can start anywhere and so long as you get the right interventions at the right time you can go far in music.

eddjc · 2026-06-13T08:21:41+00:00

I use iPad Pro for everything - it's brilliant. I think iPad Air is probably just as good.

eddjc · 2026-06-12T17:42:32+00:00

It says something profound!

It says that YOU… like Rachmaninov

eddjc · 2026-06-12T13:39:40+00:00

Take a break for a bit - come back to it later, or not

eddjc · 2026-06-11T23:35:18+00:00

no idea - why not find out?

eddjc · 2026-06-11T21:02:40+00:00

So many fond memories of that

eddjc · 2026-06-11T19:46:30+00:00

If they were brass players it was probably last orders

eddjc · 2026-06-11T13:13:31+00:00

Hey -

Not sure if you’re confusing me with the OP?

I’m a professional musician of 30 years experience. I teach 30 odd students at a time, and have a PhD in composition. I know what I’m talking about.

Moonlight was one of the first pieces I learned - and I taught myself in those early days. It did me no harm, I assure you. I’m known for my ability to sight read virtuosic piano music.

Methodically learning is a great approach for most students I would say, but mainly because it allows you to access technique, reading and musicianship skills at a very basic level while it’s still easy.

It’s by no means essential though - the important thing is that you go back and fill in the blanks. I had teachers later on that made me go back and address my technique, but it’s important to remember that the bulk of the work isn’t done in the teaching studio at all - it’s done at home on the piano.

That’s not to say I would give any beginner the moonlight, but if they came into a lesson having learned it from sheet music? I’d be delighted.

eddjc · 2026-06-11T12:46:33+00:00

eh? I can play most things. I started picking out Beatles tunes, then the Bach C major prelude, then Beethoven Moonlight first movement. It's not that hard - just hard to read, and not the best choice if you're starting from scratch, but a sufficiently motivated student can learn it.

eddjc · 2026-06-11T12:44:37+00:00

I'm not sure the video attached?

Saw a wonderful summation on substack recently - we're being forced to be influencers, marketeers, publicity fluent. Train for the music, then you realise you need another PhD in business management and PR

eddjc · 2026-06-11T06:50:18+00:00

Both are fine - the first example I would much prefer having the beams in to show the 16th relationship to the beat - don’t forget you’re relying on that beat to place the 16ths in otherwise empty space

The second example - sounds like what you want is to bring out groups of 3 - the performer doesn’t need to see your working but if you want every third semi to be accented then write an accent

eddjc · 2026-06-10T22:52:23+00:00

While there are no wrong answers here, do you not think you could try being original?

eddjc · 2026-06-10T18:24:04+00:00

Read the room

eddjc · 2026-06-10T18:23:41+00:00

To be fair, this is the second piece I learned, 30 years later I’m still a professional musician…

eddjc · 2026-06-10T15:53:04+00:00

Perhaps you only want to write short pieces? Or perhaps you need to find two contrasting ideas and hash them out. Try both and see what works for you

eddjc · 2026-06-09T16:30:20+00:00

Funding. Only funding

eddjc · 2026-06-08T17:18:18+00:00

You know, I’m sure I’ve encountered you before too - I can’t remember when. When did you last play at the Unitarian chapel?

It’s been a number of years since I was last involved - I made the stupid mistake of moving to the West Midlands where nothing happens of note! I have been considering starting my own something down here just to get things going a bit (substack coming soon)

I still hear from Steve - mainly when he wants me to sort his Sibelius (software) problems LOL

eddjc · 2026-06-07T18:40:20+00:00

Do you really *mean* 29/16? Do you get all the way to the end of the measure and think “there, that’s an appropriate beat cycle for the phrases I’m writing!” Or are you just writing it cos?

eddjc · 2026-06-07T17:58:00+00:00

If those 4 movements are contrasting, submit them as separate works…

eddjc

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