Mind blown (!)

[Guillaume]

Jules, great progress on the piano. Hard to believe you started learning just a month ago. That's great and it confirms (once again) that the Principles are what works. They are so fundamental.

[Jamie]

Great going Jules, you make me proud!

I play piano every day, using the Principles of course! I am about to begin Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata, I will really need them then!

[jules]

Thanks Guillaume and Jamie for your comments.

It's funny you mention Beethoven Jamie, this is the reason I started playing the piano proper a few weeks ago. I was thinking 'if I could do anything now what would it be?' my answer was sit down at a piano and play a Beethoven piano sonata. To me his 32 sonatas represent the greatest music ever composed and indeed one of humankind's greatest achievements.

So I got Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Book 1 and started 'learning' the piano. (Before this point I had just touched my piano/keyboard a few times in the years I had had it). I applied the GP to everything in the book - no tempo practice, BPA, consistent fingerings, never practice anything wrong, etc. etc. I then decided to go for the Satie tune.

The piano is such an easy instrument to play. All the notes are there in front of you. It's impossible to play out of tune. And if you want a louder tone you just press harder! How easy is that ?

So I rearranged the Satie piece (for both hands) with all the notes equal value and started applying the BPA. At first I had to concentrate so hard (that is, relaxed, focussed, fully aware attention) it sometimes gave me a headache ! Eventually I worked up to having the notes at their normal value and et viola !

Please keep us updated on how you are progressing with the Waldstein sonata Jamie. That's a fantastic tune. My favorites are the last 3 sonatas (30, 31 and 32) but they are all 'great' pieces.

Also it's worth noting that when I play guitar I now (after learning the piano) play it in a more 'musical' fashion. With greater dynamics and feeling.

Happy days

jules.

[jules]

My girlfriend bought me a surprise present of a short session at a recording studio.

Popped along yesterday and this is the result:

http://soundcloud.com/jules153/jules-golden-brown-final

jules.

[Ruby6092]

Hi Jules,

What a wonderful present she gave you. Thanks for passing the gift on and sharing this song. It gave me lots of enjoyment!

Marilyn