Piano and Summer Vacation

The Sad Piano awaits.

Summer has arrived and with it a vacation or so, which does not lend itself to keeping up with piano goals. Spent about two weeks away from home due in part to a death in the family and then a week off to travel. Meanwhile back at work, responsibilities there backed up so upon returning I have been pretty busy trying to move things along. That has combined with my daughter's summer volleyball league and various other activities to diminish a lot of piano time.

I have had a few nights of just 5 to 10 minutes of something, a time or two with nearly an hour, but nothing on a consistent basis. That can be discouraging. I have acquired a keyboard tho that should enable me to play, very quietly or over headphones, without disturbing everyone in the house.

My philosophy to piano is not surprisingly much like my approach to golf. I look for successes to rally around, that provide something to focus on and try to build on. On occasion something will sound musical, and surprising, and I try to replicate that success.

I am also working on memorizing Joplin's "Palm Leaf Rag". I selected it because it has 3 sections instead of 4, so voila 25% less to cram in. Its coming along, slowly. And by the way, a very nice composition by Joplin with some quirky neat sounding passages.

Onward. Listening to my Vince Guaraldi station on Pandora. Like golf, I at least think I learn something from listening and watching the greats, whether it translates into practice, we'll see.