 Music For Millions Vol 27, MFM27, More Easy Classics To Moderns. Its got what I will be working on for awhile. I have chosen Six German Dances by Beethoven to try out. I have a CD with these being played and they sound great - in the hands of a pro. Me, not so smooth yet. I don't know why either. The music is self-described on the title of the book as "easy" and looking at it you'd think, piece of cake. |
Nothing complicated, you see F and C7, 3/4 time simple. Yet I get brain freeze from measure to measure, and playing with a metronome there is no time for brain freeze. Its a problem of breaking my hands apart, a pesky grace note (all are) and a repeating f note in the left hand. So I will play a measure over and over until I start to get it right and can transition to the next without pause. Is it rote memorization? I don't think so because I have to look at the music on the page to get it right.
To avoid getting bored I have moved on to the second of the dances which involves more scale-like play in the right hand with droning chords in the left - still, staying in time with the metronome is testing.
What it really boils down to is that my technique is badly rusted. Fortunately these German Dances have different types of melody and accompaniment that will keep breaking my hands apart further.
To avoid getting bored I have moved on to the second of the dances which involves more scale-like play in the right hand with droning chords in the left - still, staying in time with the metronome is testing.
What it really boils down to is that my technique is badly rusted. Fortunately these German Dances have different types of melody and accompaniment that will keep breaking my hands apart further.
I am using some advice from Bill Hilton on this video as a guide for this return to the classics:
