Thursday 24th July

I spent quite a bit of time yesterday working on the Duncombe Gavot. It is getting better but it takes a while to get back into it each time I start playing.

For a bit of variety I also started working through Thomas Dunhill's "A Song of Erin" which seemed a little easier (at first glance anyway.)

This morning I was up early again and hit the keyboard with a mug of tea and my p-jays on.

Scales - About 30 minutes:

D major - lots of repetitions. Despite knowing the notes I still find the correct fingerings a bit of a challenge. I eventually managed to play the RH version and the two LH versions eight times each at crotchet = 60

I ran through C and G majors doing 4 reps of each version.

Arpeggios:

C, G and F majors RH and LH versions at crotchet =46

Duncombe Gavot

When I first tried to play this (at a very slow crotchet = 40) I failed miserably!
I decided to slow things down even more so I set the metronome to quaver = 60.
This really worked well. I can play the piece in its entirity with most fingerings and notes correct. Occasional errors here and there but dotted around - I don't always stumble at the same points. I hope I will be able to work this up to speed gradually.

A Song of Erin

I started playing this at half speed - crotchet = 60
I like playing this piece. I find it quite restful and although the notes look easy there is quite a bit of subtlety involoved. I have to pay attention to note lengths, my natural instinct is to hold some of the left hand notes down for too long. Fingering is also an issue though to a lesser extent than in the Gavot. I'm also keen to make the most of the dynamics. I actually worked this piece up to crotchet = 100 so I'm pretty pleased.

General Stuff

I'm really pleased I have started down the piano path. I felt really relaxed yesterday after a few hours practice - a feeling that I seldom get after drum practice. With drumming I have been practising so much and for so long that there is a greater sense of "work" about it. With piano I am much happier to play really slowly and allow things to happen at their own pace. I seem to breathe more deeply too. I felt really relaxed yesterday for the first time in a long time (but thats another very long and involved story.) I went for a three hour walk along the beach in the afternoon, stopping for an Ice cream and (a couple of hours later) a pint of Deuchars in the sun :) ...Happy Days.