Two weeks on...

It is two weeks since I bought my NP-30 and started down the piano path - an ideal time for reflection.

I am really pleased with my progress so far. In the past I knew what the notes on a piano were and I knew what notes were in which scale or chord. I knew how chord progressions 'work' and so on but in terms of actually playing a piece... well simply put - I couldn't!

I have now worked through most of the pieces in the 2009/2010 Grade One Book, a couple from the ABRSM jazz book and a couple in the 2007/2008 book. I'm getting through the material quicker now and starting to play the pieces much more musically (I think.)

I've found that whilst I'm off work for the Summer I go straight to the keyboard when I get up and end up doing about an hour. I do the scales/arpeggios for the day while I wake up. Today mas D major and A Harmonic Minor scales and F major arpeggios. By the time my hands and brain are working I move into the newest piece I am working on at a very slow, meditative tempo. By the time I look at the clock an hour has usually gone by. Its then on to breakfast and coffee, usually a game of tennis/walk at the beach and then back to the keyboard (and drum pad) for a few shorter sessions where I run through material I have already covered rather than learning new things. Its all working out very well so far. Not sure how things will go when I return to work though...

Last night I tried to recreate a dish I ate in a restaurant last week. I really liked how it turned out. Oyster Mushroom and Pancetta rissotto cooked with white wine and served with salad. Now that's some good eating!