092910

piano fitness is potentially boring.  any time any thing is endlessly repeated the potential for boredom is a possibility.  the participant must be disciplined to press through the boredom or find the interest from within.  imagining a serious tennis student practicing the serve!

training:

hanon 15 bl x2
hanon 15 bl as written
big chords-for arms

playing:

inventions 13 &14 bach

092810

piano fitness is strength building.

playing:

prelude debussy

etude 10.5 chopin

092710

piano fitness is changing.  changing the feeling changes the sound.  the falling of the arms grows stronger and easier.  i have to keep learning to listen more to all the voices singing in my mind.

092610

piano fitness is connection.  listen with mind/body's swinging arms connecting through the keys create the sound. i am still learning to listen.  finding the "sweet spot" is the connection. i cannot think of any athletic activity that doesn't utilize the sweet spot in playing well.  my teacher,  lina baranov's maxim: "don't think, play!"

training:

10 3rds

playing:

rags joplin
prelude debussy
claire debussy
1st arabesque debussy
waltz in am chopin
étude op.10 nos 3 & 4 chopine
inventions 12 & 13  bach
theme/6 variations beethoven

092510

piano fitness is connecting feeling and listening.

training

hanon 15 bl-arms
hanon 15 br-rotary
hanon 15 as written - listening the the scale of the first note - up and down


playing

prelude debussy-a most wonderful ff ending,  also has the most beautiful pp, and exciting everything else in between.

claire de lune- debussy  everyone plays this.  it is stunning sound color of the pp kind.  only 1 of the 72 measures is marked f at measure 41 (6 measures past the exact middle)!

pavane ravel
inventions 13, 14 bach
rags joplin

092410

piano fitness is for me.   just over 3 1/2 years into the 5 year training, and feeling the sounds with sound feelings is occurring.   the released inner upper arm changes shoulders and back awareness, allowing for the thumbs to hang loose.  the sound is nicer too!  letting gravity do the work-stop adding to it for better sound.

playing
maple leaf rag/joplin
music by the masters - to page 40
     listening for the beauty in the 2 note slurs
pavane ravel
am waltz chopin
theme w/ variations beethoven
sonatinas  various

092210

piano fitness is training.  finding the proper arm position for easiest release trains the muscles in that shape.  changing arms angles changes muscle posture.  letting the changes happen and developing the new good habit is the training.


training:

the basic- 10 arms
f.f.. 2 s.n.

playing"

am waltz/chopin
music by the masters selections:
venetian boat song/mendelssohn
allegro/haydn
pages 6-20