111214

piano fitness continually learns to listen.  with "playing" comes sound choices for every note!

recital rehearsal

training
2 finger scales
ff 3
ff 4
train
5 finger 3rds 2-4

111212

piano fitness is feeling good.  the better you feel, the easier it is listen.

training:
hanon 1
hanon 15
train

ajm2-vincent

111206

piano fitness is touching.


training:

10 3rds*
ff 1-complete*

111126

piano fitness is patterns.  patterns are shapes under the hand and fingers

training:
5 finger -3 counts
5 finger 3rds - 2 counts alternated start


memorial program?

vincent
mozart k 263
bach prelude fugue am
chopin op 10 no 3
mendelssohn op 14
great gate of kiev
chopin op 53
emperor intro/your song

111124

piano fitness is learning to listen all the singing voices.    with pronated forearms at the right angled elbow, the upper arm supinates (as in downfacing dog!) allows to hear SATB!


training:

5 finger bl 3rds- 2 counts-up and down F#-C
ff 1 - complete

111115

piano fitness is consistent motivation.  daily hab-rituals become mundane.  staying motivated is essential and  stopping isn't really an option.  the challenging part of life- balancing taking breaks and choosing to train when not motivated.  focusing on long term goals can help.

played:

mozart k.265

training:

10 3rds
ff 1 -2np
hanon 15
train
ff 1- 4np

111111

piano fitness is celebration!  today is declared my piano birthday.  playing 90% of the time!  finally  pointing no. 2 in the correct direction!

training:

10 3rds*

playing:

op 10 no 4 k 265

111109

piano fitness is relaxed holding.  full range of motion in all joints allows for structural muscular development, when balanced normal is relaxed......

111108

piano fitness reforms.  without conscious thought habits form.  awareness of changing habits consciously reforms new habits.


finger training begins today!

training:
*ff 1- hardest variation:  2nd start note; 4th slide.  breathe focus helps!
ff 2
ff 3

practice:

mozart k265

111107*

piano fitness begins.

training:
10 pairs*
ff 1

111101

piano fitness is zen.  mind/body = self/soul. playing is singing meditation.  training continuously improves connection/balance.  sitting lower releases 2nd middle (inner arm) allowing captain and middle more freedom.  energy from soul through piano's  sound and feeling the golden thread start to finish is becoming normal.

training:
ff 3 -the 2-3 slide opens up today!
5-finger 3rds-
train

111024

piano is fitness.  remaining open to new feelings takes concentration. life is change. every breath is unique.  relearning to sit after jill miller's yoga tune-up for the spine changed EVERYTHING.  breathing into opened back muscles, i was totally unaware of my frozen quadratus lumborum.  after 1 week of painful adjustment, relearning all the basics: breathing, sitting, walking.

4 sided breath w/ the train-extremely revealing....

111010

piano fitness is connection.  mind/body sound/feeling levers/keys

110924

piano fitness is today.  now is the time to feel good-scratch the itch, ease the hardness, let go of the smallest resistance.

training:

broken 3rds, 1-2, 2-4,
hanon 15 bl
spider


practice

op53
op14

110923

piano fitness is undoing.  deeply rooted rituals, like sitting, walking, standing, (the way you scratch your nose!) might not need changing, but moving the levers in conjunction probably do, to improve efficiency-less work/more rest.  2nd arm continuously changes when watching the 2nd center.

training:
3rds
f.f. 1
train in 4
hanon 15 br

practice
op 14
op 53

110921

piano fitness is staying fresh.  stale habits can be invisible.  moving forward requires changes.  choose one: same/different.  fresh perspective with every repetition...

short lever training  comes into focus today.  time to start training mindfully.

training:

basic:  2,3,4,1,5
3rds:

5 finger 2nd start, triplet

practicing:

op 53 mm=48

110916

piano fitness is willing commitedness.

110914

piano fitness is relaxing.  how easy is it to relax and let go?  strength is needed to let go more completely so released energy is freer to listen!

training:

none :-(

practice

op 53 op 14

110912

piano fitness is chi.  life's energy listens to sounds produced from the mind/body connection.

training:

3 middles
3rd 2-3
4 way 8vas

practice:

op 53
op 14

110911

piano fitness is amazing.  amazing 5 year improvement every practice and performance. playing alone is still quite a bit easier 'performing" but that takes practice too.


performance practice

op 53 fisrt time through 8va section with no errors!
          details are improving throughout

op 14 memory returns slowly from '82's original study for junior recital performance.
          with music, it's feeling it under the fingers too..

110910

piano fitness is specific.  of course every symbol on every music page means something specific, but specificity awareness in training is essential.  finding the balanced feeling of all levers...


training

chromatic 8vas 1-5
5 6ths  1-5, 1-4, 1-3, 1-2, 2-5
f.f. 2
spider
train

practice

op 53

ocatves-

op 14

110906

piano fitness is ongoing.  feeling sound improves with listening.  sound feeling improves training.

op53
op14 mendelssohn

110903

piano fitness is building.   mental conditioning as well as muscular strength and endurance.


training:

ff 1
spider


practice:

op 53 octaves

piano club:
pavane

110902

piano fitness is ever changing.  letting changes happen allows different feelings.

training
2 finger scales
10 3rds
train

op 53 is 90% memorized- only the last section before the ending still escapes recall.

110831

piano fitness is connection.  the mind body connection is the guide in learning to listen

110816

piano fitness builds endurance.  concentration for an extended time is mental conditioning.


practicing:

op 53-playing through it roughly- pages 1-4, 7-8 memorized, pages 5-6 will come.

110809

piano fitness is inner perspective.  what point of view is watching? each finger has its own opinion!  playing solo or accompaniment? moving or resting?

1st:
op 53- watching the 2nd arm/3rd finger is challenging throughout the introduction.

training:

10 armiis:  1, 5, 3, 4, 2
hanon 15 bl br

playing

dizzy fingers


practicing

op 53

octaves!  quick twitch, largo tempo, 14 times

110807

piano fitness is feeling changes.  feeling differently changes the sound.   focused listening improves attention's endurance.  playing is work but fun and challenging like a puzzle or mystery.


training:

10 armiis
hanon 15 bl, br


practice
etudes op 10 3&4
op 53 ending, heavenly section, octaves-
mendelssohn rondo capriccioso  op14-intro

110807

piano fitness is feeling changes.  feeling differently changes the sound.   focused listening improves attention's endurance.  playing is work but fun and challenging like a puzzle or mystery.


training:

10 armiis
hanon 15 bl, br
 

practice
etudes op 10 3&4
op 53 ending, heavenly section, octaves-
mendelssohn rondo capriccioso  op14-intro

110806

piano fitness is self-discovery.  the 3rd eye and ear watch and listen.  discovery is infinite....


training

2nd 12
6ths 12, 13, 14,
8va 15

piano club prep

ebb tide/dizzy fingers
and so it goes/alley cat

110804

piano fitness is team timing.



training:
ff 1
4way 8vas

piano club prep:

ebb tide
dizzy

and so it goes
pavane

110802

piano fitness is brutal honesty.  is it absolutely comfortable on every note?


training:

10 pairs-2nd center continues to need the most practice! 2-5 the most uncomfortable

110801

piano fitness is focusing.  seeking and finding deeper releasing through better alignment.

op 53

octaves in 14  then 3 groups of 3

110728

piano fitness is continual self discovery.  looking inwardly discovering new feeling (the released finger-pit!) in the body.  listening outwardly discovering ease and freedom in the sound.  discovering the balance of ppp through fff and harmonic rhythm with bass,  lead, and additional voices.

 

110727

piano fitness is internal investigation.  looking inwardly to see what you feel.  like a detective, finding clues to solve the mystery of how.  broken down simplistically, like computer code 0/1, f/p.  listen for any 2nd note to be softer than the 1st note.  i.e. if 1st note is pp then 2nd note is ppp.

practice:

op 53  apply this principle to: l.h. 8vas!  - the most technically challenging
                                               the "heavenly" beginning of the end
                                               the r.h. solo waltz immediately afterwards

110726

piano fitness is searching.  attempts to scratch that just out of reach itch!


training:

octaves
hanon 15 bl/br
slow train

practice

op 53  hands alone octave section helps get the notes right!

110725

piano fitness is listening in and out.   inside-the mind sings, the body feels. outside the ears hear the results of the mind/body connection.


training:

10 pairs:  rotary


practicing:

pavane
moonlight i ii
op 53

110724

piano fitness is releasing.  continuously letting go until nothing is left.


played

beethoven adagio  inner voices releasing 2nd arm to 1st finger and vice versa.
dizzy fingers

practicing

op 53
pavane

110722

piano fitness is new awakenings.   fibers long frozen find thawing release. melting tension transforms to freed awareness. fresh and new.

training:
10 pairs
5 finger in 3


practice

beethoven concerto no5 i
op 53- changed fingering in introduction!

playing
moonlight i ii
ebb tide
vincent
mozart Bb i
great gate of kiev

110719

piano fitness is a choice.  choose how to sit, what to swing, how fast or slow?  choosing to feel and listen at the same time.  choosing when to stop and go to bed!


training
5 finger trills x2


pavane
ebb tide
m-Bb sonata i
vincent

110716

piano fitness is relaxing. releasing all tension,  the architectural structure from finger tips to sacrum in relaxed balance.


training

10 pairs
3 centers

practicing

ebb tide
dizzy fingers
alley cat
op 53

110715

piano fitness is the pits.   the armpits and fingertips opened and loose.


training:
f.f. 1 C/Db/B
armiis 2/3/1/2
3 centers

playing
ebb tide
op 10 nos 4 & 3


practicing
op 53

110714

piano fitness is transformation.    letting go of who i am; becoming who i can be

training:
3 centers 3/4/2
5 finger 3rdsx2
drama arms


practicing
op 53

playing
ebb tide
alley cat
nocturne
waltz
dizzy fingers

110712

piano fitness rests and returns.  training is conscious work.  playing is unconscious fun!

training:
10 pairs
3 centers

stepping up the training to  2rhythm, 3rhythm is overdue!

practicing

op 53.
ebb tide
dizzy fingers
beethoven t&v
consolation/claire
reverie

beethoven op27 no2 i ii iii

110706

piano fitness is metamorphic.  experiencing the changing that foreshadows what's to come. my practicing reminds me of a favorite quote by lao tzu "when i let go of what i am, i become what i might be."  letting go to feel differently in actions rehearsed millions of times over years is simple but not easy: the mind's eye focuses on feeling the release of extraneous tension which enables the mind's listening ear to hear differences in sound.

110705

piano fitness is investment.  time, energy, and resources are invested with expected returns on the investment.  dividends and interest compound with long term mindfulness.  (think 5 year CD...)

110704

piano fitness is feeling freedom! continued training of the 2nd center's free-falling arm strengths with each practice.  balanced sitting is essential.

playing
ebb tide
and so it goes
etudes 10 3&4
consolation/claire
waltz
inventions
1st arabesque
k 331 1st, 3rd
reverie
vincent

110703

piano fitness is developmental.  from one day's training to the next new awareness develops and listening closely, the tone is changed

110702

piano fitness is musical meditation.

learning
op 53
  intro/a section continues to improve
  transition/b section-practiced
  c section some octave practice
  d section-some focused practice-hands alone!

training
10 pairs
5 6ths
5 finger patterns-2 counts
 

playing
dizzy fingers
house on the ocean
m-bb sonata i
op 10 no 4
debussy prelude
am waltz

110701

piano fitness is physical physics.  fundamentally force=mass X acceleration.  levers and angles for maximum efficiency surrendering to gravity.   listening and letting go.
still learning!!!

110630

piano fitness feels good.  an introduction to music world through feeling sound.

110627

piano fitness communicates.   the combination of levers make up the vocabulary of movement

110625

played through the whole polonaise for the 1st time!

110624

piano fitness is meditation.  watching with the mind's eye. listening with the mind's ear.  aware of sound moving forward-fingers, forearms, full arms creating the sound.

110623

piano fitness is choosing.  there are only a few to choose from, but seemingly endless possibilities of combinations.  levers/sound  sitting/listening  which note will be the loudest in each measure/phrase  piano/yoga/pilates

110622

piano fitness is training in awareness.  aware of the sound produced by instrument. if it sounds good-continue training. if the sound needs changing-become aware of the feeling in the levers and change it.

training for the c section l.h. octaves-quick twitch and prepared touch.

110621

piano fitness goal  Chopin's Opus 53.  The grandest of the polonaises.

the opening of the polonaise is an approaching train  (or trainwreck!)  the thumbs always parallel with the keys while maintaining a level wrist.  listening to the treble/bass voices, watching the alto...

m12-practicing the 6th with a falling 1 supinating to 4 as quarter beat w/ 4 16ths

the heroic a theme mesmorizing!

m20/21 c dim 5fp,  3rds-stepping 1/repeating 3,


practiced introduction and exposition

110615

piano fitness uses "secret" centers.   releasing the finger(s) not playing.

110608

piano fitness is experiencing life.  mind body creativity in sound feelings (absolutely comfortable!), feeling sounds of ppp to fff.  watching the breath while playing (having fun!)

110607

piano fitness is a turn-on.  turn IT on! define IT=mind, mind's ear, the sound of the instrument (think like you're listening to your mp3's), the feelings in the levers.  learn to listen to all of IT.

110530

piano fitness is still learning to listen

training:
2nd arm
10 pairs
3 centers
f.f. #2

110520

piano fitness is connection.   the listening mind/body connection.

110520

piano fitness is connection.   the listening mind/body connection.

110507

piano fitness is imaginative.  the listening/feeling connection tonight reminded me of patty duke as helen keller when she understood "water".  there is a transformation undeniably happening.  i'm imagine i'm listening to the radio or cd while playing and it's sounding very good!  i am still learning to listen......

110430

piano fitness is forward aware- up and down.  the sense of movement with all levers!

training
10 pairs-the 2 man teams give each other support if forearm/full arm are in position.
hanon 15

piano club
prelude/fugue am bach/liszt
nocturne op 48 no1 cm chopin

110425

piano fitness is on-going.  the instructions from colleen continue to spark the synapses and the elusive "perfect" form still develops.  the forward pointing thumb, the awareness just behind the tip of fingers, (and of course especially 2),  changes the freefalling forearm completely.

110415

piano fitness is finesse.  feeling a little off center behind 2nd arm's finger while 1st or 5th arms'. finger points straight ahead.  pronating the natural hand position to fall.

110412

piano fitness is evolutionary.  learning never ceases. information is revealed from inside and outside.  new tips from co adent on sunday.. released pronation w/ a level wrist and feeling just behind the tip of 2.  lining up the 1st and 5th arm.

practicing
nocturne cm/chopin

110327

piano fitness balances rest with training.  a small cut on R2 and a trip to portland (to hear my college buddy colleen  adent play schumann's a minor concerto uberfantastically) was a very unplanned rest but now the training continues.

training:
captain's pairs
dramatic chords
5 finger 3rds

practicing:
nocturne in c minor/chopin for piano club

110308

piano fitness is poise.  a poised arm finds perfect balance with the 3 levers.  the falling arms, the rotating forearms, the swinging fingers all move together to find the sweet spot in the key.

110306

piano fitness is movement.   listening to the melody/harmony progress.  "the golden thread" alex hanway taught.  feeling the movement of the levers in harmony too!

training:
10 pairs-advanced
!new prep for ff2  1245, 1235, 1345. - intermediate
                    1234, 2345 beginner

playing:
1st arabesque
mozart sonata Bb

110303

piano fitness is today!  sound feeling and feeling sound!

3/3/11 is the day i first played piano!

110221

piano fitness works!  the 5th year of training is exciting.  learning to feel the combination of the swinging arms (free falling elbows)  the sliding  up or down (rotational forearms) and the fingers bouncing.  it takes practice to the the timing!  as my friend brian says "timing is everything"


training:
10 3rds
ff 3
dim 3 centers
hanon 15 s.n.

110218

piano fitness is alive and well.  training continues and listening improves.

01 29 11

piano fitness continues.   lots more of the same training.  still playing music from aunt jean's memorial recital.

training:

2 finger scales
big chords

vincent by don mclean

01-11-11

piano fitness is self-discovery.  the mind looks and views the self, as always, different from the last look.  the body listens and hears the sound. the mind/body feels music in self-discovery.