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!!!