Week Two: Rachmaninoff's "Strawberry on the Keyboard"
Hello and welcome to the WEEK TWO Main Thread for this challenge! 
Alright everyone - this is the thread where we'll all be posting our daily updates.
Make sure you've read the rules before replying (<- click)
Twice a week between March 20 - March 27 I hope to be reading your daily updates in this very thread right here!
Here is this week's assignment!
One of Rachmaninoff's famous statements about piano playing is that
"One must imagine a ripe strawberry sitting on the key - and you have to push through it!"
in order to create that rich sound so necessary for his music!
What does this mean?
In order to push through the strawberry, you must have a firm yet relaxed finger, but also feeling the depth of the key (not playing too "shallow"). The most important aspect however is that the speed of attack will be consistent, yet perhaps a LITTLE slower than you might normally use. This is one of the secrets to creating a round, warm sound.
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My first video for the challenge: Prelude op. 3 nº 2 in C sharp minor.
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Vidhya Bashyam Thank you so much, Vidhya! You are so generous in your words!
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Juan Carlos Olite Such a warm rich tone!
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Juan Carlos Olite Your playing is so polished and professional. Each voice has its own personality and your phrasing is exactly what I would want to do (if I could play this piece). I love your shifts in tempo give the piece so much energy and a drive forward, until you magically unwind all the tension. Thank you for posting! You inspire me.
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Juan Carlos Olite Fantastic, Juan Carlos!! Such intense music and playing! Bravo!
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Juan Carlos Olite that is very beautiful! Love how you have maintained the tension of the the piece, and allowed the chords to ring and flow from one to another!
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Alice Lin Thank you very much, Alice!
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Gail Starr Thank you so much, Gail! You always encourage me to practice more and more
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Andrea Buckland Thank you very much, Andrea!
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Natalie Peh Thank you very much, Natalie; I had always wanted to learn this piece.
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Juan Carlos Olite Wow! Wonderful playing, Juan Carlos! I enjoy the intensity of this piece, but you still manage to bring sensitivity to your playing through the excellent phrasing and voicing. Bravo!
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Juan Carlos Olite Wow — Bravo!! Fierce and intense!
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Michelle R Thank you very much, Michelle! You are always so kind.
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Tammy Thank you so much, Tammy!
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Just starting to learn this charming little Valse (thanks to Vidhya's recommendation).
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Gail Starr Love it Gail! You have captured the vibrance so well!
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Gail Starr wonderful, Gail! Your hands look perfect for that!
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Andrea Buckland Yes, no pain at all!
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Vidhya Bashyam Thanks, Vidhya! Getting the hang of it. Now I just need to purchase a real microphone...
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Gail Starr it sounds so bright and lively! This is such a beautiful and happy piece, and played with a gentle lilt to it!
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Gail Starr As you were playing, I was imagining being in a movie theatre with a silent movie on the screen and Gail the Pianist playing for the movie!
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Gail Starr Vibrant and shiny playing, Gail! Make you want to dance!
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Juan Carlos Olite Thank you so much, dear friend!
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Natalie Peh Thank you so much, Natalie. I still have a lot of work to do on it, but it is fun.
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Thurmond R Thank you for your lovely description, Thurmond. Believe it or not, my great aunt (born in 1898) WAS a pianist for silent movies!! She said it was a very cool job and she was well paid.
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Gail Starr Love this, Gail. So buoyant and lively! So nice to see you in a video too :)
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