WEEK THREE Updates: Main Thread - Wrapping up the party!

Hello and welcome to the WEEK THREE Main Thread for this challenge! 馃ぉ

 


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 November 15-22nd I hope to be reading your daily updates in this very thread right here!    


Download the music:

Brahms: 16 Waltzes op.39


Please use the following format when commenting (feel free to copy & paste!):    

  • Waltz you worked on:
  • One thing you found easy:
  • One thing you found difficult:
  • (Optional): a video of you performing it!

Sample daily update:    

  • Waltz you worked on: No. 1
  • One thing you found easy: Learning the notes, and rhythms were rather straight-forward, and not challenging!
  • One thing you found difficult: Shifting the Hands was a bit tricky to get smooth!

Feel free to make these updates as short or long as you wish!

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  • Juan Carlos Olite Well done for learning so much by memory in such a short space of time.  I commented on this already but it did not seem to arrive, so apologies if there is duplication.

    Like 1
      • Juan Carlos Olite
      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Roy James-Pike Thank you very much, Roy! I always try to memorize the pieces I am learning.

      Like 1
    • Monika Tusnady
    • The Retired French Teacher
    • Monikainfrance
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    What I worked on: putting it all together.

    What was easy: hearing so many great performances over these weeks was a huge motivation!

    What was difficult: remembering which waltz follows which, and switching gears between waltzes. This is my first recording of the entire Op. 39, warts and all - apologies! - with my GoPro muffling the sound when it felt like it - more apologies! O well - it's the first time playing them through which is cause for gratitude and celebration 馃嵕馃!  From now on I will be able to practice with a much greater sense of perspective. 

    Like 4
    • Monika Tusnady Wow. That was good! l liked the last two most, when everything was quietening down. Fantastic Monika!

      Like 2
      • Juan Carlos Olite
      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Monika Tusnady Absolutely awesome, Monika! You have to feel very proud of this incredible outstanding job.  If I had to choose some of the waltzes of your performance, although they are all magnificent, I would choose numbers 12 and 16, you play them very, very beautifully. It motivates me to learn them. Thank you and congratulations!

      Like 1
      • Monika Tusnady
      • The Retired French Teacher
      • Monikainfrance
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Richard George Littlewood You are a quiet kind of a guy, aren't you? Thank you for the kind words!

      Like 1
      • Monika Tusnady
      • The Retired French Teacher
      • Monikainfrance
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Juan Carlos Olite Thank you! I bless every minute I spent learning this music and finally feel like I have something to move forward with. 

      There are so many faces Brahms can put on a waltz, aren't there? Like Dominic says, the music CAN get lost in all the notes; then again, once we have the notes under our hands, they take our heads and our hearts on a really long, complex, and worthwhile journey. Juan Carlos, I can easily imagine that you will learn all of Op.39. 

      Like 1
    • Monika Tusnady Bravo Monika! What a magnificent accomplishment. Yes, you should celebrate. I enjoyed hearing your Brahms very much!

      Like 1
    • Monika Tusnady Just watched the watch party and just wanted to commend you on a fantastic job . You even handled that minor slip in a professional manner ! Loved the rose on the piano too and the flowers before the video !

      Like
      • Monika Tusnady
      • The Retired French Teacher
      • Monikainfrance
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      mariannejhampton Aw thank, Marianne! That was quite a problem I had in the opening of No. 4, wasn't it?It amazes me that I had to learn the whole set before I ever started to understand the meaning of the individual waltzes - it's the old "compare and contrast" from high school, I guess. I would dearly love to finish Op. 39 by Christmas and this challenge was a huge motivation to work with some seriousness. Again, thanks for your kind words. 

      Like
  • An unexpected family situation arose which took me away from the piano in these last days of the challenge. Therefore, I never got a chance to make a video of my progress. Now I am preparing for the holiday so unfortunately I will not be able to attend the watch party. Congratulations to everyone! Although I did not get a chance to complete the challenge, it has been my favorite so far because I just love this repertoire! I plan to keep working on it and hopefully will post more waltzes! Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate the holiday! 馃崄馃崅

    Like 1
  • To Dominic , Juan Carlos , Susan , Richard , Monica , Sandra , CK 

    Just finished watching the community watch party and just had to say how much I enjoyed everyone鈥檚 version of the waltzes . It was truly inspirational to hear you all and  all the hard work definitely paid off ! 
    Bravo ! Take care !

    Like 2
      • CK Lau
      • Piano Teacher, Learner and Student
      • br0wn
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      mariannejhampton thanks a lot to watch:)

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