Linda's Practice Diary
I've been invited to play at the 2nd International Stretto Piano Festival. I played in the inaugural festival last year so new pieces are needed and I love the idea of accountability and sharing practice ideas. Stretto means narrow and all of the performers at the festival play on narrow key pianos. We all have small hands and most of us can reach a 10th on our narrow keys (an octave is anywhere from 5/5" - 6.0" vs a regular piano at 6.5") The performance is about 40 mins and I need variety of styles. Here's what I'm working on so far...
Chopin Etude Op 10 #4
Crazy Blues (Michael Gundlach)
Some of the Brahms Haydn Variations (with my sister Sue Gould on second piano)
Clair de Lune
Maybe some Christopher Norton Latin Preludes
Rhapsody in Blue (Piano Solo Version)
Grieg Norwegian Dance No. 4 (with my husband Dave Paulson on second piano)
I'm having a hard time pressing the POST button but here goes...
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Glad you pressed the button! Fabulous repertoire. Best of luck to you, and I look forward to hearing you play sometime! Ciao!
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I've never heard of a Stretto piano. Thank you for introducing this to me!
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Hi Linda! I've been following Stretto for a while, esp. Carol Leone. I REALLY need to get a smaller keyboard one of these days. I had a really serious illness 4 years ago (I'm fine now!) that left me with nerve damage to my right arm and hand, so I didn't really start piano again until this past March. I bet I heard you online last year since I watched on and off!
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Gail Starr Hi Gail. The smaller keyboard has been life changing for me. It has allowed me to continue to play the piano throughout my life. I'm really glad you are over your serious illness and I hope you get a chance to try one sometime. Carol Leone is a fabulous pianist. We met many years ago and are in touch regularly.
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What are the Latin Preludes that you are playing? Can you tell me more.? Styles of pieces etc. Are they rhythms very complicated latin rhythms? Is there a good recording of them on YouTube?
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Carole Kincaid Christopher Norton has several recordings of them up on YouTube. They are a lot of fun!
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