Welcome to the tonebase Piano Community!

Greeting from Alaska!

Where are you from and what's your favorite food from there? ;) 

I have lived in Juneau, Alaska for a long time now - although I enjoyed some time in Nashville and the Chicago area.  Fresh Alaska salmon is the best!  My background - played some until I was 18 (typical American teen), then totally stopped (went to a new teacher who said my technique was so bad, that I had to totally start over and he said I couldn't...).  Got married, kids, computer degrees, profession (professional services firm), traveled extensively.  When I was 55, my daughter told me to do something to ward off Alzheimer's (ha) - and why don't I play that piano that we've been dragging around forever.  So I started.  When I finally retired, I got more serious.   I'll be turning 70 next year and still playing.  Really, really missed it.  Play sometimes in church, Christmas tunes, etc.  Did play a couple of recitals here, but performance anxiety (still doubting my skills) - is awful.  Denise said white screen in the brain - gosh, someone else has that!  Nice to know I'm not alone.  I'm better now, but still fear it.  Saw Seymour Bernstein's YouTube and then watched the movie.  So inspired to see him at that age.  A real treasure.

What are you currently working on? 

Chopin Barcarolle (my forever piece - as it will take me that long to play it well); Debussy Jardins Sous La Pluie, and Pagodes (right now); playing some others to keep them up a bit.  But a bit lost on where to go from here.

What are you hoping to get out of this community? 

Just a group to give me ideas on where to go from here, what to try next.  I'm homeschooling two grandsons (12 and 10) and the younger one especially good at classical music on piano.  Would like to know more about how to keep that going.  The older one is starting ukulele now, loves to sing and he also plays piano (although the most gruesome - on purpose - Moonlight sonata ever).  The younger one - well, loves the first Bach Prelude, Mozart Sonata in C, Shubert, etc. Love to watch them as they memorize so easily (and it is so very hard at my age).

Hi all

I am happy that I came across Tonebase while watching a YouTube video recorded by the amazing Seymour Bernstein. 

• Where are you from and what's your favorite food from there?
  I live in Wales, UK and my favourite food from here is fish and chips (of course)
• What are you currently working on?
  I have been playing (actually messing around with) the piano for 57 years - self-taught hasn’t worked out brilliantly for me… I have been having one lesson per week with an excellent contemporary/jazz pianist for the last couple of years and I realise how far I have to go to get close to where I want to be. I play for two to three hours each day and I am currently working on composing in the late-Baroque style. I adore the works of JS Bach and LV Beethoven and when I am able to correctly use the rules of counterpoint in my compositions I will be a happy person.
• What are you hoping to get out of this community?
  Inspiration, education, and finding out why I want to play the piano anyway. Honestly, I don’t know why I do it.

Hi I am 9 years Old, I live In Island of Bali, Indonesia. My favorite food is Soto Ayam, spicy Chicken soup. Am I the Youngest In Tonebase plz let me know if there Is other Children’s that is my age?

I am working on Six Moments musicaux, Op.16, No. 4 (Rachmaninoff), 

Skylark by Glinka, Sonata No. 4 by Bach.

I am expecting teachers from Tonebase can help me to improve those repertoire that I am still studying. 

Please let me know If one of you guys come to Bali. I will take you to my favorite Beach.
 

G'day,

I'm Mick from Geelong, Australia - originally from London England but emigrated to Geelong 11 years ago with my family.  Just about to turn 60 and newly retired.

Favourite food - curry

Musical background - I had piano lessons from the age 11 to 14 but stopped to concentrate on French horn and subsequently trumpet (Grade VIII).  Stopped playing trumpet around age 21 and then had various periods of intermittent piano playing over the next 38 years which can only be described as ill-disciplined, un-focussed attempts to play virtuoso repertoire without any kind of technical foundation or appreciation of the art of piano playing.  Ended up being able to play "excerpts" from pieces, but nothing that could remotely be called "complete".  Finally realised that, having now retired, I had the time to go back to basics and focus on a proper structured practice routine that might actually lead to being able to play at least to a competent intermediate standard.  Having played for the last 15 years on a Yamaha Clavinova, and becoming frustrated with the limitations of the action and sound, I've managed to acquire a very nice second-hand Kawai Kf-1 5ft 5" grand piano.

I self-assessed my level as between 4 and 5 so I am starting with some level 4 pieces first.

Currently working on Beethoven Sonatina in G; Morning Prayer from Tchaikovsky's Album for the Young; various pieces from Schumann's Album fur die Jugend, and the Clementi Sonatina in C.

I am hoping that this community can give me the motivation and knowledge to acquire a good technical foundation and the confidence to tackle some challenging repertoire in order to find out whether I really can play the piano or not!

I was born in Caracas, Venezuela. There are many delicious traditional dishes in Venezuela so it is difficult to choose just one. In South America we prepare many dishes based on corn. Our traditional bread is called arepa and you can choose the filling from any thing you like. It's delicious and versatile.

Slowly, picking up the practice rythm. I definitely want to learn (work in progress) Bach's French Suite No 6. Today I was looking at some Chopin Etudes and choose No 9 Opus 10 in F minor to push my left hand to play more difficult things. and Mozart K 332 in F Major. I would also like to learn a Schubert sonata. Starting last year, I began to write down my own pieces based on traditional Venezuelan rythms. Very often I find myself thinking, should I practice or write this melody? Anyway, we'll see.

I enjoy the process of learning, of revisiting what I already know and using it with confidence, filling the gaps in theory and harmony (for instance) and exploring new paths with new repertoire. Let me add that I would also like to be sure of my musical abilities and choose the repertoire that would go along with it.  

Hi Dominic Cheli , everyone!!! 
 

So happy to be here and excited to learn from this community. 
 

I’m from Mexico City. Needless to say that Mexican food is the best ;) (probably pair with Italian or Argentinian). I love lots of dishes so picking one is hard but… I’ll go with sopes (always have good memories with them, specially with my grandma making them. Un MANJAR!!! ). 

My journey in music has been very constant. I started playing since I was 4. Stopped playing for 4 years and now, just returning into it. It has always been my passion.
 

Currently I’m working in the Etude op.10 no.4 of Chopin, Etude op.2, no.4 of Prokofiev, Sonata op.111 Beethoven, Concerto no.2 of Saint Saëns, Prelude et Fugue of Cesar Franck and many more… I’m preparing for piano competitions (which I already participated in 2 this year :D) and just building my name as a piano concertist.

From this community, I want to keep learning and growing my artistic background. I want to learn also from the people participating here, make some friends :) and just have fun!! 
 

I’m so happy to be a part of a community like this one!! Thank you!