Week 3: Keep the Momentum

By now, the challenge is getting real!

You’ve chosen your piece, spent time with it, and hopefully started to hear it take shape. But this is also the point where things can get hard. The easy excitement of beginning fades a little, and you’re left with the more important part: staying with it.

 

That’s what Week 3 is about.

Not perfection. Not having everything solved. Just continuing, even when the going gets tough.

 

Maybe you’ve hit a section that still won’t settle. Maybe progress feels slower than you hoped. Maybe you’re realizing how much more there is to do. That’s normal. In fact, it’s part of the process. This is often the exact moment when real growth happens, if you just keep showing up!

 

This week, the goal is simple: keep the moving forward!

Even a small step matters:

  • one passage a little steadier
  • one phrase a little freer
  • one practice session where you stayed patient
  • one moment where the music started to sound as you like

That is momentum.

This week, share where you are right now:

  • a short clip from your practice
  • a passage that’s improving
  • a place where you’re still stuck
  • or a few thoughts on what it’s been like to stay with the piece

And if you need, share what might be frustrating you, too.

We are all in this together.

 

Week 4 will be about recording. This week is about building the resilience to get there.

Keep going. Stay with it. You may be closer than you think.

59 replies

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    • hot4euterpe
    • Yesterday
    • Reported - view

    Week 3 Update - Mouvement (Images I, Debussy)

    This week's practice has been a bit frustrating as I have been unwell for much of the week and it is difficult to concentrate effectively on such challenging music when you do not feel clear-headed. My original plan for the week was to try and record a complete A and a complete B section but I realized that was going to be too big a goal, so I just focused on the complete A section. This opening section proved to be quite difficult to record to my satisfaction but I have included one of the better attempts below. I am sure it will feel a little less 'slippery' as I get back to feeling normal and have a bit more time with it to finesse some of the pedal work.

      • Noel_Nguyen
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       

      One word: astoundingly exquisite clarity!😁

      • Unfrozen Barroom Piano Player
      • Peter_G
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       I concur. Such a treat to hear you put all that learning and understanding into practice. Can’t wait to hear the full performance 

      • Unfrozen Barroom Piano Player
      • Peter_G
      • 20 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

       Hey Dustin, I'm also curious:  is that the "Dies Irae" theme I'm hearing in the tenor (LH) at about 1:16 and onward -- or is it just a 4 note motif that sounds somewhat like it?

      • hot4euterpe
      • 17 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

         Thank you for listening and your compliments. It is definitely coming along. A successful challenge already as I have it all memorized and have positive associations with this piece now. =)

      • hot4euterpe
      • 17 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

       I do hear it as well but I believe it is a 4 note motive that is very similar to the first four tones / intervals of the Dies Irae without it being a specific reference. Depends on your outlook though; to me, the piece is full of life and energy but when first learning it a pianist might definitely think that a Day of Wrath has come for their fingers!

      • vbashyam
      • 13 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

       Fabulous playing! Thanks for sharing despite being sick.

      • Pianist, composer and piano teacher
      • Sindre_Skarelven
      • 1 hr ago
      • Reported - view

       Nice work, Dustin! A big challenge to keep this up, when not feeling well, but you kept the momentum going still. Also adjusting the plan, which is needed sometime (and I had to do myself this week). I'm loving this Debussy mouvement more and more thanks to your playing! 

    • Philippa.1
    • 4 hrs ago
    • Reported - view

    https://youtu.be/fTvI6DYF35g Thank you to everyone for their encouragement, it really helps to know we have a community who is all working on their respective goals. Here is an overview of the tricky passages in the Waltz by Moszkowski.

    • Pianist, composer and piano teacher
    • Sindre_Skarelven
    • 1 hr ago
    • Reported - view

    My initial plan to get through the whole thing this week had to be altered when I realized I didn't have the necessary time this week. So what I decided on the weekend was to just try to get this middle section memorized. Here is an attempt! Gladly the last week of the challenge can be stretched a little, so there's still some hope to get a decent recording of this piece before the watch party! 🤞🏻

Content aside

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