WEEK THREE Updates: Main Thread - Beethoven smiles in the Coda!
Hello and welcome to the WEEK THREE 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 October 4 - 11th I hope to be reading your daily updates in this very thread right here!
Download the music:
Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme
Please use the following format when commenting (feel free to copy & paste!):
- Variation you worked on:
- One thing you found easy:
- One thing you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
Sample daily update:
- Variation 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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I memorized this variation (II) so there are a few slight hesitations where I’m thinking..I had fun with this one. It seems like a bit of a romp to me! What I found hard was getting it memorized well enough to get through a video. What I found easy was practicing it because I love it.
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Susan you were great. I couldn't memorised the piece at all. Yet, you played it without any stopped. Great played.
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Susan Wow! Thank you so much! It is my greatest pleasure to inspire!
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CK thank you! :) I had to focus a lot on just that one variation to memorize it. Now I will move forward and see how much more I can finish (not memorized) in the few days we have left. I appreciate your support.
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Sindre Skarelven I bet you’re an amazing teacher!
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Susan Well played!
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Juan Carlos Olite Thank you!
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Susan Brava, Susan! :D
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Pauline thank you! :)
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Susan You're welcome, Susan! It was my pleasure!
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Worked on all variations
One thing I found easy: I felt quite secure in my vision of the character of each variation
One thing I found difficult: keeping it together when making a video!
The more I practiced the piece, the more I discovered the musical possibilities hidden within it, and the more I came to like it. I haven't played Beethoven in some time and realized that I missed him!
Thanks to all participants and thank you Dominic in particular for all your kind insights; I've learned so much on this journey!
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Monika Tusnady J'adore ta maniere de jouer. You have a lightness of playing combined with an energy that keeps the piece moving. AND you've memorized the whole piece!
(I'm not doing repeats, either, BTW!)
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Monika Tusnady Wow Monika, this is really good!! Loved your rendition!!
Congratulations! 
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Gail Starr O thank you! You cannot imagine how I worked on memorizing those cadences during the drive home this morning!
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João Dias da Silva Ooh, thank you! Can’t wait to hear yours!
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Monika Tusnady I am SO impressed that you can drive AND memorize!
So cool! -
Gail Starr I was NOT driving!
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Monika Tusnady Ahhh...I feel much calmer now, thank you! (I'm going to make a little video after before dinner. Stay tuned for "ma petite catastrophe", MDR!
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Monika Tusnady Wow, those 32 notes in the 6th variation! Lovely. Also, I really like the voicing in the B section of the 5th variation--I find that it's challenging to sing the melody, but you did it beautifully.
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Matt thanks! Var. 5 B section became easy when I played all the important notes and let some of the others ones go… In Var. 6, I simply channel Evgeny Kissin for a bit - I figure there’s more than enough of him for all of us.
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Monika Tusnady Congratulations on memorizing and playing so beautifully. Your fingers just flew over the keys in variation 6 . I’m in awe !
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Monika Tusnady I have crazy, curly hair like he used to (before he started losing it!). Otherwise, alas, that is all I have in common with Evgeny.
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Monika Tusnady Sounds amazing and memorized as well! I like the brisk tempo, especially in var. 6!
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Monika Tusnady Bravo Monika! I admire your concentration to play the entire piece in one go from memory in under three weeks. My hat is off to you! I really enjoyed your playing!
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Susan thank you! After knee surgery, I was able to travel from the couch to the piano, and maybe to the kitchen for a cup of tea. In retrospect (and with the pain gone), it wasn’t half bad!
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Monika Tusnady Very impressive Monika. One question, is that an electronic keyboard? The bass sounds are very weak. I want to hear you play that on an acoustic piano...
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