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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Hi everyone, enclose is the link to listen on my participating on this beethoven's variation. Feel free to listen and welcome on the constructive comments. Appreciated https://youtu.be/rpn7w86Dydo
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Brett Gilbert thankyou:)
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CK Beautiful performance!
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Juan Carlos Olite thanks for enjoyed listening it
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CK Thank you, CK! I enjoyed your musical contribution to the Watch Party!
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I just had a chance to watch the rest of Dominic Cheli 's awesome Live Stream. Now, to try to implement his ideas....
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Gail Starr Great! Thanks for watching - let me know if you have any questions :)
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Gail Starr Isn't it just fascinating to watch a Live Stream on a piece we are familiar with! I love both Dominic's musicality and his ease and congeniality in front of the camera.
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Monika Tusnady I learned so much!
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I memorized this variation (II) so there are a few slight hesitations where I鈥檓 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 Very good! I have spent a lot of time on this one... If you allow me, I would suggest that you use less pedal overall (this will improve clarity; I am using the pedal very lightly, only to reinforce certain strong beats) and also try to release all the notes on the arpeggios, especially on the left hand.
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Susan Well done! This is not an easy one to memorize! I've practiced anticipating the changes of register and the cadences over and over again myself. This variation is very pianistic, feels natural under the hands, and both fun and challenging to practice. Thank you for sharing.
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Susan Great job! I love it, too. The variations all have really distinct personalities.
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Susan Very nice! This variation gave me some memory difficulties personally. It feels "like a romp" to me too, and I think you expressed that very well, it felt very playful!
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Susan Yes, very nice Susan, good sound, very musical, and happy!
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Susan That was just lovely. I particularly liked your crescendo just before the end .
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Jo茫o Dias da Silva thank you taking the time to share your suggestions! I will consider them for my next go round. I didn鈥檛 do everything I wanted to this time, and I did so some things I didn鈥檛 want to do under the pressure of the camera. :) I had a goal of getting at least one thing posted last night, whether it turned out exactly how I wanted or not. The three weeks fly by.
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Monika Tusnady thank you Monika! Yes, I felt it was necessary for me to memorize this one, but it took a long time to get the kinks out of a few spots. The memory was like wet paint when I attempted the video but I just tried to do my best for where I鈥檓 at in the process.
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Gail Starr thank you so much Gail! I agree, they really do contrast and play off each other nicely. It is very fun to find your own interpretation of each variation.
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Richard George Littlewood thank you Richard for the kind compliments! I feel very encouraged by what you said! :)
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mariannejhampton Marianne, thank you so much for the kinds words and for noticing my crescendo!
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Matt thank you so much Matt! I was starting to wonder why I was having so much trouble - I appreciate you sharing that you found it tricky to memorize also! I鈥檓 glad you felt it was playful - that鈥檚 just the mood I was going for. Jaunty is another word that come to my mind for this variation.
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Susan Well played, nice tempo, and memorized! I've given up on memorizing the whole piece as I haven't had time and it's tough to play from memory, especially when recording.
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Susan Well done on memorizing it, Susan! I think what you did with setting a goal, and accomplish it is so important. That something I do as well; Having a goal like making a recording and just do it :)
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Brett Gilbert Thank you for your kind comments Brett! It felt a little faster when I was playing it than when I watch it back, but I鈥檓 glad you think the tempo was good. It鈥檚 interesting to hear and see some differences on video than perhaps what you are hearing in your head when you are playing. I don鈥檛 currently have enough practice time available to memorize everything in three weeks either. Some things I can play about as well with music, but I felt this variation was going to need memorization to reach its peak.
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Sindre Skarelven Thank you Sindre! You have inspired me through these weeks with your transparency, your positive attitude and your energy.
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