chuck levin Awesome! Looking forward to hearing this.

chuck levin Looking forward to hearing you again, Chuck!

Gail Ravin Starr Hi Gail, and many thanks.  That was a really nice concert. I don't "own" op 81a yet, but playing it in NYC and here has been a big step forward for me. 

Derek McConville Looking forward to hearing this, Derek. I always enjoy Scarlatti!

Here’s a recording (on a little “ apartment-sized” Kimball):

Thurmond R I can hear the seeds of another profound and moving performance here Thurmond.  This piece is going to be a great addition to your repertoire. 

Peter Golemme Thanks for commenting, Peter. We’ve been relying upon the kindness of strangers this month as we found ourselves without a piano-at-the-ready while Thurmond is doing his mentorship with Filippo Gorini. This is the piano of one of our new friends - and the newest member of the Thurmond Fan Club. 😀 Today, we walked 20 minutes so he could practice at a local church (with a lovely Steinway!). 

Michelle R what a testament to yours and Thurmond's dedication! 

That is reminiscent of my younger days as college student in Boston, without reliable access to a piano to practice on.   I would hunt out pianos whereever I could find them -- auditoriums, random classrooms in my college, closets where they were stored, churches, dormitories, Hotels, VFW halls, YMCAs,, anywhere I could get myself into, including the local music schools when I could get past security.

I used to say "I can smell a piano nearby", developing an instinct for where one might be sitting in a particular building.  Most of them were in places where I was not allowed.  Like the King of the Road, I could boast that I knew of "every lock that ain't locked when no one's around". I was thrown out so often by security gaurds that I developed a relationship with some of them, who would then sometimes walk on by with a slight wave or pretend not to notice me and let me continue for hours.  Such memories!

Thurmond R wonderful tone and playing of this lovely piece :)

Michelle R I remember those times so well! That kind of relying on the kindness of strangers (complete with pleading Blanche DuBois eyes) was what I had to do in the 20 years between leaving my parents’ home after high school and finally becoming faculty and being able to buy my first piano. 

Peter Golemme Alexander Weymann Yes, this has been an adventure. We were originally going to stay with the good friend of our Tuba-playing cousin, but there was a death in their family and we had to scramble to find lodging at the last minute. The piano Thurmond is playing in this clip is at the home of a woman who doesn’t play! She’s just the last in a line of friends who had room for it. The original owner (who just turned 90 - the piano was a gift for her 50th birthday) is hoping to come by to hear Thurmond play this afternoon. And we’re walking most places because after 20+ years living on an island without even a stoplight, we don’t have a car here because I knew my city-driving skills were not up to the challenge of Portland! 

Peter Golemme When I was in college, I loved practicing on the concert grand at the neighboring college’s auditorium. I would just sneak in as if I belonged and no one ever questioned it. This was at the U.S. Naval Academy, Mahan Hall in the early 90s. Times have changed!

Vanessa Ellermann very interesting Vanessa, sounds like we went through some similar experiences, except that more often than not I was kicked out of where ever I was practicing! 

Sindre Skarelven agree! ... absolute genius Noel Nguyen 😆 !!!

Noel Nguyen Nice twist to posting a recording! I’m looking forward to hearing you play this! 

Noel Nguyen Glad you were able to listen along yesterday. Just come back to watch the vdo  again coz it went by so quickly - for the minimally ready it's in a pretty good shape, and impressive LH trills!

Noel Nguyen wow!. quite incredible.  I can safely assert that my playing will never! be like what you did. :-) ! Alas..!  but nevertheless I enjoy learning slowly little by little. Was this recorded on an iphone ? I record myself on an iphone and it sounds nothing but terrible !...( probably an accurate reflection of the playing )