Week 2: Keep up the Great work!
Hello and welcome to the WEEK TWO Main Thread for this challenge! 
Awesome job everyone! You are doing so great, and I am loving the videos + all the hard work! It is inspiring see the level of commitment/enthusiasm you all have for this music!
If you need some help with the piece, check out a livestream that goes INDEPTH with this piece!
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/liszt-schubert-community-challenge-indepth
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 August 23rd - August 30th I hope to be reading your daily updates in this very thread right here!
Download the music:
Download a CLEAN Copy of the score
Liszt's: Soirees De Vienne No.6
Download a score with section numbers for managing your practice!
Liszt's: Soirees De Vienne No.6
Please use the following format when commenting (feel free to copy & paste!):
- Section you worked on:
- One thing you found easy:
- One thing you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
Sample daily update:
- Section 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: Playing the trills/ornaments in an elegant way was what challenged me the most.
Feel free to make these updates as short or long as you wish!
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Hello everyone! Just a little update on the progress this week so far, and plans for the weekend.
As I said in the last update, I wanted to work on memorizing the piece this week. Some parts are pretty straight forward, and some are more challenging to me - mostly because of small differences. Thinking of section 4 - 6. I hope to have it down for a video-presentation this Sunday.
I am grateful that Dominic held a session on the piece this Tuesday. I think it was perfect timing! Too soon and we wouldn't have time to think out our own ideas, and to late we wouldn't have time to incorporate Dominic's knowledge. I have decided to go over the fingerings Dominic suggested. Particularly the way he plays the sixths in the the end of the piece, switching from just the thumb to use both thumb and second finger (and four and five on the top) - That was new to me, and I want to train and see how it feels. I do agree with case he made that using the thumb all the way is a little insecure. It has worked fine for me, but I am here to learn and I think it is a matter of getting used to! I also will take a look at what he suggested for section 5, and see if I can get it even more fluid. It's beyond any doubt that it's section 5 I've worked the most on. For the cadenza near the end, Dominic suggested using the left hand to help out, but also to create more of a melody. I will switch to doing that. This one is easier than using only the right hand, but more important- it creates a nice melodic line making the cadenza more musical.
Looking forward to see and hear the progress everyones making!
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Sindre Skarelven I was thinking the same thing about Dominic’s wonderful presentation- that the timing was perfect. Much more meaningful than listening before you have started working on it yourself, and not too late that you’ve already ingrained practice that you would have to undo!
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Susan Yes!
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Sindre Skarelven Susan I am so happy to hear you guys preferred the "intermediary" timing of this livestream! For all future community challenges, I will follow the same format :)
Also happy that you are trying some of my fingerings out Sindre Skarelven ! While they may not are your favorite, its always good to try fingerings that you might not have considered before, because then it can spark other ideas in your head!
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Dominic Cheli Yes, the intermediary timing is a great format, so glad you are making that a standard!
I've learned a lot from using your fingerings for this part, and it adds on the "fingerings-repertoire" :)
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- Section you worked on: 1-6
- One thing you found easy: can I say one thing I found enjoyable, instead of easy? Section 4 is so pleasurable it makes it easy to practice!
- One thing you found difficult: landing jumps with accuracy at speed before I have memorized. I really prefer to look at my hands in those circumstances so I need to memorize those spots.
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Susan I agree, section 4 is very enjoyable! And as you say, memorizing the jumps are particularly important. Best of luck :)
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Sindre Skarelven thank you! Good luck making your video for Sunday! I look forward to seeing/hearing it!
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Susan Absolutely memorizing jumps is critical for developing security and comfort!
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Natale Farrell
Here is my first video ;).
Part one.
I am sure I did not put in all of the nuances required.
I'll keep working on it!
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Natale Farrell Great stuff . Very majestic !
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Natale Farrell Fabulous start! We should both play this for Utako's next online concert. Maybe we can "share" some of the sections?
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Natale Farrell Nice job Natale!! Glad to see the seriousness and wonderful voicing you are getting. The top is heard great, and the bass is resonant! Keep up the good work!
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Well I tried 1-4 and although the notes and rhythm weren’t difficult my swollen arthritic hands had difficulty reaching the right notes . I think I really messed up the first waltz and it sounded even worse because the piano is out of tune .
Anyway- Section you worked on: one
- One thing you found easy:The notes
- One thing you found difficult: The notes are easy to read but harder to play ! Making it sound like a dance rather than a funeral March . Every time I tried to play it faster I started missing the right notes and created quite a bit of dissonance.
- Section you worked on: Two
- One thing you found easy: The notes and the slower tempo.
- One thing you found difficult: Interpretation
- Section you worked on: Three
- One thing you found easy: Although it’s the same flavor as no 1 it seemed easier to play as the chords aren’t packed with as many notes
- One thing you found difficult: The last three bars of the section .
- Section you worked on: Four
- One thing you found easy: The notes are easy enough
- One thing you found difficult: Dealing with all the hair pins etc , adhering to all the different tempo and dynamic markings.
I listened to Dominic’s wonderful explanatory livestream and for some reason I couldn’t put his advice into my playing - https://youtu.be/PCPV4G5zGdo
Found this quote from Tom Waits tonight and it’s my excuse !
’The piano has been drinking , not me ! ‘
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mariannejhampton I wish I could watch your video, but the link doesn't seem to be working for me?
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Gail Starr Thank you for letting me know . I hope I’ve corrected it now !
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mariannejhampton Yes! It works perfectly know. Great job keeping your wrist loose on the repeated octaves. This is tough to do!
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Gail Starr Thank you for listening and your thoughtful comment Gail .
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mariannejhampton Great progress! It's true I found Dominic's livstream amazing but more difficult to put into practice. He makes it look so easy. Looking forward to hearing more...
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mariannejhampton Very good job, Marianne! Looking forward to next video!
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mariannejhampton Nicely done! I prefer the right notes over a fast tempo. A faster tempo comes from first being able to play it slow. Thank you for sharing :)
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Brett Gilbert Thanks Brett . Just found your Chopin Nocturne and really enjoyed listening to it .
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Juan Carlos Olite Thank you
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Sindre Skarelven Thank you Sindre . I had to smile about getting the notes right over a fast tempo !
