Week 1: Choose your piece!

Hello everyone and welcome to Week 1 of "The Adventures of Anya" challenge!

 

This week, the goal is simple:

1. Pick a movement to start working on.

2. Tell us why you picked it!

3. Optional: share your first sight-reading/practice on the piece!

4. Optional: Check out Orli Shaham's performance, storytelling, and tutorial on these movements below!

 

It could be either one of these FREE movements provided exclusively to tonebase:

 

Macarons (Score)

 

Tutorial video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnj9T14YZFY&t=167s

 

 

 

Magic Wand (Score)

 

Tutorial Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37HT51OstTs

 

 

 

Or if you choose to purchase the full set, pick any movement!

The discount code ToneBase can be used for a 20% discount on both volumes of the complete product.

 

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The Adventures of Anya is a musical fairy tale written and composed by Karen Tanaka, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, and performed and narrated by Orli Shaham. It transports readers and listeners to a faraway land, where a charming bunny named Anya resides within the enchanted and mystical forest. Join Anya as she embarks on a journey filled with joyous exploration alongside her forest companions. Yet, destiny has a surprising twist when a distinguished messenger from the realm'smighty King disrupts the tranquility of the forest, setting the stage for an unforgettable adventure.

 

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  • Tanaka is such a fabulous composer! I鈥檓 very excited to learn about these Anya pieces and the latest ToneBase challenge! The webpage for purchasing the entire set of scores seems to be crashing right now (7/22 at 9:30 a.m.) but hopefully will be up again later.

    Like 1
  • This is such a great idea, I don鈥檛 know this composer at all so I鈥檓 looking forward to this. I like the look of Magic Wand, it looks dramatic so I think I鈥檒l start with that!

    Like 1
  • This is great! As I live too far away, I'm gonna have to wait for a digital edition, but I will surely partake on the challenge. I'll try and learn Magic Wand at first, looks like it brings a very interesting sound and great momentum. But who am I trying to trick? I'm so going to read them both xD

    Like 1
  • The link to both volumes of the product keeps crashing for me. Any idea's?

    Like 1
    • Dennis Douberteen let me investigate!

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      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Dennis Douberteen Libby Craig Dominic Cheli The link to both volumes works when I access via firefox browser on my pc. On my phone it doesn't work.

      Tip: The first score for the piece of the set is available under "Look Inside".

      General notes...I love the music! I'm not sure which piece I'll pick though.

      I might end up buying the whole thing, but I want to listen to it all first and let it marinate. It would be cool if there were two additional YouTube playlists...one with the story+music (without the piano solo and discussion), and one with the music alone (without the story and discussion). That way my kids could enjoy the uninterrupted story, and I could enjoy the uninterrupted music. Just a "wish list" item. :)

      Like 3
    • Marc M Dennis Douberteen  Libby Craig 

      Yes I was just told by the publishing company that browsers on computers should work. Mobile devices are unfortunately not working at this time.

       

      Marc M They have released these two free movements for tonebase exclusively! Have you looked at these yet? 

       

      Macarons (SCORE)

      Magic Wand (SCORE)

      Like 1
    • Dominic Cheli looked and played free movements . Those are working fine. Thanks 鈥un stuff.  Like it

      Like 1
  • Here is my week 1 update!

    https://youtu.be/oNx8X1stw7E

    Like 7
      • Bryan Sable
      • Lifelong Piano Learner and Educator
      • Bryan_Sable
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Dominic Cheli Such wonderfully expressive playing!  These pieces are fabulous.  I think I am going to purchase the whole set!

      Like 2
    • Dominic Cheli Great lesson and playing! I love the inventiveness of pieces. Everyone has their unique sound and character. I would love to purchase, but as Bryan also mentioned, is there a way to get it digitally? That would be the best! 

      Like 2
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Dominic Cheli What an exuberant interpretation! I can鈥檛 wait to take a look at these. Thanks for your super suggestions.

      Like 1
    • Bryan Sable
    • Lifelong Piano Learner and Educator
    • Bryan_Sable
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Hey everyone- I've been behind in practicing and playing this week...Came down with COVID on Saturday.  Just feeling human again.  Here's my sight reading of the movements posted.  That Magic Wand is SOMETHING!

    Looking forward to purchasing the score and checking the other movements out! 

    Forgive the gym-active-wear!  

     

    EDIT- I just visited the publisher site to purchase...Is there not a digital download available?  I try to avoid using as much paper as possible.  (That's my small attempt at saving the planet...lol) 

    Like 4
      • Michelle R
      • Michelle_Russell
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Bryan Sable You're a phenomenal sight-reader, Bryan. Well-played. I really enjoyed "Macarons"; it reminded me of Bartok. 

      Like 1
      • Bryan Sable
      • Lifelong Piano Learner and Educator
      • Bryan_Sable
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Michelle R thanks for the kind words. I rely on my sight reading FAR too much, though! I go through a LOT of music through the academic year and tend to not have practice time鈥he sight reading developed out of necessity! These pieces are very cute- hoping to be able to procure a digital score. 

      Like 1
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Bryan Sable super job! I鈥檒l take a peek at these next week when I have more time.  These are absolutely charming鈥nd maybe a tiny flavor of early Prokofiev? Or is that just my imagination? 

      Like
      • Bryan Sable
      • Lifelong Piano Learner and Educator
      • Bryan_Sable
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Gail Starr they are adorable. I wish the whole collection was available for digital download, though! I try to avoid buying as much paper as possible, and I don鈥檛 need any more clutter in the studio these days. Can鈥檛 wait to hear your rendition- I know you love sight reading as much as me!

      Like 1
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Bryan Sable I'm a bit overloaded with non-piano activities I need to wrap up,  as I prepare to go to Chetham's for 10 days with 4 of our wonderful TB friends.  Might have to pass on this.  But I can't wait to hear more of what you discover!

      Like
    • Marc M
    • Amateur piano enthusiast
    • Marc_M
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Here's my week 1 entry...featuring a quick emergency unison tuning (at 10x speed) because an E was killing me...lol.

    I sightread the first piece of the set and Macarons. My reading isn't super fast, and I need to write in fingerings for a couple spots, but I think they'll come together pretty quickly with a little work. Will probably do Magic Wand also, but maybe in the next week or two!

    I'm loving the music--lush, accessible harmonies and not overly busy.

    Like 3
    • Marc M Love this! Good job finding the first piece. Your piano repair skills are great too.

      Like 2
      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Vidhya Bashyam Thank you! Learning to tune unisons is a blessing and a curse. I didn't really notice bad unisons until I learned to tune them (unless they were REALLY bad), and now I notice them all the time. 馃槀

      Later the same day that E went wrong again...I must not have set the string very well, lol.

      Like
    • Marc M  have you found how to buy the entire package yet? I can鈥檛 even on the computer. 

      Like
      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Dennis Douberteen I'm still hesitating because of the price tag (haha), but here's how I'd purchase it, up to the point where I'd register. My browser is Firefox on Windows 10--seems to do the trick.

      Like
    • Gail Starr
    • Retired MBA
    • Gail_Starr
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Great job, Marc!  Love your DIY skills and your delightful commentary.  I鈥檒l take a stab at this charming piece when I get a chance next week.

    Like 1
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