Piano Lessons

I'm really, really, really scared about the recital coming up in a few weeks. Cristine and I are doing better, but for some reason, I just can't get "Arabesque" to work for me! It's not like I'm not practicing, I am, but I don't think my fingers are up to this challenge. The piece is short, but not sweet, and definitely not simple. The more I try to think about it, the more my fingers seem to not want to work. Over the next two weeks I'll have to work really hard to make sure this piece is in tip top shape for the recital. It really doesn't mean much, but the fact that I can take a piece and perfect it means a lot to me. The only time I've actually done it was with "Ode to Joy" and that was because it HAD to be perfect in order for it to work. And in that case I think the pressure of HAVING to be right, not just wanting to be perfect is what did it for me. I also practiced a lot more than I have for this piece. I'll try really hard to get this finished, but I don't know that I can get it to where I want it to be.
"Ode to Joy" with Cristine is just about there, and we will be fine. I still have to practice a lot to get there, and SHE actually has to practice, but I know how she feels and what's going through her mind because I have been in that same spot, where I didn't practice for years! I just hope she can pull it together so we can both have an awesome recital.

Piano Lessons

To make up for a rescheduled lesson, I had an hour lesson today which I love because we can get so much more covered and worked on.
I ended up having to postpone the recital since I ended up being out of town doing other community service and wouldn't be home in time to make it to the recital. Plus, this way we both have more time to work on and perfect our parts of the duets, and it won't be as stressful.
Today, we worked on everything: My theory book that I finally found, "Arabesque", further on "Harry's Wondrous World', and worked some on "Turkish March" which I have completely neglected, partially because of time and also because I'm afraid of how hard it might be, so I'm putting it off so I don't have to deal with it. This is something I really should work on since it will inhibit my ability to further my skills later in life. I need to just bite the bullet and work on it no matter how much I really don't want to. I know that once I do it won't be as bad as I thought. But today instead of worrying about the specific chords in each measure, Debra told me to just focus on the chord of the whole major, for example just playing an A chord instead of worrying about hitting the A then the C and E. With this method I think I can tackle "Turkish March" but with the crazy season coming up at school, I'm not sure how much time I can put into it.

Movin' On Up

My favorite event to work as a Program Aide (PA) at is called Movin' On Up, where the PAs design a program for 5th grade Girl Scouts. The goal is to show these younger girls that they don't have to quit Girl Scouts just because their friends don't think it's "cool", and show them the benefits of remaining in the program. We interact with and talk to the girls as often as we can, telling them how we have grown though Girl Scouts. I feel that more girls should remain in Girl Scouting through middle and high school due to Girl Scout's commitment to shaping girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We encourage them to continue on to complete their Girl Scout Gold Awards which is an 80 hour project that serves their communities, and helps them grow into strong young women.

This program is my passion because Girl Scouts is such an important program that generates so many women who go on to achieve great things, whether they are publicly recognized or not. Politicians, multiple astronauts, news anchors, and so many more have began as Girl Scouts and gone far. I want every girl to have this opportunity, and if my commitment to a weekend program makes all the difference, I will willingly do so. I get to meet over 400 girls every year who are just like me when I was their age, and I have one weekend to make an impression on them and hope that they will go on to work towards their Gold Awards, and make the world a better place.

Piano Lessons

Today was my first practice playing with Cristine, and I think it could have gone better. I didn't get the chance to look at the music until right before the lesson, and I went over it twice before having to go play with her. However considering these circumstances, I think I did pretty good. I know now that I need to work on the last stretch before the repetition of the beginning, since that is where we both tend to make mistakes, and therefore where I need to be the best. If I can keep my part correct and accurate, then Cristine will know where she is supposed to be if she messes up, and will be able to find her place again. On the flip side, I need to be able to follow her if she makes a mistake and doesn't correct it, otherwise the sound will be completely off and ruin the performance. I need to work really hard especially because this is where she is the most uncomfortable, and it's doubly hard since it is where I am also the most uncomfortable.
"Arabesque" I coming along well, though I have neglected the other two pieces. I should pick them up again, soon, but when I only have so much time to practice, I need to pick my battles, and recently it's been "Arabesque". The recital is scheduled for April 18th, and that's not too far away, so I need to get as close to perfect as I can. I'm still having troubles with the 16th notes but that can only be fixed with practice, so now I just need to work on the dynamic changes, which should be fun to work on.

Piano Lessons

Today I started another duet with a newer student and a friend of mine, Cristine. She started taking lessons a few months ago, and I'm going to do a duet with her for her second recital. It's a beginner book, one that I started with when I first began lessons nine years ago, and we're playing "Ode to Joy", which is kind of funny in several ways.
First, it is the duet I just played with Chris, but this is a much simpler arrangement. Cristine is playing the basic melody and I will be accompanying with more complex chords that will enhance her performance.
This will also be good for me since I need to work on my improvisations when I mess up to not affect the other musician. This is especially important since Cristine is more prone to make mistakes than Chris was since Cristine is just starting out and still new to piano. It is important for me to make sure I can have my part as steady and perfect as possible so it does not mess her up too much, and we both can perform to the best of our ability.
Another reason this song choice is funny is the same version of "Ode to Joy" Cristine is playing is the same version I played at my first recital. While this will not be Cristine's first recital, it is her first non-Christmas recital, which bring this all in a full circle. I find it odd yet intriguing how this happened, and I want to do everything I can to make Cristine's performance as flawless as possible so she can enjoy the experience like I did when I performed it.