Daily Piano - Week 8

So I've reached the point where I'm re-playing Arashi stuff again (which I've done in January). Probably need to make my daily practice more varied or something now.

Adding music theory is nice too but I'm afraid that I'll use this as an easy-way-out kind of thing from the real practice lol... Should be implemented carefully, I guess.

Also interested in transcribing songs (I have a few in MuseScore which I never completed). This can easily take longer than an hour... but it's not practice IMO. Listening practice, maybe, but not real practice.

Daily Piano - Week 5

So, it finally happened. I missed a day. Just because I forgot about it! (*sigh*.. that's one of the dangers of "I'll do it later"... at night)

I make the rules so there's going to be a rest day every month. I can decide if it's no-practice rest day or yes-practice but yes... I just took a rest day yesterday, that's all!

I did doubled my practice time today.. just to make myself better. 

Not going to let this bother me.

I'm still doing it randomly. Pieces from here, songs from there. Not sure if I'm going to do it differently for next month.

Daily Piano - Week 3

Okay, on my third week of an-hour daily piano practice. Quite amazed that I'm still at it. It helps not making a big deal about it. "It's only 1 hour, do it!"

Still playing random stuff... lately into my Arashi songs files XD. 

Some days I played at night and... that always made me self-conscious. I'm afraid of playing the piano too loud so I avoid songs/pieces that has like large chords (haaaa). One of the days, I ended up only playing the LH part. Which was actually interesting. I'm aware of the fact but that really helped in playing a complete one especially the hard parts. LH parts just go smoothly.. or something. 

Ideas for future months:
- Scales and arpeggios 
- Tackle one difficult piece that I thought I'll never going to play it good enough
- Practice on controlling dynamics [not paying much attention to this as of now because I'm still trying to familiarise with the piano again ]
- Transcribe the BGMs from Voltage games that I'm playing [far, far future]

I'm trying to get over this wall kind of problems:
- Just keep playing, even though I played it wrong before
- Repeat a phrase until I'm satisfied
- Play the piece/song at least once or most of it

Daily Piano - Week 1

There's not going to be weekly updates on this. Only when I think I have something to say.

I want to play the piano daily (at least an hour). I seriously need the practice. - my blog, "2021 is..."

So.. Have been doing this daily so far but let me tell you... starting is as hard as maintaining/continuing. Just yesterday I already started being bored *sigh*.

For this month, I'm just going to jump in and play whatever I want. Randomly. For at least an hour everyday. I think that's important. Shouldn't decide to do hours of practice when I'm just trying to get back to this.

ただいま! and Happy New Year~

 I'm reviving this blog lol

Although it seems that I did want to post sth last year:

It was empty though...

I don't know how yet but I [kind of] want to make this year a year where I get back to playing piano regularly. I mentioned some of the things in my personal blog, ... I guess I want to gain (or regain) certain [new] skills this year. Yeah. This month, I'm going to start with at least an hour of piano-playing daily.

G6 results & New Home

I thought of combining this blog with my main blog (the same issues came up when I was about to create this small corner for my piano playing adventures :D)... & decided (again) to keep them separated. But, I moved to the same blogging platform.

From Vox (closed down) to Typepad (I keep forgetting my password!) & finally back to the first place where I started keeping a blog in 2005! Hopefully I'll update this more often because now it's more convenient :)

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I passed my ABRSM practical exam for G6 (that I took last year) with merit! It was only a few weeks after the exam that I got a call from Sabah's Ministry of Education to go retrieve my result. All the results for Sabahan candidates are there, enclosed in big fancy envelopes with individual & music school names. Funny thing though. There was only a piece of paper inside my envelope so if you put the envelope out under the sun, I can see what's inside! Basically it became semi-transparent... So haha... it felt a bit anti-climax to me but I saw what my result was before I even pull out the paper XD

Honestly, the first thing I did was let out a relieved sigh. I'm all "I passed!"... BUT I confess, the few marks I lost for my [silly] mistakes cost me a distinction. I got 125/150 - passed with merit - and just 5 marks short for a distinction. Well... it actually matched the efforts I put into practising though.. maybe even more than I deserve, I think.

Now I'm practicing Grade 7 pieces & I got into a bit shock in the beginning. More like in a form of hitting a wall? It's like what I do all this time doesn't matter anymore. Like I don't know how to play the piano anymore. I'm slowly trying to get over this feeling with the help of my piano teacher (although I didn't tell her about this).. it has something to do more with my confidence in playing.

She also warned me that I really, really need to practise more now that I'm in the higher grade. I understand this very much after seeing the level of G7 pieces. Logically, this should help me build my confidence... but I don't know why I struggle so much in dedicating practice time at home (considering how I spend most of my time at home). I also play non-exam pieces/songs & sometimes I play one to gauge how I'm "doing" that day.

One interesting thing I realised few weeks ago was I did some hours of sight-reading practice (more like randomly picking things to play & don't care if I got it right or not at the first play) & played my exam pieces quite well during the next class. I didn't even practise much my exam pieces! So I'm going to try doing more of that now~

ABRSM Music Theory Exam G5: 90 and a D

I haven't been blogging lately... it's almost like I'm running away from something although... *sigh*

Anyway. Here are some updates regarding my musical journey:

• Long gotten the results for Guild's Music Theory Exam G4.. yup, I passed! Although I never thought that I got the highest marks (there was an award event last year if I remember correctly *but I didn't attend*?) in Malaysia!!! I think it's because most students don't take G4 - just straight away skip to G5, I think.. 
• I'm already familiarised with my ABRSM G6 pieces but my technical parts (the aural that is) still need more practice...
• I took the exam for ABRSM music theory G5 last August 16th... I was surprised by the lack of people! I mean... the parking lots were basically empty compared to the first session... Maybe because it's held on a Saturday.. I might want to get the same session next time. Oh and for the practical exam ones *hoping hard not to run into people from my music school lol*
• OH.. and I just realised the result came out earlier... (maybe the 3 months thing was the time for its certificiate to come?).. I checked my e-mail and it was only 2 days later that I got around to check my results online! Anyway, I passed my G5 music theory exam! Barely got a Distinction (90!!)!! Haha... I was quite nervous how I'll do (although I do think I'll pass) because I finished answering everything exactly according to the time! The last section was the composing part which I didn't have time to recheck... *sigh*
• My teacher gave me some of her old books which included some old ABRSM books - pretty cool stuff! 

「I wanna thrive, not just survive」

That’s a line from Switchfoot’s song “Thrive”..

I LOVE the lyric; it describes current me so perfectly - I was crying like crazy when I first listen to it few days ago!

Back to my life. My teacher finally stopped last Sunday (her last day at my music school). It seems like I can’t bear losing both so I might ask to stop temporarily for music lessons at my music school. If I return, I’m going to change my instrument (hehe)…

My mother bought a compilation of Beethoven’s masterpiece (Dover’s publication).. mostly are difficult pieces but I want to try learning his pieces for real this time. I’m gaining interest in Beethoven’s music lately :D

Also, I’ve been reading mangas lately.. especially ones that feature piano in it.. Imagine my agony when I realised the mangas I’ve been reading are ongoing ones (not complete) – it hurts to not know! HAHA.. anyway, there are some that makes me think (“I’ll buy the original manga then <3”).. Like “Akatsuki no Aria” and “Kimi no Tame ni Hiku Chopin” (KimiCho)..

KimiCho features a chibi version of Chopin which I find so endearing. Oh.. I got into reading this when I saw a comment that said it reminded him of Nodame Cantabile. It does, really. But in KimiCho’s case, the Nodame (which is Kinoshita Kazune) is an unpolished gem! Well, it wasn’t stated if Kazune is a prodigy but she possess a sound I think similar to Nodame.. (the guy also like Kazune’s piano hehe).. But Kazune isn’t fortunate enough to have a family that supports her love for the piano. She’s from a “deep” countryside with no piano teachers (a catholic priest taught her piano) and she had to work hard in secret (unbeknownst to her family) to get into a music college. I find it inspiring.

I just ordered the fourth volume from HMV :D (will order the third one via yesasia)

Change

Recently, I placed another order from BookDepository… was planning to get the super-cheap (68% off!!!) Hunger Games trilogy set – became a bit doubtful at the last minute & alas, it’s sold out before I can even say “Nah, I’ll buy it later!”… haha

Anyway.. I became doubtful because I found some music-related (ABRSM) books that I wish to purchase. In the end, I chose a book on scales (ABRSM’s guide).. and another book by Diana Wynne Jones that I never read before.

Oh. My teacher wished to stop teaching at my current music school. Seems like her reason was she doesn’t want to go all the way to KK in the weekends to conduct classes. She can continue to teach me though if I want. I just have to go to her house on the weekends (nearer to my home too!).. To be honest, I’m a bit reluctant with leaving my music school… but ABRSM exams, that one I can apply by myself online… and.. I don’t know.. I’ve been there for almost 5 years already (wow, I just realised this lol)… Of course, my decision would lean more to my teacher’s favour because I can’t bear meeting and getting used to another new teacher.

Short Update for 2013

ARGHH. Life is giving me lemons & I don't know how to make them into delicious lemonade.

How are you, my dearest music diary..?

Updating here for things related to music only: 

• I already received my ABRSM certificiate for Grade 5 Practical Piano two weeks ago...
• Currently I'm learning Grade 6 pieces (so far so good :D)...
• Peeked into the scales etc for G6; tried those I should have known from G5.. to be honest, it's better now that I caught up with my music theory (currently aiming to take G5's ABRSM music theory exam), those scales with plenty of sharps and flats don't really scare me much anymore...
• Last week, I started driving to piano class by myself (ho ho ho)... 
• My sister is currently taking diploma for music; she's learning to play the violin for the first time... The last time a violin existed in our house was a violin given to my father as a gift, which my child self took liberty destroying it (I'm horrible, I know!)... Gosh. I planned to learn to play the violin from my sister later haha...
• ...

Clean forgotten...

...that I passed.

I was going through the ABRSM tag on my tumblr dashboard & saw someone posted their G5 certificiate.. A bit jealous initially then I remembered I also will have the same thing. Haha...

Currently I've started playing G6 pieces... & just recently started studying music theory for G5.. I realised the importance of music theory to my study in piano playing.. For example, it helped a lot for me in remembering what major/minor is that by seeing the key signatures alone... Skimmed through the workbook today, I noticed it sometimes refer to the Eric Taylor book Part II.. Fortunately, I'd bought the book weeks ago...

Australian Guild Music Theory Exam (Grade 4)

Sat for the exam last Sunday (Nov 11th)... Usually the venue is at UMS' School of Art Studies. This time, it's held at SIA, KK Times Sq. The last time I sat for a Guild exam was 2008.. The exam-takers were more less than the time I took Grade 1 paper.. I kind of saw the list when registering, seems like most of them were grade 1-3.. only me taking grade 4.. Our sitting arrangements were made according to our grades.. I was at the back.. next to me was taking grade 6 (no grade 5 though)..

I finished last haha.. the questions were more tricky than the trial/past papers I did.. when the last person before me left, I was still checking for mistakes.. Fortunately I checked, I saw many careless mistakes!!

I just hope I'll pass (^.^)

Playing "Face Down" on the piano

KYA~~~ It started with this youtube video of someone who made a piano cover of the song.. & it turns out the user sells his/her transcribed piano scores. I purchased Face Down (full version) first. I also purchased Meikyuu Love Song from the same person but I haven't started studying that yet... :P. 

Here's the video I was talking about.

SO MUCH FUN playing this on the piano!!!!! Suprisingly I caught up pretty fast (maybe because I'm very familiar with the song) but I can't play it smoothly yet. :P

Anyway... I found several different piano/keyboard covers for Face Down. Quite interesting to listen to other players' intrepretation of the song.

This one is like a slow (& kind of sad) version of the song...

Midi version(?)

Another midi version?

Music box version

First Piece

I made a surprising breakthrough (for me it was!) in piano...

Somehow... I've memorised the first piece I'm going to play for the exam!

KYAAAAAAAAAAA~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm never really good at memorising things so this was quite an accomplishment for me!

Actually, I got one third of the second piece memorized too... I just need to spend more time on the piano!

Perhaps it was "growth"...

I almost can't believe it when I realised there are less than two months left before my piano practical exam. Still so bad at scales and the other things you played after that. There was a period where that's the only thing I play during extra lessons... it was kind of a robotic experience. *sigh*

And... the aural parts. GAH. I still can't get the part that is so new to me - singing just by sight-reading the notes.

What frustrates me most is it really, really, really felt like I'm almost there but I couldn't reach it. It sounds like I just need to practise more really... but with current situation in university, it was hard to do them. I think I've reached a point in my life where I see how highly connected everything related to me are to each other, I became overwhelmed that I'm unsure how to proceed... and I kept being reminded how I hate what I'm studying now in university...

Recently, I tried to proceed carefully... by trying to address smaller problems first before the big ones... for piano, it was a pleasant surprise to me when I finally can play a song (still with mistakes though) that sounded like random notes played together months ago. Like I finally can hear the voice or something...

Reading some discussions on piano forums really encourages me... I might be bad at some areas (for now) but that doesn't mean there's no progress happening!!!

It gives me a glimpse of hope for my musical future. There are so many pieces and songs, so many more musical journeys yet to be explored, ... it is limitless... and it makes me happy to think that I have this chance in the future.



Persevere.

ABRSM music theory exam [12-March-2012]

Sat for the theory exam in KK High School yesterday with my brother. My brother took the grade 1 exam while I took grade 3. There were some questions that I got a bit confused at... but I'll pass. I believe I will pass this exam :D

I realized that having a mock exam day every week for a month before the real exam is really helpful. Like helps with not being nervous etc.. I could apply the same for the subjects I'm taking this semester.

Piano Classes [10-Mar-2012 & 11-Mar-2012]

Theory again.. :P

The music theory exam is tomorrow~! Actually I haven't memorise the italian terms... Uh-oh. 

Anyway... I kept getting confused at how to describe the intervals for minor scales. Today, all confusions were cleared. LOL. FINALLY understood how to look at it. & Miss C said she's going to stress on the scales after the music school's midterm holidays... Still haven't practise that scary looking minor scales. She also talked about the aural section. Seems like there'll be a part where I have to sing out notes on paper... and then the examiner plays the notes to check if I sang correctly.  This is actually scary... but I'm kind of excited to learn this! (crazy?) Isn't this basically sight-reading??? Sight-reading is a nice skill to have IMO...

Piano Classes [04-Mar-2012 & 05-Mar-2012]

Did theory exercises for Grade 3 because my brother and I will be sitting for ABRSM music theory exam next week on March 12th. 

Bought two songbook that focus on moving up grades (like pieces with level in between such and such grade). I already have g1-g2 & g2-g3 at home, the ones I bought were g3-g4 & g4-g5 :P... Tried playing them already. Very nice. My playing progress was much slower when I play the g4-g5 pieces ... so I guess I'm really right on my supposed grade, huh.

I wonder if I'm experiencing this music learning the way I would be if I learn earlier (or similar like others who started early)... For now, the way I'm seeing it, I'm learning not because I'm that passionate about music. It's more like I'm appreciative of the opportunity I get to learn something I forgo in the past... it's like the fun just have barely started (lol).. Of course it's fun now... but as I just rewatched Nodame Cantabile, I realised there are so many more that I could learn regarding music.. & many pieces I want to play... well.. not that I'm aiming to go to a music college or something.. it's really a personal thing. I was thinking that I want to be someone who could play one of Beethoven's sonatas (for example) without having to graduate from a music college in the future. Very personal thing, right.. 

Piano Class [25-Feb-2012]

Last week, my class was postponed to Sunday... Great day. I think I played better than Saturday's classes. I really miss going to class every Sunday...

Today played pieces only. Wasn't any better than last week's.. started on second piece though. My biggest problem with this second piece is how to express it... maybe.. partly  I chose this so that I could learn how to control the dynamics of anything I play on the piano :P

My music school is moving to a new place so our classes would be held at their other venue starting next month (while they still have to do renovation at the new place)... The other venue seems to be a place for those taking Rock school kind of lessons...? Dunno what that meant really hehe... but I've never been there so I'm kind of excited to go there next month.

Ohno has a new dorama next season. "Kagi no Kakatta Heya". SO, SO HAPPY.  So happy that I ordered the novel (:P) before it was confirmed by newspaper reports (originally people found out from a magazine scan yet to be published...) along with Arashi's latest album songbook...

Can't wait for my order to arrive!!!

Piano Class [04-Feb-2012]

The music school's classrooms (studios?) are REALLY fully booked on Saturdays! 

Last Saturday, my class (actually since it changed to Saturdays, I have music lessons together with my brother :P) was conducted in a room that is usually used for [mock] exam practice use. Very large room... Six times larger than the room we usually use. There were two upright pianos. Miss C chose the one that sounded like harpsichord.. I said it sounded that way because when I play my first song, it sounded just like the original harpsichord version I found on Youtube. I like the sound actually.. but I didn't play very well that day. Lack of sleep (had only 1-2 hours of sleep) made me so out of focus all day...

ARGGRGHH. I was also so irritated that I couldn't control the dynamics of the piece... was it because it's a piano I don't usually use? .. lack of focus..? URGH. 

Actually my weekend wasn't really great.. super annoyed with everything.. can't describe what kind of feelings I had...