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Aug 24, 2019 05:55
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Next Burgmuller. It's almost done  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TQU3912XKA
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Aug 27, 2019 13:04
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I composed a piece! Please watch it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fEsqKfi6ZA Two years ago, I wrote this piece for speaking pianist (the performer has to play and talk at the same time) for a friend who started a commissioning project called #45miniatures, call for composers (caveat: I’m not a real composer) to write short works based on Trump’s Twitter feed. The one word that I always associated with Trump was his trademark insult “SAD!”, so I cobbled together a series of tweets and statements on the campaign trail that focused on this word in various ways. The result, I hope, is a comedic montage of short episodes (one section is a little serious) that highlights the inanity of his statements, with musical inspiration taken from what one might hear in an Atlantic City Casino. The full text is below and in the description box in the video. “SAD!” for speaking pianist will receive its world premiere in the coming weeks (I have a concert in NOLA next week that I might play it on). ****** “Wow! Lyin' Ted Cruz really went wacko today...Can't function under pressure. Not very presidential. SAD!" "The failing New York Times does not mention the new CNN poll that has me leading Iowa by a MASSIVE thirteen points. I am at 33%. Maggie Habermann, SAD!" "Jeb is a WASTE...Jeb is a MESS...The weakest person on this stage is Jeb Bush!" "Lightweight Jeb is spending a fortune against me...in South Carolina...false advertising! Desperate and SAD!" “BOYCOTT APPLE!” "Am in Bedminster for meetings today on Virginia and all that we have done and are doing to make it better, but Charlottesville - SAD!" "SAD to see...the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments. Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson. Who's next? So foolish." "Condolences to the family of the young woman killed today, and best regards to all those injured in Charlottesville. So SAD!" "Because of me, the Republican Party has taken in millions of new voters...if they are not careful, they will all leave, SAD!" "Just watched Brian Williams on Today Show. Very SAD! Brian should get on with a new life...stop apologizing! Very SAD!" "Hillary LIED at the debate last night...SAD!" "Whoopi Goldberg is terrible...Very SAD!" "Irrelevant Glen Beck...his failing show...very few listeners. SAD!" "The biased media...SAD!" "Get that baby out of here...you know what? Some people just don't get it."
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Aug 31, 2019 20:03
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IT BURNS posted:I composed a piece! Please watch it! Seems like a shame to gently caress up perfectly good music with the quotes tbh.
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Sep 1, 2019 09:50
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Nothing has crushed my piano playing soul more than Liebestraum No. 3. I don’t know why I’m struggling so bad. I hate cadenzas.
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Sep 12, 2019 13:28
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IT BURNS posted:I composed a piece! Please watch it! I've read about Trump Derangement Syndrome before but I've never actually seen it in the wild. On SA of all places!
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Sep 18, 2019 13:48
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Next one down. Still ragged in spots, but I've had enough of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYVOqdNKwN8
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Sep 23, 2019 04:43
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I just started piano lessons. I've always wanted to learn how to play and finally just said hey I'm 30 I might as well just do it already. I had my first lesson and my teacher told me that I should just buy really any keyboard as long as it has at minimum 44 keys--61 being fine--since I won't need more than that until further along. She also said weighted keys were less important until later as well. I can spend a reasonable amount--maybe up to $250. There's so many options and people have strong feelings and reddit's piano subreddit is like YOU NEED TO SPEND AT LEAST $500, GET 88 KEYS, AND EVEN THEN YOU GET CRAP. What should I buy?
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Oct 6, 2019 04:55
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Rosalind posted:I just started piano lessons. I've always wanted to learn how to play and finally just said hey I'm 30 I might as well just do it already. I had my first lesson and my teacher told me that I should just buy really any keyboard as long as it has at minimum 44 keys--61 being fine--since I won't need more than that until further along. She also said weighted keys were less important until later as well. You probably should go ahead and get 88 weighted since you’re just going to have to go through selling whatever you get other than that later on. With that budget you probably want to go used, post your local craigslist and we can see if there’s anything that fits the bill.
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Oct 6, 2019 05:04
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Stringent posted:You probably should go ahead and get 88 weighted since you’re just going to have to go through selling whatever you get other than that later on. I should have mentioned I was kinda hoping to stick with 61 keys. I have a tiny little NYC apartment and anything I get needs to fit in an already packed closet when not in use. I'm probably moving to a bigger place in the next year or so my plan would be to upgrade to 88 keys/maybe even a real piano then if I'm still keeping up with it (which I hope I will be!). I'm ok eating the cost of something that I'm only going to use for a year, too.
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Oct 6, 2019 05:17
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Something like this should work then: https://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/msg/d/staten-island-audio-keystation-61es/6991695045.html Forgot to mention, you’ll need a computer or an ipad or something to hook that into, it doesn’t have any built in sound production capability. Stringent fucked around with this message at 05:43 on Oct 6, 2019 |
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Oct 6, 2019 05:22
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Rosalind posted:I just started piano lessons. I've always wanted to learn how to play and finally just said hey I'm 30 I might as well just do it already. I had my first lesson and my teacher told me that I should just buy really any keyboard as long as it has at minimum 44 keys--61 being fine--since I won't need more than that until further along. She also said weighted keys were less important until later as well. That depends, what do you want to do? If you want to learn to play the piano, you need something that tries to simulate a piano. A cheap digital piano is about $1000, the absolute most basic entry point is $500. If you just want to have fun with a keyboard, you can buy whatever you want.
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Oct 6, 2019 14:30
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Ok I think I'll take your advice and figure out a way to get an 88 key weighted and find a spot for it in my apartment. You all obviously know this better than I do. Gonna have to save up for it for a few months though. In the meantime, I am going to see about getting a dirt cheap keyboard so I can at least practice the exercises my teacher gave me. Thank you all for your helpful advice!
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Oct 6, 2019 19:58
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I agree with the notion that you don't NEED weighted keys/88 keys when you're just starting out. But if you come out this first phase looking to upgrade, I would say that's when you really want to take the dive on a $500+ instrument with 88 weighted keys. I took my first piano classes in college and bought a Yamaha DGX-203 for home practice. A bit wide at 76 keys, but still pretty light compared to a weighted board, easy to pick up and chuck in a closet. Action was decent enough, and the keys were at least sized correctly, if not weighted. I used that for something like 8 years before I finally upgraded to a P-105 with 88 weighted keys, which is still going strong. The DGX-203 is out of production now, but of course there are tons of modern equivalents, several in your price range if you're happy with 61 keys. (I don't think I would go any smaller, even for a beginner.) And of course the potential for deals abound if you search for used stuff. But this class of digital keyboard, the "portable arranger" or whatever, is probably your best bet if you're not willing to go for a true entry level "digital piano" at the start. On top of which, these sorts of keyboards usually come loaded with a bunch of cheesy-to-decent sounding instrument voices which are a lot of fun and can mix things up when you're still playing Chopsticks or whatever. Whether you go new or used, I would really suggest you take the time to physically play anything you're considering buying, if at all possible. Feel the keys under your fingers, even if you're just plucking out scales and random garbage. Don't get a MIDI controller. It's not the right tool for the job. At the cheaper end, most of these have average to terrible action, non-standard key sizes, and to get any sound out of the thing you'll need a PC with a DAW to receive MIDI instructions and process them through a virtual instrument and play them out on your computer speakers. If you're not interested in producing digital music, it's needlessly complicating the process. What's more, many (most?) digital keyboards/pianos have basic USB-to-MIDI baked in, so if you actually do want to get into that side of things, you'll already have a barebones controller at the ready. And don't forget the sustain pedal!
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Oct 7, 2019 00:09
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Not the OP, but thanks. I’m in a similar boat, and one of those does seem more my level. They’re not the same I know, but it’s OK.
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Oct 7, 2019 05:34
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The weighted keys are more important than having 88 of them. You won't be playing repertoire that needs 88 keys for a while, but you will be developing your sense of touch at the outset. I'd still aim for both even for a novice, but if space is an issue and you might upgrade in a year anyway, it wouldn't be the end of the world to get one with fewer than 88, if they are weighted. Hell, I'd still get unweighted if it was a choice between that and not learning at all.
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Oct 7, 2019 08:58
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Be aware that there's a difference between weighted and velocity-sensitive. Velocity-sensitive just means that how hard/fast you strike the key impacts how it sounds (mostly the volume), but there's no resistance to pushing the key, which makes it harder to control. Weighted means that the keys resist being pressed (like you're lifting a small weight when you press them).
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Oct 7, 2019 17:08
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At the very least, if you're playing a digital keyboard with standard key sizes, you're at least training your fingers to do the piano things, and with a teacher you'll be learning technique correctly. The transition to weighted keys will be an adjustment, but at least your fingers will know where to go. But this: OneSizeFitsAll posted:Hell, I'd still get unweighted if it was a choice between that and not learning at all. Is the guiding truth behind my suggestion. Yes, weighted keys are eventually a must, but I don't think it's worth losing the will and momentum to learn now if you can pick up a cheap, decent portable arranger keyboard now. Especially since there is a chance you end up hating the piano*, I don't see why you must enter at that $500+ bracket. *But you won't, because piano is the best. Welcome to the good times.
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Oct 7, 2019 17:31
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Something to keep in mind with weighted keyboards is that you can set yourself up for finger injury if the "weight" is on the heavier side and you're playing at a low volume. You may have a tendency to compensate and play a bit louder than necessary. With a piano you obviously don't have that problem but just be mindful as you're starting out so you don't hurt yourself.
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Oct 7, 2019 19:40
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I wish Yamaha hadn't delisted and "erased" the p255. From all the reviews I looked at, that looked like the perfect midpoint ($800). Next step up is the p515 and that's waaaay too expensive at $1,500.
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Oct 7, 2019 23:54
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Based on your feedback, I took my sound engineer friend to a music store today and tried out a bunch of different keyboards and digital pianos. Eventually I settled on the Casio Privia Px-160. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend, but you all were right when you said weighted is the way to go. The difference in the way it feels is astronomical. I also managed to find a spot that it'll fit in my room so I don't have to put it away/take it out every time I play. I did clear enough space in my closet to hide it away when I have guests over. Here it is in all its glory:  So thank you all. Based on the amount I've invested now, I am going to practice hard and hopefully become a decent piano player!
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Oct 10, 2019 05:48
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Congrats on the purchase - that's a great choice to start your piano journey with. Happy playing.
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Oct 10, 2019 11:28
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Rosalind posted:Based on your feedback, I took my sound engineer friend to a music store today and tried out a bunch of different keyboards and digital pianos. Eventually I settled on the Casio Privia Px-160. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend, but you all were right when you said weighted is the way to go. The difference in the way it feels is astronomical. Don't hide it when guests come over...that's when you show off! Looks great! I thought about a Privia once, but no need for one now, I've heard they are good though.
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Oct 10, 2019 14:53
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Rosalind posted:Based on your feedback, I took my sound engineer friend to a music store today and tried out a bunch of different keyboards and digital pianos. Eventually I settled on the Casio Privia Px-160. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend, but you all were right when you said weighted is the way to go. The difference in the way it feels is astronomical. I have the same model and I've loved it. Take my opinion with a grain of salt though, I've only just recently finished my Adult Intro practice book.
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Oct 11, 2019 20:33
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Next Burgmuller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Y1eOxDig8
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Oct 14, 2019 10:09
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Has anyone in here played the Yamaha NP12 and the NP32? I'm trying to make a decision between them, the NP32 is a little more money, 76 key (vs 61), and from what I'm reading has a decent weighted key sorta thing going on vs the NP12. Primary use case is for playing classical music (played as a child, want to get back into it/relearn as an adult). Is a 61 key going to be very limiting to a novice/intermediate player or is the key weighting a bigger issue? Thanks. e: Huh, the NP32 is $18/month for rental, I guess I can check it out. VelociBacon fucked around with this message at 19:14 on Nov 10, 2019 |
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Nov 10, 2019 19:08
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VelociBacon posted:Has anyone in here played the Yamaha NP12 and the NP32? I'm trying to make a decision between them, the NP32 is a little more money, 76 key (vs 61), and from what I'm reading has a decent weighted key sorta thing going on vs the NP12. Where did you find one for rent? That might be a good way to dip my toes into some keys.
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Nov 10, 2019 23:48
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nitsuga posted:Where did you find one for rent? That might be a good way to dip my toes into some keys. Long and McQuade (sp).
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Nov 11, 2019 00:18
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Had a fantastic trip on Saturday with my piano group to a period keyboard instrument museum in Kent (south east UK). It's run by a charity called Finchcocks and used to be housed in a huge manor house. It's downsized now, and they have a lovely collection of 14 instruments - mostly fortepianos (precursor to the modern pianoforte), but also a harpsichord and clavichord and some other bits and bobs. The 13 of us had the place to ourselves, and were well looked after by the staff with teas and lunch and stuff. We each went with a couple of pieces in mind to play, which we told them of beforehand so they could split us to allow us to play them on an instrument from the appropriate period. There were three tutors there, who told us all about the different instruments and advice on how to get a nice sound out of them, as well as general feedback on our pieces. I played the second movement of Beethoven's "Pastoral" sonata (op 15) and Liszt's transcription of Schuman''s "Widmung", which I think I posted a recording of me playing earlier in this thread. I played the former on a Clementi from 1822 and the latter on an Erard from 1866, the most modern instrument in the museum and easily the closest to a modern grand. A lot of the instruments had smaller keys than modern pianos, which requires some readjustment. Generally they required a lighter touch in order to avoid a harsh sound. Some, like the Pleyel, had a strange resistance when pressing the keys down, which was really awkward, and also strange insofar as these were Chopin's favoured instrument, and that resistance makes it quite awkard to play his repertoire. It made a nice sound when you got used to it, but was definitely my least favourite to play. You also get that kind of resistance with a harpsichord, because of the mechanism (string being plucked instead of hit), but that made more sense and also was less of an impediment to the kind of repertoire you play on them, taking into account particularly the lack of a need to incorporate dynamics and articulation. Some instruments had no pedals, one had instead a mechanism you operated with your knees (with the una corda and sustain on opposite sides to normal), and some had extra pedals which did other things, like create a basoon-like sound, or one which made a percussion noise. Anyway, here are a few photos:  Cawton Aston spinet, circa 1700  Square piano - not sure which of three they have this is  Jacob Kirckman harpsichord, 1756 Beautiful-sounding harpsichord this was. Heard 3 different Bach pieces on this and they sounded wonderful; Bach of course has that almost indestructible quality, sounding great at most tempos and with most timbres, but it's definitely at home on an instrument like this.  Michael Rosenberger Viennese fortepiano, circa 1795 This one had the knee mechanisms for sustain and una corda  Lindholm and Söderström Swedish clavichord 1806 This made the tiniest sound imaginable. You can see why they were mostly used for practicing and composing at home.  Johann Fritz Viennese fortepiano, 1815 The far right pedal made the percussion sound, a bit like a drum and cymbal together.  Clementi & Co grand piano, 1822 I played my Beethoven on this. Tiny keys and my knees wouldn't fit underneath the keyboard so I had to sit quite far back. Was nice to play on once you got used to it.  Conrad Graf Viennese fortepiano, 1826  Erard grand piano, 1866 Nice warm sound with a punchy bass, this was easily the closest to a modern instrument, as the year of construction would suggest. I played my Schumann-Liszt on this. All in all a fascinating trip and well worth the early start on a Saturday. Any UK goons should take a look as it's a great charity run by some really nice people who are passionate about these period instruments. There aren't a lot museums of this type - they get visitors from various foreign institutions, including music schools from places like Russia and Germany. I will definitely return at some point.
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Nov 11, 2019 13:22
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OneSizeFitsAll posted:Had a fantastic trip on Saturday with my piano group to a period keyboard instrument museum in Kent (south east UK). It's run by a charity called Finchcocks and used to be housed in a huge manor house. It's downsized now, and they have a lovely collection of 14 instruments - mostly fortepianos (precursor to the modern pianoforte), but also a harpsichord and clavichord and some other bits and bobs. The 13 of us had the place to ourselves, and were well looked after by the staff with teas and lunch and stuff. We each went with a couple of pieces in mind to play, which we told them of beforehand so they could split us to allow us to play them on an instrument from the appropriate period. There were three tutors there, who told us all about the different instruments and advice on how to get a nice sound out of them, as well as general feedback on our pieces. That loving owns.
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Nov 11, 2019 13:27
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i want to go to there
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Nov 11, 2019 18:18
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God drat I am jealous! Writing that down for the next time I'm in the UK. My teacher has a clavichord I've been allowed to at once or twice, it's amazingly quiet. Someday I really want to get one of those "build it yourself" kits for a harpsichord. I play a lot of Bach and would love to have a double manual. Someday...
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Nov 12, 2019 06:19
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hosed up the ending, but I don't care because I'm never playing this again! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaM-w79klU4
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Nov 12, 2019 12:10
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Stringent posted:hosed up the ending, but I don't care because I'm never playing this again! Nice! You're ready to move on to some other rep, IMO. I see some sonatinas or Chopin op. 69 Waltzes in your future.
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Nov 16, 2019 02:45
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It's amusing to imagine what Bach or contemporaries would have thought of 19th century piano technology, or (*gasp*) modern digital weighted keyboards. Would Mozart have embraced MIDI? Needless to say, future historians will have a museum with pieces like the Fender Rhodes, $100,00 Steinway, and JUNO-60 that mark the evolution of the late 20th century piano.
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Nov 16, 2019 12:38
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Asimov posted:It's amusing to imagine what Bach or contemporaries would have thought of 19th century piano technology, or (*gasp*) modern digital weighted keyboards. Would Mozart have embraced MIDI? Mozart would have basically been Marc Rebillet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmhzsD_aI1o
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Nov 16, 2019 15:03
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IT BURNS posted:Nice! You're ready to move on to some other rep, IMO. I see some sonatinas or Chopin op. 69 Waltzes in your future. Hell yeah man! My teacher says it's ok to go into the Bach 3 part inventions, so probably going to do that next.
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Nov 17, 2019 02:53
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I don't get excited much any more... I'm getting older and more jaded, but also anhedonia stemming from depression can take the fun out of a lot of things. Things whose ability to bring me joy are not really affected by any of this are, first of all: my children. Second of all: music. Playing it in particular. Anyway I'm about to hit 40 next month, and have worked very hard developing my business over the last few years, to a decent degree of success. I've also practiced hard and made good progress with the piano. Finally, I've also over the last few years played a lot of pianos by the top manufacturers: Bechstein, Bosendorfer, Bluthner, Hamburg Steinway, Fazioli, Sauter, Grotrian Steinweg. All truly superb instruments, but none really made me determined to buy one RIGHT NOW DAMMIT. Then recently I played a Steingraeber 192 (around the size I am looking at; my current piano is 186cm so this is just a fraction bigger). The action was ridiculously good; the sound hit all the right buttons for me. Warm, colourful, with a seemingly endless range of expressive capability. The warmth of the sound would also make it less likely to fatigue my ears in our 16'2 x 13'7 music room. I went back and played it on a second day to see if the feeling was still there, and it was. So I pushed forward with it and I will very shortly be travelling to Bayreuth (between Berlin and Munich) to visit the factory as a guest of the company (they, or the shop I am buying through, are flying me there, and then putting me up in their studio flat on the first night; I am paying for a hotel for other two nights I am there). I will also play on two 192s, and hopefully choose one to buy, as a present to myself for my 40th! As mentioned, I don't get worked up over much these days, but I am absolutely brimming with excitement; it feels like I'm a kid again, and I can't think of anything more perfect to mark becoming a wizened 40-year-old bastard. I'm a bit of a petrolhead and would love a weekend sports car, or an upgrade to my daily driver, but not as much as a beautiful piano that really does it for me. So there we are. Just wanted to share my excitement in a thread where people will most probably understand. I will take some pics while I am there (including of the other points of interest in Bayreuth, such as the Wagner opera house and the Liszt museum), and if anyone is interested will post them in here. Now to practice!
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Nov 21, 2019 17:44
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That sounds awesome! And yes, please post those pictures, here or in the Classical Music thread. I've never played a Steingraeber and I think I've only ever seen one in real life once.
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Nov 21, 2019 18:14
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| # ? Jun 9, 2024 16:14 |
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cebrail posted:That sounds awesome! And yes, please post those pictures, here or in the Classical Music thread. The only two I've either seen or played were in this London shop: a 170 a couple of years ago (good for its size, but nonetheless way too small) and this 192. They only make about 80 grands a year and even fewer uprights, so they're pretty rare in the UK, and as I understand it even rarer in the US.
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Nov 21, 2019 18:41
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