I finalllllly feel like I'm getting the hang of reading music. I've been working on songs that aren't in the book and I feel like I've really made some progress!

I practiced for about twenty minutes a couple of times this week. I've mainly been working on G position and the cords and songs in it. For the most part it is pretty straight forward, since it is very similar to C position, just shifted over. The one thing that I am struggling with a little is the D7 cord with my right hand only, simply because I'm finding it a little hard to reach all the notes since they're fairly spread out. But other than that, everything is going well.

I practiced for about half an hour today, mostly on "The Entertainer" (page 140-141). It's going to be a while before I can play both hands properly, what with all that syncopation. At the same time, I kind of wish the whole song fit on the two pages, because I'd love to learn it.

—Nicholas

I finally feel like I am getting the hang of reading music! It still takes me a large amount of time, but at least I am able to apply it to the piano now. Can only go up from here!

Today I practiced for an hour. I have now pretty much learned how to play "O Sole Mio!" (page 124), "Jericho" (127), and "The Stranger" (129). I do have to practice playing legato though, particularly when I have to play the same note multiple times in a row.

—Nicholas

This week I have practiced a little bit every day for the midterm. I am playing "When the Saints go Marching in". The only slight problem I have is keeping a steady beat, but I have tried using the metronome in practice to help that. I am a little nervous for tonight, but I feel that I know the music so I think I will be okay.

Today I practiced for half an hour, mainly on "Good People" for the midterm. "Jericho" (page 127) has some interesting syncopation.

—Nicholas

Wow! I have completely forgotten to post. Oh no. Hopefully it won't effect my grade to drastically. I have finally gotten my book and I've been making really steady progress going through it! I'm also in the Intro to sight reading class so that has been helping me with piano a lot as well. I have had some emergency appointments that have made me miss class, so hopefully those will be over soon. Sorry I haven't posted.


Danielle Pease

I have been practicing for the midterm but I find it still very hard to get down the notes A and B because I have to move my hands and then I end up losing my place. My hands feel very stiff when I play, I think that is the problem and I have to look down at the notes I'm playing. Just something I need to continue to work on.

-Nina

Today I practiced for about half an hour, mostly on Chiapanecas (p. 120) and Auld Lang Syne (p. 123), but also on Little Brown Jug (p. 119) and of course the midterm piece, Good People (p. 117). I have a much easier time with Auld Lang Syne than with the two songs that come before it in the book, mainly because the two hands aren't as much at odds with each other in this one. I still don't know how to focus on each hand independently of the other one when I play.

—Nicholas

Today I practiced for about three quarters of an hour, for fun. I've finally found the proper natural-sounding rhythm for "Good People," so now I've moved onto the next song, "Little Brown Jug." I have the usual trouble getting my hands to play in time with each other, but I'm gradually getting the hang of this one.

—Nicholas

Today I practiced for fifty minutes. I'm on page 117, trying to get the hang of "Good People," and still having some trouble with it. I think it's mainly the rhythm that's giving me some problems. I'm never quite sure, intuitively, when to play which notes. Of course, that's not even mentioning my enduring difficulty in getting my fingers to press the right keys…

—Nicholas

Yesterday, I practiced playing for about a half hour. I have been practicing "When the Saints Go Marching in", and I will continue practicing and play this for my midterm. It is going well so far.