What Are You Practising / Composing Now?

[cloughie]

When I play rock music on keyboard, I usually have a backing download of the song I’m playing. Usually the hard copy I have has the chord sequence or passage, and I de elope that.

Sounds like running off to get divorced!

[Joseph K]

When I play rock music on keyboard, I usually have a backing download of the song I’m playing. Usually the hard copy I have has the chord sequence or passage, and I de elope that.

I have a few CD/Books called Aebersold Play-alongs which are collections of jazz standards with backing tracks. But these aren't as necessary and therefore available these days when youtube has backing tracks available.

But, one's technique has to be up to a certain tempo, both physically and in terms of improvising ability. I'm at the stage - certainly with Giant Steps, if not things I'm more comfortable with like Stella by Starlight - where it makes more sense to practice improvising in a relaxed rubato manner, rather than in tempo.

However, probably my next purchase will be a Looper Pedal - so I can record my own chord sequences at my own tempo, and practice improvising over them. I am looking forward to how fun that will be.

[BBMmk2]

The loop pedal looks interesting?

[Joseph K]

The loop pedal looks interesting?

It will be.

I've also started learning the Presto Double from the first violin Partita by Bach (B minor). I chose this because it is mostly bowed rather than slurred, unlike the Presto from BWV 1001, so that since I pick all the notes my phrasing is likely to mimic that of a violinist a bit more. And because I love Bach.

[MrGongGong]

Rhubarb sounds

[vinteuil]

Rhubarb sounds

... to include :

. the noise when growing
. the scream as they are tugged out
. the yelp when cut
. the seething as they are boiled
. the clink of spoon on plate as they are served
. happy gurgling sounds while being digested
. plop!

A whole suite. Or sweet...


.

[MrGongGong]

... to include :

. the noise when growing
. the scream as they are tugged out
. the yelp when cut
. the seething as they are boiled
. the clink of spoon on plate as they are served
. happy gurgling sounds while being digested
. plop!

A whole suite. Or sweet...


.

Mostly the sounds of forced Rhubarb growing in the dark

[Constantbee]

Thanks!

From the same post Constantbee, did you do Grade 5 from scratch or do other grades building up to it?

Oops! Completely missed your post, cloughie. Terribly sorry So used to nobody taking any notice of me, you see In fact I went in at Grade 4. These exams are not cheap, so I was trying to avoid having to fork out for every grade.

I was talking to a local music teacher this afternoon about the ABRSM theory exams. We agreed that they can offer some sort of alternative to GCSE Music, now no longer available at our local schools, IF your family can afford private tuition. I have noticed, though, that very few music teachers enjoy teaching it. Opportunities sometimes come up to take it elsewhere, though. Our local dance school offered it as an evening class last year, for example.

An alternative for adult learners would be one of the OU's modular music courses, which they claim equates to ABRSM Grade 6. I went off the OU when they increased their tuition fees in line with mainstream university fee increases. Courses that were once affordable are now well beyond our pay grade. Certainly out of keeping with the ethos of the OU I used to know

[MrGongGong]

I was talking to a local music teacher this afternoon about the ABRSM theory exams. We agreed that they can offer some sort of alternative to GCSE Music, now no longer available at our local schools, IF your family can afford private tuition. I have noticed, though, that very few music teachers enjoy teaching it. Opportunities sometimes come up to take it elsewhere, though. Our local dance school offered it as an evening class last year, for example.

Nothing wrong with the theory exam
but it's a small fraction of what GCSE (for all it's flaws) covers

But, sadly, no one in positions of power really gives a sh*t about music being stripped from education
and I was told "Saint Simon" was going to save us all ?

[cloughie]

Oops! Completely missed your post, cloughie. Terribly sorry So used to nobody taking any notice of me, you see In fact I went in at Grade 4. These exams are not cheap, so I was trying to avoid having to fork out for every grade.

I was talking to a local music teacher this afternoon about the ABRSM theory exams. We agreed that they can offer some sort of alternative to GCSE Music, now no longer available at our local schools, IF your family can afford private tuition. I have noticed, though, that very few music teachers enjoy teaching it. Opportunities sometimes come up to take it elsewhere, though. Our local dance school offered it as an evening class last year, for example.

An alternative for adult learners would be one of the OU's modular music courses, which they claim equates to ABRSM Grade 6. I went off the OU when they increased their tuition fees in line with mainstream university fee increases. Courses that were once affordable are now well beyond our pay grade. Certainly out of keeping with the ethos of the OU I used to know

Thanks for that C’bee, knowing that Grade 5 is quite a big one, I was thinking it might be a good idea to ease into it. I have procrastinated somewhat with theory, but feel I should get to grips with it before too long, maybe I’ll look at Grade 3. I took and amazingly passed Grade 3 piano last year and now working on Grade 4.

[BBMmk2]

Oops! Completely missed your post, cloughie. Terribly sorry So used to nobody taking any notice of me, you see In fact I went in at Grade 4. These exams are not cheap, so I was trying to avoid having to fork out for every grade.

I was talking to a local music teacher this afternoon about the ABRSM theory exams. We agreed that they can offer some sort of alternative to GCSE Music, now no longer available at our local schools, IF your family can afford private tuition. I have noticed, though, that very few music teachers enjoy teaching it. Opportunities sometimes come up to take it elsewhere, though. Our local dance school offered it as an evening class last year, for example.

An alternative for adult learners would be one of the OU's modular music courses, which they claim equates to ABRSM Grade 6. I went off the OU when they increased their tuition fees in line with mainstream university fee increases. Courses that were once affordable are now well beyond our pay grade. Certainly out of keeping with the ethos of the OU I used to know

That’s a great pity regarding the OU. I done my music diploma through them.

[Joseph K]

This past week or so, I've had something of a break-through in my technique, my right-hand plectrum technique. The main movement of this is now definitely coming from the wrist, which is how it should be. So I can more easily play higher tempi than I could do before. Not only that, but my control of accents and phrasing is better. I'm still practising the Bach presto from the first violin sonata quite a lot, perhaps more than I'd like, but I have found that say, switching between playing the piece at 140 bpm with two notes per click and then playing the piece at 95 bpm with three notes per click is really good at learning to control accents and phrasing.

Another break-through today regarding right-hand technique (of course). This time it's to do with strumming - having been effortfully stuck for a while actually around 120/130 BPM with two strums per click, today, aided by loosening my whole arm somewhat, for the past hour or two I have been strumming the chords to various songs at 160 BPM and even a bit higher. It's been fun.

It's good when you know all those daily attempts and failures contribute to some small success.

[Richard Barrett]

It's good when you know all those daily attempts and failures contribute to some small success.

Good for you JK.

I've been trying to help my daughter with her so-called composition homework and discovered that I'm unable to write anything that sounds convincingly like late 18th century Viennese classical style, I keep making the subsidiary material more "interesting" and always end up back in the baroque.

[BBMmk2]

Good for you JK.

I've been trying to help my daughter with her so-called composition homework and discovered that I'm unable to write anything that sounds convincingly like late 18th century Viennese classical style, I keep making the subsidiary material more "interesting" and always end up back in the baroque.

Sounds quite vexing!

[cloughie]

Good for you JK.

I've been trying to help my daughter with her so-called composition homework and discovered that I'm unable to write anything that sounds convincingly like late 18th century Viennese classical style, I keep making the subsidiary material more "interesting" and always end up back in the baroque.

Be professional and stick to your task - I guess your daughter needs the basics at this stage!