Lesson 1

My first lesson happened this morning. The professor said some nice things about me and my playing. She is not the type of person to regularly dish out praise and compliments, so that made me happy.

I was expecting to learn some some simple Etudes or Preludes by Chopin or Scarlatti, but she is starting me right off the bat with the third and final movement of Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathetique" the Rondo Allegro.



She is also having me learn Bach's Prelude No. 21, BVW 866 (including the Fugue at the end):



I have to play these pieces for her next week.

In other news, I have recently discovered Maurice Ravel's piano works. I have heard some of his orchestral works, but not much on the piano. One song I have been sight-reading is "Pavane pour une infante defunte" for the piano. While browsing through YouTube trying to find more of his music, I came across this song, and immediately fell in love. It is the fourth and final movement, the Toccata from "Le Tombeau de Couperin":



I had to listen to that song multiple times to process its complexity, and once I did, It became one of my favorite pieces for the piano. I mentioned this to my teacher, and she wants me to play it at my senior recital four years from now.

Testing 1,2,3

As I refine my piano and organ playing technique, I am going to record myself and analyze the footage.  I will post the details of the audio recorder, but in the meantime, here is some test footage I recorded.  This is also a test post for the free SoundCloud service I just signed up for.

Hattie Singing by fanbrain

Roadmap

If you have been keeping up on the news, you know I am about to return to school.  I have 27 credit hours accumulated between High School college courses and one semester on campus, so I'm starting right at the bottom.  Luckily most of those credit hours count toward the Bachelor's of Science Piano Major degree I'm after.

To be accepted into the music department, you have to audition.  Before my audition on the piano, I asked the professor whether I should start piano major lessons this Summer, instead of waiting until fall.  She said yes, and I proceeded to sign up and register.  Classes aren't supposed to start until the first week in June, but her other piano major students want to start early to have enough time in the 8 week block for the required 12 lessons.  Anyway, lessons start next week.

I will also be taking organ minor lessons alongside everything, and those lessons will start in a couple weeks.  These lessons will continue through until I complete the Bachelor's degree.  Once I complete the Bachelor's degree, I will transfer to a music school of some sort in some location (eg. Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, or Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY) and begin the organ major program.

What can you do as a professional organist?

• Teach at the university level
• Concertize as a concert organist
• Become organist for a local denomination

These plans are subject to change, but seeing as I have been immersed in music my whole life, I don't see the plans changing very much.

Well, I think that about sums it up.  It helps to write this out and have it on paper.  This blog is more for me than anyone else.  I hope I can strike up some more interest in music, and help educate others along the way.

Thanks for tuning in.

Welcome

Test post.  I am still working in the design.  Stay tuned for more details.