Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Piano progress in 2009

I'm setting this blog up to document my progress playing the piano in 2009. My goal is to practice a minimum of 1 hour per day. If I didn't have such little kids and terrible housekeeping skillz, I'd up it to at least 2 hours per day.

Pieces I'm working on in 2009:

Chopin Nocturne 62/1
Two Chopin Waltzes, op 64 no. 2 and 69 no. 2
Bach Fugue 21

I'm sure more will be added to the list.

I'm also going to work on previously polished pieces, including
Debussy Clair de Lune
Bach Prelude 21
and others.

Goals:
Build my repitoire
Increase technical skill
Play at a higher level by the end of 2009 than the beginning

Look out for recordings and videos, to come soon! My practice times will be recorded here, under the name "Carolyn227."

A little about me: As an Army brat, we moved around a lot, so I didn't have consistent teachers until my dad retired in 1992, at the beginning of my high school freshman year. I began studying piano in earnest at The Olympia Piano Academy, participated in local competitions, and improved greatly over the course of my high school years. In 1996, I auditioned for a scholarship at Washington State University, which I received. It was a very small scholarship, but I wasn't at a very high level, plus I messed up in my audition (pity money?). Unfortunately, the amount of work required to be a piano major was a bit more than I anticipated, so I dropped the program by the end of my first semester. Now, 12 years later, I am realizing that I made a mistake and wish that I had more drive back then. It would be a lot easier to practice as a single, childless 18 year old than a married mom of two young children, aged 2 and 4! Today, I practice at my out of tune piano after my kids go to bed. It's a small house, so I try not to play too loud.

I hope you enjoy reading about my practicing adventures and enjoy my music!