this week's lesson notes

Scales: B-flat Major, G minor (next week: F Major, D minor)

Chopin Etude Op.25, No. 7: Spent much of last week memorizing this piece. Played for Dr. N (without the score). Overall, I think she liked my playing. She indicated that she liked how I brought out the right hand as well as left hand melodies. Also, the inner voices are discernible. Which is good news.

A few areas to improve on for this week:

Opening cadenza (don't take too much time/liberty with the dotted note).

b.6, b. 50. Make sure you play the two's and against three's correctly. You tend to rush through these.

b.27. Note the retineuto. Continue working on making the top melodic notes stand out.

b.35. Use diminuendo pedal at the smorz.
b.40. Remember to use pedal in this measure. Count the beats accurately (quarter rest). And then proceed with b.41 with a "sense of purpose" (light pedal here and the opening note--b natural--should come in softly.

b.67. Make sure you lift everything for the rest (not too abruptly though). Count the rest (quarter rest) accurately.

Continue to work on using your arms to create that clean, soft sound. Make sure the top notes stand out (melody).

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor--First movement

Dr. N liked where this piece was going. It's come along way, she said. A few areas to work on:

b.30. Round off these notes (you tend to play them harsh, loud). Instead, round off to make it soft.

b.162. Don't forget to bring out the slur in te first two notes. Also, don't make the staccato too short. Do a "lazy staccato".

b.200-204. Keep the left hand flat (Dr. N heard some finger tapping on the keys) to prevent 'finger tapping'.

b. C15 (make sure you hit the right hand chords clearly and without the 'metallic' sound that's unpleasant sounding).

b. C17 (right hand chord should come immediately after the A-flat. You tend to pause a bit before proceeding to the chord).
b. c18 (note where the group of fifths start (on the A...not on the E).
b. C75 (make sure to give signal for conductor/orchestra to come in). Take in a breath right before the orchestra should come in to signal).