so.. .i finally got the clothes off the piano into closets and drawers and boxes. then called the “two young bucks with a truck” guys (how could i have not used them!? when i saw their ad in our Pennysaver!) and they came and took the boxes of clothes i cant fit in the little closet or the dressers or that dont fit me anymore or whatever and took them to my sister (sweet girl) who is letting them live in her attic til i decide what to do with them or realize i dont really need them and give them away – whatever, and then…. the music room became a music room FINALLY .

the only boxes left in there are full of pictures to hang (not now, but soon) (there are looooots of them) and hooked rugs (bought on ebay – places to put them yet to be determined). the wicker chair and ottoman are cleared off and have pillows and a beautiful red wool warm afghan and a lamp next to it for reading . the floor was swept. all was in readiness. Lamps and metronome plugged in near the piano. A fresh cup of tea….

And so we begin.

i dont even remember the last time i practiced the piano – sad to say its been years – i took a detour into singing for awhile – and now here i am back at the keyboard – ironic since its the place i feel the most comfortable in music – its where i have been since 3 years old. my relationship with the piano and music is long and complicated – i love it its just had a lot of ups and downs and time outs. however i dont want to go there today – today i want to celebrate the joy of making music.

yes, corny, i know but … well its pretty amazing.

when i was a singer i would get angry when my voice would give out after hours of practice – what i missed was the hours and hours of practicing (pianists traditionally practice the most of any other instrument except probably the violin) – I was so used to a whole routine – scales and technique exercises to warm up and then plunging into meaty work (learning notes, polishing the section that was freshly learned, moving on to new sections, joining them and then later on shaping the work) that i would over sing constantly – i had to learn to hold back and practice less – and it worked but i was always voracious and learned tons of music and sang all kinds of stuff that wasnt assigned by teachers etc. it was so easy – one line after a four part bach fugue? piece of cake!

anyway, back to the keyboard – my cold from last week settled in and became bronchitis this week so i had already taken mon and tue off – the goal was to start yesterday. well, one day behind is not bad.

how great was it? – pretty great – i am aching and sore and my back is yelling at me – muscles i havent used in, yes, years are screaming – but it was grand. bach, chopin, beethoven – even the two keys that keep sticking (e and f above mid c -pretty bad ones to stick too) didnt bother me too much – although they HAVE got to be fixed soon! will have to get a different piano tuner the last guy came twice and still hasnt fixed them.

i worked on scales, and chords and arpeggios and a wonderful little exercise one of my first “major” teachers gave me – and then chopin etude and bach – some sightreading – decided on the 2nd Partita . and then read thru some Beethoven sonatas and finally decided on Les Adieux and then read thru some Chopin Nocturnes. Also want to pick a Schubert sonata but will wait awhile for that.

how 4.5 hours flys by! so the downside is that i have to leave for work at 10 am each day – so that means 7is to 930 is in the morning to practice cause i dont get home til 930 pm . methinks i will be asking to move my work schedule back… if i work 130 – 930 then i could get in a good 3.5 hours in the morning before having to leave for the office – that would mean getting home at 11 pm. but well whats a gal to do. when i was doing my degree at mannes, i worked 5-12 and practiced four about 4 hours a day – more on the weekends – it was grand . dont want to get home at 2 in the morning but 11 wouldnt be too bad if i can get some more practice time in.

and yes this is a 180degree turn around for me – after some years of “wandering in the wilderness” its good to be back. oh and i guess i should find a teacher.