My Apologies to Mr. Mozart and All

When she started to play, Steinway came down personally and rubbed his name off the piano.  
Bob Hope

In November I bought myself a digital piano and have been teaching myself to play. Now that I’ve begun “Piano for Adult Beginners” Book 2, I have elevated myself from the ranks of “remedial student” to “emerging beginner” – clearly a giant leap in my musical progress. The notes, which resembled Greek to me, I can now read in a slow, plodding sort of way – yet another musical triumph for me.

I’m acutely aware that when I begin working on a piece by one of the great masters – Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and the like – that the pieces are all “arranged”, meaning that they’ve been dumbed down for beginners like me who don’t have a hope in hell of playing any of their music in its original form. As I sit on my bench, struggling to make music, I realize that should any of the greats be circling around above that they would surely rue the day they composed the piece. Therefore I feel compelled to offer this “blanket apology” for making what must seem like an abominable noise and beg their indulgence for I am driven to succeed. My goal is to play the masters pieces in their original form. And, when that will happen is anyone’s guess. But in the meantime, I will continue to practice and apologize.

I can’t listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.

Woody Allen

Make someone smile today.

Geri

Learning to Play Piano – Episode 1

Get up from that piano. You hurtin’ its feelings.

Jelly Roll Morton

I wonder if I’m hurting my piano’s feelings. Too bad if I am; it’ll have to get over it because my digital piano is the centrepiece of my new adventure.

Since acquiring this creature of wonder, I can’t tell you how delighted I am with my decision, in spite of what I consider to be slow progress. As a voracious and very quick reader, the speed at which I am presently able to read the music of the very simple pieces that I am working on is most disconcerting. At the moment I think it’s rather like deciphering spy code. Yet, I am soldiering on, and I am sight reading and playing with both hands. My repertoire, although extremely limited and very elementary, includes Yankee Doodle, Camptown Races and Catch a Falling Star. I am currently working on Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart. I pray that Mr. Mozart is otherwise occupied as I practice, or I fear that he may yet regret that he ever composed it.

In spite of the ungodly sounds that sometimes spew forth as a result of misread notes and/or misplaced fingers, there is unmitigated joy as a result of playing even a very simple piece correctly. And that’s really what it’s all about, isn’t it? Finding a way to bring joy to your life (and not inflicting it on those near and dear). Although my friends have been very kind and have already started asking when I’m giving a recital, I can see the relief on their faces when I say, “No time soon”.

I bought a piano once because I had the dream of playing As Time Goes By as some girl's leaning on it drinking a martini. Great image. But none of it worked out. I can't even play Chopsticks. But I've got a nice piano at my house!

George Clooney

Make someone smile today.

Geri