Week 1: Pick a Piece! 
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the "Music YOU Love" practice challenge!
- Make sure you've read the guidelines before replying (<- click)
- Watch the kickoff livestream! (<- link comes soon)
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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Mallorca Feb 10
Here's an update on Mallorca. I tried to play it with more dynamic, tempo, and timbre variation. Listening back, the changes are less than I thought they'd be (as usual).
I forgot to silence my phone, and I received a phone call around 5:23. Sorry about that! I didn't lose my focus too much, though, so I suppose that was good. The note of my ringtone is F, so at least it didn't clash with the music in D minor.
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Andre Bernier Thanks, Andre. Listening back, a few of the rings almost seem to enhance the music, like they are intentional. I’m sure Albeniz would be rolling in his grave if he heard me say that!
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Eric Phillips This is very good, Eric. Even though your originally recording was great, you have made quite an improvement.
I thought maybe Issac was calling to let you know he approved.
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Jack Stewart It was actually Andres Segovia calling to tell me that I was using all the wrong fingerings.
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Eric Phillips you were right to wait for Isaac's call.
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Eric Phillips Wow! Really beautiful, Eric! I loved your expression to the phone call... something like "you can't see that I'm playing?" Anyway, if it's really Segovia I think you should take it next time... Bravíssimo, ragazzo!
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Moyses Lopes Grazie, amico mio! If it really were Segovia, I would be far too scared to answer it, Just thinking of what he would say to me makes me shake!
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Lágrima - Take 1
If you haven't had a chance to read my previous post as to why I'm doing this song, please take a moment to do so.
After the first day of learning this song here's what I've observed...
- I surprised myself by how quickly I was able to memorize the piece
- I was surprised by how difficult a couple of these passages are in such a short time!
- I've seen different parts of the piece played numerous different ways, and that can be a little frustrating, but also freeing in that there's no "one right way" to play it.
- I think I could stand to raise the overall volume level. I was going for soft vibe, but I think it was so soft you couldn't hear it!
Right now I'm just working on the mechanics and will be working more on the interpretation as I get more solid on the execution.
For those of you who've played the piece, I've considered playing the A on beat 2 of the third measure of the minor section as a harmonic on the 5th string as opposed to a fretted A at the 7th fret of the 4th string. That would really free up the hand from having to make that crazy stretch from the high E. What do you think?
Thanks for listening!
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Steve Pederson hi Steve. Sounds great, especially after only one day! Regarding the minor section there is an alternative fingering for the part you mention in Thomas Viloteau’s lesson, which avoids the stretch. It really helped me with this piece.
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Jaime Fernandez Cool! Thanks Jamie! Is that lesson here in the Tonebase archives?
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Steve Pederson yes sorry should have mentioned that! His other lessons are great as well.
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Jaime Fernandez I just started watching the lesson, and I think it's hilarious that he admits right away that he's never even played the piece! How does someone get hired to teach a piece on Tonebase that he's never even played before???
martin -
Steve Pederson Great Job Steve. An excellent debut after only one day.
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Andre Bernier Thank you Andre!
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Steve Pederson I think it’s because the lesson is about how to learn a new piece in 7 days so he shows the process he goes through to learn a piece he hasn’t played before.
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Steve Pederson Beautiful, Steve! You are bringing out the melody nicely. This is a perfect piece to have ready to play at a moments notice, when someone simply says, “Play something for me.”
You may have watched it already, but I really loved Emmanuel Sowicz’ livestream on this piece.
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Steve Pederson That's really coming together nicely, Steve. Love the pacing.
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Eric Phillips I wasn’t aware of the livestream by Emmanuel Sowicz so I just watched it. That is a REALLY great lesson. Thanks for mentioning it!
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Jaime Fernandez That totally makes sense Jaime!
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Eric Phillips Thanks Eric. I don't think I've watched that. I'll have to check it out!
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Steve Price Thank you Steve!
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Steve Pederson This is great Steve. I really like your contrast in the B section. A very heart felt performance. Thanks.
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Sor - Menuet Op 3
And here is an update of the Sor piece. Probably not too much different.
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Eric Phillips you're sounding more confident in this one.
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Eric Phillips Very nice Eric
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Andre Bernier Thank you, Andre!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
