WEEK 1: Dóbroje útro (Good Morning)!
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the Nikita Koshkin challenge! This is the place for the Week 1 Submissions!
- Make sure you've read the guidelines before replying (<- click)
- Watch the kickoff livestream for help with the first section!
- Get the Scores Here
If you want to describe your process (optional), feel free to use the following template.
- Things you found easy:
- Things you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
- (Optional:) questions
-
Study 6 measures 5-11
I'm really struggling and I need some help. I've "finished" working on #1-5, but when I tried sight reading #6-10, they all seem completely beyond me, which makes me wonder if I really should try working on them at all. Maybe just going back into #1-5 deeper would be more productive. Not sure.
That said, I thought, "Maybe I could work on a very small section of #6 that is causing me problems, not even worrying if I ever get to the entire piece." So, I'm giving a shot at measures 5-11, which involves something I have never done before. It has a staccato bass line with a legato melody line.
My problem is, I really don't know how it should be done. I'm happy to put in the slow practice and work on the skill, but I want to make sure I'm doing the skill correctly. So, if someone (Martin
or anyone else who knows the skill) could watch the video and give me some input, I would be very appreciative. (Sorry for the pained look on my face below!)
-
Emma well... in the case of Eric Phillips since he's already at study #6 I think he'll benefit a lot from one, or more, more advanced studies... while continuing on easier ones to enhance them overall. I personally always work on at least 3 pieces simultaneously, preferably of different level, and then each of them enhance the others like a learning spiral. You see less spectacular progress at first, but on a longer period and in the end, all pieces are in a better shape than if I would have learned them in silo one after the other. At least that worked well for me
. -
Blaise Laflamme you are right, it is definitely better to play 2 studies at the same time.
-
-
#1. Today I just focused on measures 5 and 6. I am sticking to the marked fingerings because they are generally comfortable and seem to make sense. I've always played with whatever finger was handy, so mapping out the fingering is a new discipline for me!
-
Elizabeth Uyehara Very good Elisableth. Beautiful relaxed posture!
-
-
Study 6
Well, after about an hour of practice, I can at least play through the piece now, albeit VERY slowly and with MANY mistakes.
What was easy: Does not apply
What was difficult: Everything, but especially ...
- The right hand articulation in measures 5-11 and 21-22.
- The opening four measures (which also repeat at the end) just don't sound very good to me, and I think it's more than just the slow speed. Again, it's that right hand articulation which is so new to me.
I do at least feel like I'm making some progress. Many thanks to Blaise and Joosje for their encouragement!
-
Eric Phillips Nice job on this Eric! These are not so easy, and your performance shows great discipline, accuracy and even tempo. As usual, your are amazing at getting it done with limited time. Congrats!
-
Eric Phillips you definitely are making progress, as Barney says you show great discipline and also steadiness, bravo!
-
Eric Phillips Wow beautiful!!!! So clean and rhythmic. Liked it very much and this is a lot of progress.
-
Emma Thank you Emma!
-
Eric Phillips Your progress is very impressive. Your discipline in approaching these studies is an an aspiration (or should be - I really need to take note).
-
Jack Stewart Thank you, Jack. I honestly wish I had more discipline. When I watch my hands in this video (especially my right hand) I see all kinds of problems.
-
Here is my current status on Study #6. These studies, with their modern tonality, are more difficult for me to commit to muscle memory, and therefore require more time to perform without errors at suggested tempo. They are really cool, so wanted to try a few from the second half of the set. So out of time to work more on this one. On to the next...?
-
Barney Sorry, It looks like I played wrong Chords in measures 25 & 26. Just noticed in playback.
-
Barney Good job, Barney! You are definitely further along with this one than I am. I like the tempo, articulation, and variation in tone color very much.
-
Eric Phillips Thanks Eric! I'm not used to playing this type of repertoire and having some difficulty "connecting" to it musically. I like the challenge though from a technical standpoint.
-
Barney oh yeah... I'm happy you joined the challenge, this is great to see you playing this kind of music! As a side note, I found those studies really well written and the easier ones help building progressively the knowledge and technique to play the harder ones up to the end. Waiting for you next submissions!
-
Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise! I agree about the progression, so I played through the earlier ones to check them out accordingly. I thought I would benefit most from concentrating on some of the studies in the second half of the set with the limited time available (unfortunately, some life stuff is getting in the way).
-
Barney that's a good plan! I'm also limited by time unfortunately, but I hope to at least record #1 to #6 and if time permits #10
. Waiting for your next updates 
-
Barney very well played, and it is quite difficult. Bravo!!!
-
Emma Thanks very much Emma!
-
Blaise Laflamme I look forward to your submissions for this challenge. I always enjoy your great playing and sound quality!
-
Barney already have two done... trying to record #3 now
-
Barney nice to hear you play this quite modernistic piece. Barney. Well done. I like your pizzicato sound in 27 and overall the phrasing and coloring. You didn’t opt for the staccato in this bass passage, but you separate the voices really well.
-
Blaise Laflamme Just listened to them. Beautiful performance and sound!! Are those the Ribbon Mics in action?
-
joosje Thanks Joosje! Which measure are your referring to about staccato?
-
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
