Week 2: Ballads and Barcarolles 
Welcome to the Main Thread for the second week of "Song and Dance" practice challenge!
Choose a piece that is inspired or transcribed from a song or a dance. It could be a lively south-american danza, a passionate tango, a serene romantic lied, or a poignant aria transcribed for the guitar. You're welcome to explore pieces from unfamiliar composers or challenge yourself with a complex work.
Commit to daily practice and share your journey with the community. Aim to practice every day and upload at least two videos each week to illustrate your progress. This will not only help you stay committed and encouraged but will also allow you to share your musical voyage with our tonebase family.
Share your favorite piece or recording that embodies the theme of "Song and Dance." Your submission will serve as an inspiration to others and create a vibrant pool of potential pieces for other members to delve into.
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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Cavatina by Stanley Myers (lyrics: He was Beautiful by Cleo Laine)
To me this has always been a song - even without words.
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Marilyn Blodget That was beautiful, Marilyn. Well done. I don't think I have ever heard that piece before - though I have been aware of it. Your playing always has such warmth and grace.
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Marilyn Blodget
A very beautiful piece of music Marilyn. Great choice and well played. Bravo
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Jack Stewart Thanks for your kind words Jack!
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Andre Bernier Thanks so much Andre!
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Marilyn Blodget Lovely performance, Marilyn. Nice use of rubato in particular! I didn't know that Cleo Laine had written a text for it. (I do remember that she made an LP with John Williams.) Having just listened to the song, I think I prefer the instrumental, though.
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David Krupka Thanks David. It is such a beautiful melody instrumentally. It doesn’t need words
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Marilyn Blodget beautiful and very well played, bravo Marilyn!
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise!
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Marilyn Blodget Very beautiful!
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Marilyn Blodget That is really beautiful ! That is really difficult and you made it look so effortless.
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Dale Needles Thanks Dale
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don Thanks Don. I’ve lived with it for a while.
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Marilyn Blodget beautiful playing. And a great choice for this challenge. Thank you for sharing
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joosje Thank you Joosje!
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Marilyn Blodget Lovely job Marilyn! This is a great choice for the "song" part of the challenge. This is such a classic, and you play it so wonderfully!
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Steve Pederson Thanks so much, Steve!
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Rameau Allemande II 1706 Finally
I almost got this in the first week>
This is a piece that I started during the Transcription Challenge but couldn't get a passable recording of it. I feel this is pretty decent (requisite blunders not withstanding). I even think my tone is starting to settle in. Learning to play nailless has been a humbling (re: discouraging) experience. It is still not where I want it to be or, even where it was when I was using nails, but at least I am not completely embarrassed by it. (I know, you are probably thinking; 'Really? What would it take to make you feel embarrassed?')
Most of the places where I stumbled are generally playable for me so I am not as critical of them. However, I still have difficulty in the higher range, though there is definite improvement.
Oh yes. I'd like to give credit to my wife for her percussion performance.
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Jack Stewart That's really good, Jack. Really well-played and as always I love your ornaments. The nail-less sound to me is really pretty good. I would actually prefer to lose the nails but I play so quietly as it is, it wouldn't even be audible.
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Jack Stewart Fantastic Jack. Great transcription work and a very nice piece with so many complex chord shapes and difficulties. Seeing you playing nailless comfort me that one day I should be able to play and have a good sound.
Thanks a lot for sharing
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Steve Price Thanks Steve. Yeah, I struggle with volume and balance as well as tone control w/o nails. In fact, I had to play so forcefully at the beginning that I developed a painful blister on my 'a' finger. It has resolve itself into a callous which presents its own issues. I now have to file the callous to smooth it out. I also use hand cream as David Krupka suggested. Ah, the joys of age and playing guitar.
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Andre Bernier Thanks Andre. I think the transcription came out pretty well, though the original keyboard score is pretty sparse so there really wasn't a lot of decisions to make.
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Jack Stewart great progress on this piece Jack! And what a challenge to play nailless... is that something you plan to do for long term playing?
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise. I don't know if I will stay nailless. It is nice not having to worry about my nails but I still am bothered by how my tone sounds. I also find it difficult to 'locate' my fingers if you can imagine what I mean. I will probably try fakes again to see if they will hold better. I might try alternating between the 2. I don't imagine my natural nails will ever return to use.
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Steve Price I don't think nails contribute much to volume, Steve. I would think what matters is the amplitude of the vibration, and I don't see why that would be increased by the nail. I could be mistaken, of course. In any event, professional lutenists seem to get perfectly good projection, and they generally don't use nails.
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
