Week 3: "Time and Patience"

WELCOME TO THE MAIN THREAD FOR THE THIRD WEEK OF "Practice Plans Challenge" 

  1. Dive Into the Practice Plans: Start by exploring our new Practice Plans feature. Use the self-evaluation quiz to identify areas of potential growth.

  2. Screenshot Your Plan: Capture a screenshot of your chosen Practice Plan. This will be your commitment snapshot—a before picture of the journey you're about to embark on.

  3. Share a piece you are currently working on: Alongside your screenshot, let us know how you implement the newly discovered exercises in your practice. Share a piece of your choice that you’re currently working on!

  4. Update your Practice Plan: If you have completed the recommended videos in your Practice Plan, retake the quiz to update your recommendations!

  5. Share Your Journey: Post your video in our community forum under the "Practice Plans Challenge" thread. Include a brief write-up about your experience learning the piece – what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what this piece means to you.

 

↓ Happy Sharing! ↓

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    • Jack Stewart
    • Retired
    • Jack_Stewart
    • 7 mths ago
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    Sor Etude in A maj. op.6.6

    This is classified as intermediate so I assume that qualifies for Level 8, my assigned level. I posted this for the last challenge and have continued to work on it. I feel it has significantly improved, though it still needs some interpretive refinement.

    I hope tp post BWV 1009 Prelude, another holdover from the last challenge. I have also continued to work on it and think it has gotten much better. Later I will begin posting my work/progress(?) on the BWV 996 Bourree

    Like 6
    • Jack Stewart for sure it has improved, I like how you play moving voices, keep the pulse and end the phrases, great job Jack! 💪

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      • Jim King
      • Retired
      • Jim_king
      • 7 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Jack Stewart Well done Jack.  I was mesmerized by the speed that your left hand had to travel up and down the neck for this piece.

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      • David Krupka
      • Amateur guitarist/lutenist
      • David_Krupka
      • 7 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Jack Stewart Definitely an improvement, Jack - well done! I find it hard to understand how ToneBase can classify this study as intermediate - it's among the most challenging Sor wrote. I certainly think of it as 'advanced' repertoire. You're playing it with great fluency, and at a very good tempo. (And with a very good sense of musical purpose too!) I look forward to hearing the Bach.

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      • Jack Stewart
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 7 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise. I do feel I have managed to get a handle on this piece. However, it sounded much better when I was playing than when I was listening to it. One of the bitter-sweet advantages of making and then listening g to one's recording. It does help focus on what needs more attention.

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      • Jack Stewart
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 7 mths ago
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      Jim King Thanks Jim. This piece has taken a long time to get down. I especially had a problem with the descending segment of the opening phrase. I had to really concentrate on that section long after I had everything else down.

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      • Jack Stewart
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 7 mths ago
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      David Krupka Thanks David. I agree, I found this piece to be really challenging, especially the 2nd half of the first phrase (as I mentioned to Jim). It has taken me forever to be able to play that consistently (well... sort of consistently). And then, when I listened to my recording, the phrasing I thought I was achieving was not as clear as I thought. Sigh! I guess I'm not done yet. 

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      • David Krupka
      • Amateur guitarist/lutenist
      • David_Krupka
      • 7 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Jack Stewart I have the impression that the audio quality of your recording is not as good as it might be. Perhaps this is why the recording does not seem to match what you hear as you are playing. I experience the same thing with my own recordings. I find myself wondering whether what I hear while practicing is 'real' or simply imagined. I generally record with an inexpensive voice recorder, so perhaps this is the problem. (At least, I hope it is, because the alternative explanation is not flattering!) I've recently purchased some better equipment (the well-known Focusrite 'Scarlett' audio interface with its accompanying microphone) but I haven't tried it out yet. I'll let you know if this makes a difference.

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      • Jack Stewart
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 7 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      David Krupka I would be interested in your assessment. I have an Apogee M/C+ usb mic and record directly into my iPad. I am considering a more involved setup, some for a better sound and also to learn more about recording.

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    • Jack Stewart This coming along very nicely.  I also agree with other comments, that this is an advanced study and you are playing it well.  Keep listening to Carlevaro's rendition.  It is truly the best that I have heard.  

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      • Jack Stewart
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 7 mths ago
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      Dale Needles Thanks Dale. I do need to refer back to Carlevaro's version. I usually stop reference other versions once I get to a certain point but listening to this recording I realize I have more work to do. 

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    • Jack Stewart impressive, great improvement, Jack. I agree with all previous comments, good phrasing, direction and speed. Maybe you could even relax more - take more time for phrases. And feel the bass voice more as leading, as harmonic basis (especially at the ending of phrases). It could give more depth to the melodic thirds in the upper voice (you have such a great flow in those). Enjoyed it a lot!

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    • Jack Stewart yeah sometimes the room seems to sounds better from your ears than from what the microphone captures, also depends on the polar pattern you're using.

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    • Jack Stewart I just emailed you Carlevaro notes on this study along with a score with his fingering from the Abel Carlevaro Masterclass - Volume I Sor Studies.  Definitely worth checking out. 

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      • Jack Stewart
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 7 mths ago
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      joosje Thanks Joosje. I agree with your recommendations. Some of what you suggested I thought I was doing until I listened to the recording. I could certainly relax more and use rubato more, especially at the phrase ends. The bass, in particular was a problem. I actually articulate the bass until the peak which I play in full but I couldn't hear it at all.  So..... back to the woodshed (American colloquialism).

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    • Jack Stewart From memorization to execution, you did a great job Jack. Bravo 👍

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      • Jack Stewart
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 7 mths ago
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      Andre Bernier  Thanks Andre. Memorization at my age is no small feat.😄

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      • Barney
      • Barney
      • 7 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Jack Stewart You have improved dramatically on this Etude, Jack.  Great job!  The obvious area I see for possible improvement would be the accuracy /clarity on some of the shifts, primarily when the thirds are descending.  When I worked on this piece , the thing that helped me in this regard, was breaking down each phrase separately and practicing it "very slowly" observing the smoothness and accuracy of the sound (listen closely) after the shifts .  Don't worry about speed, which you already have and can be added back later;  you want a cleaner result.

      I hope that helps.  This is not an easy Etude. Congrats on your great progress!

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