Week 1: Setting Sails! 
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the "Music YOU Love" practice challenge!
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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Hand - Elegy for a King (Mar 7)
Well, here is a very rough recording of the entire piece. Sorry that I am a bit out of tune (I think my second and third strings went a bit sharp). There are too many problem spots to list here, but certainly measures 13-20 still need lots of work, but also the four measures right after the harmonics. When I first heard the piece, I thought the measures with harmonics would be a huge challenge, but they turned out to be more manageable than I thought.
Oh yeah, the ending was not too good. It feels like I'm groping around a lot there, but I think with some practice I can get it down.
Step by step ...
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Eric Phillips Great progress Eric. This is really coming together nicely. As you were playing I was wondering what image you might have for the final music video.
Maybe some AI artwork of some hands or something? But, they've got to be hands with really stretched out fingers! 
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Steve Pederson Thanks, Steve! Yes, a lot of difficult stretches in this.
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Not sure I can make the kick-off, but I'll tackle Andrew York's Squares Suspended, unsure if the title has any bearing to his mathematics background. I find the piece haunting, with plenty of space for expression.
Here is a video of bars 1-15 with errors. I should be able to tackle this in a month.
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Michael Shirk Great beginning. Michael. I don't know this work so I don't know what's to come, but you have a very good grasp of it so far. I'm looking forward to seeing your next posting of it.
Oh yes, and welcome. It's always good to see new faces.
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Michael Shirk Great start, Michael, and good to have you join in. I’ve heard the piece and enjoy it very much, but I have never played it.
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Michael Shirk Great Michael, I hope you'll manage to play it all by then end of the challenge... York is definitely one of my favorites
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Blaise Laflamme I saw on your youtube site that he endorsed your playing of one of his pieces.
That's a high compliment indeed. It was a very nice recording you did and well deserved.
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Michael Shirk Thanks Michael, yes he contacted me to collaborate with him and record his Quebec Suite (you can watch 2 out of 10 I already recorded) on his YT channel or in a playlist on mine. Those are more advanced stuff than the miniatures, he has a lot of music written for almost any level!
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Michael Shirk This is the first time I hear this piece. This is so beautiful. Well done Michael.
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Michael Shirk good start. I don't know the price but it sounds very Andre's York- and your playing is good. Looking forward for the updates
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Michael Shirk As said Eric, good start, Michael, and nice to have you join in this challenge. Like many others, I don't know the piece but you play it really beautifully! Thanks for sharing!
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I thought I'd use this challenge as a motivation to refine and perfect a new composition written in the Afro Peruvian rhythm of landó. My first video has a cajón loop in the background to mark the 12/8 rhythm. I look forward to this opportunity and checking out the other postings here. This is a fragment of the first two minutes with a few rough spots...
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Tomas Rodriguez Wow! What an interesting composition! Is it your own? Very fine playing too - if there were some rough spots I missed them. Looking forward to hearing more!
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Tomas Rodriguez Bravo, Tomas. Love the playing and the composition. Thanks for sharing and welcome to the site.
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Tomas Rodriguez This is incredible, Tomas! It's wonderful to have you join in.
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Tomas Rodriguez Awesome! Fluid playing and sound... I'm happy you joined in, I hope to hear more of what you're doing
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Tomas Rodriguez Very nice! Is this an original composition of yours? I really love Afro-Latino rhythms and was not familiar with the Afro-Peruvian lando rhythm. Loved it! I plan to post a couple of pieces during the Challenge, showcasing the Afro-Latino Candombe rhythm, popular in Uruguay.
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Tomas Rodriguez super. Thank you for sharing. A real discovery
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Tomas Rodriguez very entertaining Tomas. The use of the background loop also adds some atmosphere to the piece. Thanks for sharing.
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Tomas Rodriguez I really enjoyed your piece! I’m assuming it’s your composition. Does it have a name? A very danceable rhythm. My toes are tapping!
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Tomas Rodriguez That is tremendous, Tomas. Your composition is great s is your performance. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
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David Krupka Thank you David. Yes, it is my own composition.
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Marilyn Blodget Yes, this is a dance rhythm in Peru, related to the festejo and Afro Peruvian rhythms. It is my own composition entitled "Landó para Maite"
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Andre Bernier Thank you Andre, I am afraid that this piece may not work with out percussion. We will find out...
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Jack Stewart thank you Jack.
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
