I recently took a trip down memory lane while going through one of my old piano lesson books. Here are my observations:Page 3 – yep, this all sounds very familiar
Page 10 – Dance of the Hours sounds much like a Downy commercial I remember (you love downy, it’s so pleasin’, April freshness that’s the reason, downy softens like no other, daa daa dadadadadada, love your mother)
Page 14 – I thought I was soooo grown up when I got to play this song (Distant Bells) because I got to use the pedal
Page 22 – I am pretty sure my teacher gave up and let me pass this one early…I do NOT remember this tune combined with this rhythm
Page 26 – Pretty sure I drove everyone nuts with this one because I remember playing it all the time (Starlight Waltz)
Page 32 –Barb’s favorite? (A Journey in the Arctic)
Page 38 – Intriguing title, still hate the tune (Don Juan)
Page 40 – Another song on which I think my piano teacher let me off the hook
Page 50 – Okay so maybe I didn’t find classical music as such a turn off when it was only 1 page long; I must have started disliking it when I got the original pieces that were never-ending
Page 61 – I think that my piano style was already beginning to be established in this 2nd grade book. I loved this song (Deep River) and it is very similar to the style that I developed over the years…slow, feeling, thoughtful, simple but rich chords.
Page 84 – And there are still some songs that my teacher would let me skip today because I failed to get the timing right (see page 22 and 40)
5 comments:
How fun! I liked to do that every once in awhile when I would find a book at Mom and Dad's house; probably YOURS! I found I could play a few more "lines" in the entire book..... how's that for progress??? But, one thing that I did get a lot better at was reading the "timing" because of being mentored by Lucille Schade; former Pastor's wife at Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Mt. Pleasant. She taught me so much. (Not to read notes, however! Just couldn't get past playing by "ear"...)
HAHAHA! (runs to get John Thompson 2nd grade book out).
I'll let you know which ones I "passed" and "failed"!
My favorites:
Pg. 17--Bill Grogan's Goat (which I was pleased to find I could still play). I played and sang for Brennan, who looked on like I'd lost my mind. That is, until Robert joined me on the second verse! ;)
Pg. 66--Habanera from "Carmen"
Pg. 77--Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffman
I never remember mastering:
Pg. 84 (what does Jocularity even mean?)
Pg. 74.
Weird timing killed me.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I'll have to get my book out too! I remember those titles!
Boy, this post took me down memory's lane. Unfortunately, I no longer have my book, or I would be diggin' it out for old times sake!
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