Random Piano Practice (12th January 2018)

Might make more similar videos like this one in the future. Very reminiscent of my earlier practice videos. Just me trying different things. This time I was trying to learn / perfect the first few measures of the third page of the Chopin Waltz Op.64 No.2. I could make this into a (almost) daily thing if anyone would be interested in that :) Since I always record my practice session anyways, uploading them would be no problem. Anyway, you know what I dislike about the piano? Coming back from a trip after like 3 weeks and struggling to read, play and think on the piano. Slowly and surely adjusting back to playing the piano and trying to iron out all the little kinks that are present right now.
Oh btw, I decided to do the ABRSM grade 5 piano theory exam this year. I have a few months until the summer, so I can read/study up on everything and it actually gives me a good reason to read all the books I've got. I'm expecting to be finished with the Chopin Waltz by the end of this month if I'm being totally honest; I've got no idea what I'll do after this current piece, but I guess I'll better take a look at something challenging yet fun.

There are a few things I want to do this year, but I doubt I'll get to them all but listing them wouldn't hurt, would it. It is the first video from me of this year so I might as well:

- Write, play and record my first arrangement of a piece

- Play all the major scales at 130bpm

- Play all the minor scales at 120bpm (much worse at the minor ones)

- Arpeggios at 120bpm

- Become a ABRSM grade 7 player (lol) Considering the Waltz I'm currently learning is roughly grade 7, I want to do a lot more pieces that are as challenging so that I can actually say "hah I am now at this level". I currently think that playing wise I am at grade 5.

- Become a grade 5 sight reader. Funnily enough, I used to be better at sightreading than I am now. There was a time when I read different pieces every single day just to improve my sightreading and I could 'practice' grade 3 pieces just by sightreading. Now I can do grade 2 and some slower grade 3 pieces. Going to attempt to read a little every single day to improve massively.

- Write my first original piece. I attempted to write multiple smaller things last year, but I always ended up being stuck half-way through. This year I actually want a fully completed piece written, played and uploaded.

- Learn Gerudo valley (really should've done so already to be honest...maybe that'll be the piece I'll make an arrangement of...*starts thinking*)

- Actually play consistently. In my first year, I played 40 minutes a day consistently. Last year, I started off very very good with 30-60 minutes a day every day. Then once my university began again, I just couldn't do that many minutes a day anymore and I'd often play like 10 minutes a day. This year I want to do AT LEAST 30 minutes a day, every day.

- Play more Pop songs. This is like sacrilege in the piano community lol, but I really wanna diversify myself. I've pretty much evaded playing pop songs since "they aren't real piano pieces" and "they are too easy, they are only chords" as many Youtube comments would say lol, but I don't know. The most fun I had last year was when I played "To Zanarkand" which was a piece from a game, so doing some other type of songs, like gaming music, pop and tv music really appeals to me right now :) Of course I still want to do a lot of more traditional classical, romantic, contemporary and baroque music but I want a more balanced mix this year.

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I think that is it from the plans I have this year. Again, I don't think I'll be able to do all of them but we'll see I guess.

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Long term plans are different though. I've got a few of them too which I'll write down too I guess (I'm not expecting to complete these goals for at least 5-10 years. Some of these goals are lifetime goals):

- Complete the Chopin Ballade no.1 (I won't consider myself a good pianist until then. In my opinion, everything I am learning is to one day do this piece. Its the one piece that I will call my ultimate)

- Record all Chopin Etudes (See you all in 30 years lol)

- Hungarian Rhapsody no.2 (I love epic pieces)

- Animenz's Unravel arrangement (I didn't even enjoy Tokyo Ghoul that much but his arrangement is just off the charts)

- Complete the ABRSM Grade 8 exam

- Buy a grand piano (who wouldn't want one :D )

- Have like 1 student at least. Passing on my knowledge to future generations lol (again, see you all in 20 years)

- Play Kyle Landry's Howl's Moving Castle and the evil rick and morty theme (Completing a piece from the master of arpeggios himself will be very challenging)

- Do some Piano streams (not any time soon either, unless I've got a massive repertoire or can improvise like a champ)

..

there's a few more things but I'll leave it at that :)

Have a great & productive 2018 everyone. Good luck !

Видео Random Piano Practice (12th January 2018) канала Prince Kuchler