Piano, finally

Episode 77 - Christmas ShoppingG'day, everyone! Welcome to show number seventy-seven. Teaching has finally finished for the year, wrapping up with a wonderful awards ceremony and a staff performance that was definitely more enthusiastic than musical! I’m looking forward to my last piano lesson of the year this Monday, where Devi and I will pick out a few pieces to keep me busy over the break.YouTube Review: Merriam Pianos - Hybrids This week, I take a look at a video from Merriam Pianos featuring Stu Harrison. Stu discusses his switch from a Grotrian acoustic upright to a Kawai NV5 hybrid. It’s a fascinating watch,especially if you are weighing up the pros and cons of acoustic versus hybrid instruments. As Stu points out, an 8/10 experience you can have anytime is better than a 10/10 experience you can rarely access.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsTElPqKJjYEssay: Christmas Shopping Despite the title, this isn't a gift guide! Instead, I explore the value of giving musical gifts,especially to young people. After forty years of teaching, I’ve noticed that engagement is key to learning. Giving a child access to an instrument—without friction—can spark curiosity and build valuable life skills like self-discipline. If you have the means, a musical instrument might just change a life this Christmas.Review: AMEB Piano Series 19 Grade 1 I popped into Carlingford Music to pick up the newly released AMEB Series 19 books. I’m not planning to sit the exams, but these books are a great source of graded repertoire. The Grade 1 book features a diverse mix, from a sarabande by Gillock to a "swung blues" piece by Eric Baumgartner. I’ll be trying out a few of these over the holidays.https://www.ameb.edu.au/shop/music/keyboard/piano/series-19Progress Work continues on Beethoven’s "Moonlight" Sonata; it’s slow going, but enjoyable. My flute piece is coming along, though combining hands still slows me down. I’ve also added a new piece based on Rossini's Barber of Seville, and Wynn-Anne Rossi's "A Wild Chase" is nearing completion—I can finally play it from memory!If you'd like to get in touch or share your own musical journey, drop me a line at [email protected] contents of this podcast were entirely generated by a human, but these show notes were created by Gemini.Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast may affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

G’day everyone, I’m David Reidy. Welcome to Piano, Finally, a podcast by an old bloke who’s getting around to learning the piano, finally.In the lead-up to Christmas, practice opportunities appear and disappear in equal measure. A little more playing happened this week, though not as much as hoped. The 3D printer is busy producing small gifts for the staff party, and while it’s handy for personalised presents, it hasn’t yet found a role at the piano.🎧 YouTube – Piano Myth or Fact? Do Kids Learn Faster Than Adults?Ryan Abshear’s new video examines why children appear to learn piano faster than adults — not magic, but time, expectations, and practice hours. Adults often assume quick mastery because we’re used to learning other skills rapidly; a child playing difficult repertoire may already have six years of experience. Ryan’s thoughtful breakdown is well worth watching.Link: included in your episode📝 Essay – In PublicThis week’s reflections centre on doing things in public — choir rehearsals, student performances at assembly, coaching public speaking, and hearing that the podcast encouraged someone to try something new. Performing publicly isn’t harder than doing it privately; the difficulty comes from the standards we set for ourselves and the fear of judgment.But most people are kind. Anonymous criticism isn’t worth your attention; genuine listeners are overwhelmingly supportive. Being open about learning — especially when playing piano in front of students — removes pressure and invites encouragement rather than comparison.🎼 Progress• Moonlight Sonata continues slowly but steadily.• The flute piece is developing, though coordinating staccato and legato needs work.• Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase is nearly complete and improving with the drum machine.Recorded on the Kawai NV10, Cubase 15, and Pianoteq 9 with a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX model.The contents of this podcast were entirely generated by a human. These show notes, however, were created by ChatGPT.Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast may affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

G’day everyone, I’m David Reidy. Welcome to Piano, Finally — a podcast by an old bloke who’s getting around to learning the piano, finally.With the exams marked and reports written, the last weeks of the school year bring a welcome return to regular practice (and twice-daily swimming). This week’s episode is built around a story in two parts: a run of theatre outings, and an unexpected new musical adventure.🎭 Performances Around SydneyA free week meant several nights out:• The Rest Is History Returns at the Opera House, with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook delivering a lively extended podcast episode and Q&A.• Bell Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet, a polished, contemporary staging with excellent pacing and standout comic moments. Video excerpts here:https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/romeo-and-juliet• Devi Mamak & the Caravan Band, blending sitar, sax, drums and dancers in a Marrickville venue that doubles as a belly-dance school. More info:https://caravandancecompany.com.au/📝 Something New – Joining a Community ChoirAn email from Sydney Festival announced a community choir performing on 25 January at Barangaroo. Despite not being a singer, I signed up — partly out of curiosity, partly to step outside my comfort zone. The rehearsal, led by composer Nardi Simpson, was warm, energetic and enormous fun. Two of the four songs were introduced, including Four Directions, complete with harmonies and some accidental “clams” in the projected lyrics. With over 200 people in the room and only a handful of tenors, it’s going to be an adventure.🎼 Review – Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (Schirmer)Another aspirational addition to the music shelf. This Carl Czerny-edited volume includes fingering, dynamics, a short biographical essay, and all 48 Preludes and Fugues. Clear engraving, perfect-bound, and solid value.https://www.musicjunction.com.au/products/complete-well%EF%BF%BDtempered-clavier🎹 Progress• Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata: Still uneven in places, but improving.• Wynn-Anne Rossi – A Wild Chase: Nearly complete and played from memory.• Trumpet Tune (Clarke/Purcell): Slow but steady.Recorded on the Kawai NV10 using Cubase 15 and Pianoteq 9 with a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX piano model.The contents of this podcast were entirely generated by a human. These show notes, however, were created by ChatGPT.Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast may affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

We’re into the last three teaching weeks of the school year; final marking is nearly done, and I’m looking forward to a bit more time at the piano.🎧 YouTube – Beethoven Literally Used Four Chords to Write Für EliseYouTube analysis channels can be a goldmine. Jazz pianist Charles Cornell – co-founder of Better Piano and author of Jazz Piano Improv – has a terrific breakdown of Für Elise. He looks at the key (A minor), the 3/8 time signature (so it doesn’t feel like a waltz), and the chord movement from A minor–E and then C–G. It’s almost note-by-note, showing how harmony and melody fit together rather than just listing Roman numerals. If you’re learning the piece, it’s a great way to go beyond “just remembering the notes”.📺 Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-W8VbPgpkU📝 Essay – Unexpected BenefitsYou’d think the main benefit of learning piano would simply be playing piano. In practice, it’s opened far more doors. Learning has also reconnected me with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra: spotting names like Daniil Trifonov, Sir Stephen Hough and Nobuyuki Tsujii on the program nudged me into a subscription, pre-concert talks, and a deeper understanding of composers and form. A music episode of The Rest is History podcast has slipped into my regular listening too.All of this has brought more concerts, more conversations in foyers and festival tents, and more chances to meet like-minded people than I expected when I first walked into a piano shop.🎼 Review – Chopin: Complete Preludes, Nocturnes and Waltzes (Schirmer)Another “aspirational” purchase: Chopin – Complete Preludes, Nocturnes and Waltzes (Schirmer Vol. 2056). I can’t yet play most of it, but the A-major Prelude Op. 28 No. 7 is firmly on the “soon” list. The edition is edited by Rafael Joseffy, a 19th-century Hungarian-born Chopin specialist, who also provides fingering.The book includes a brief introduction plus 26 Preludes, 21 Nocturnes and 19 Waltzes. The engraving is from older plates but clean and readable; at 248 pages it’s a chunky perfect-bound volume that will stay open with a little encouragement. For 66 pieces, AU$48.95 from Music Junction feels like good value.Links:Music Junction (AU):https://www.musicjunction.com.au/products/chopin-complete-preludes-nocturnes-and-waltzes?_pos=5&_sid=547dbbf5d&_ss=rAmazon AU:https://www.amazon.com.au/Frederic-Chopin-Complete-Preludes-Nocturnes/dp/0634099205🎹 ProgressPractice continues on Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata – still not as even as I’d like, but improving – and Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase, now mostly from memory, with the drum machine back on the piano to rebuiSend me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast may affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

G’day, I’m David Reidy. Welcome to Piano, Finally, a podcast by an old bloke who’s getting around to learning the piano, finally.This week was light on practice thanks to Year 9 camp at Lake Macquarie and the start of exam-marking season, but there was still some playing – including at camp – and some reflections on what it means to practise where people can see you.🎧 YouTube – 5 Minutes on… Moonlight SonataYouTube pointed me to Daniel Barenboim’s 5 minutes on… Beethoven – The “Moonlight” Sonata, part of a 13-video series where he talks about music by Beethoven, Debussy, Mozart, Chopin, Liszt and Brahms, illustrating his ideas at the piano. Barenboim argues that “Moonlight” is often played too dreamily, and links it instead to Mozart’s Don Giovanniand a more funereal, martial character. You may not agree with all his opinions, but they’re thoughtful and well explained.Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLErHuBsy75wzNtI5pjaDqwyM_C_RdipXn📝 Essay – Practising in PublicNext year I’ll be watching Anna Lapwood teach a masterclass on the Sydney Opera House organ: students practising in public, with an audience. It made me think about my own public practice – playing in junior music classes I’m covering, while students work on written tasks or try keyboards and guitars.Masterclass info:https://www.sydneysymphony.com/concerts/masterclass-with-anna-lapwoodIn science lessons, I’m the expert in the room; at the piano, I’m a learner. Saying “Here’s what I’m working on” gives me permission to make mistakes and gives students permission to be better than me at something. It models lifelong learning and shows that adults are still tackling new skills long after school ends. Learning piano as an adult is low-risk – we’re not after a career change, we’re here because we enjoy both the music and the learning. Practising where others can hear us helps build a culture where everyone keeps thinking, exploring and expanding their world.🎼 Review – The Indispensable Beethoven CollectionAs well as my aspirational Bärenreiter sonatas, I picked up Schirmer’s The Indispensable Beethoven Collection – 12 Famous Piano Pieces as a more practical working score for Piano Sonata No. 14. It includes Für Elise, four sonatas (Moonlight, Pathétique, Op. 49 Nos. 1 and 2), some variations, two sonatinas, and the attributed Adieu to the Piano. There are editorial notes, suggested fingerings (some amended in consultation with Devi), and the 96-page saddle-stitched book sits open nicely on the stand. The engraving is clearly from an older edition, but still quite readable.Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast may affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.