Learning

     I love the idea of learning and sharing new things and have many interests and find it limiting that I have had just to choose just a couple interests to explore at a time.

     I would love to program and have tried it but my brain would not allow.  I have to limit myself because my memory, and my learning ability is limited.  It is not fun to have interests in so many things in life only to be hindered by one's own brain, free time available throughout life, and man's currently limited life span as well as finances also hindering a person.

     Our brains were designed to be so special, only to be hindered by imperfection and a world system that does not allow us as individuals the time or resources to explore.  I have tried my hand at many hobby's but music has been a common thread.  I have tried KB before but did not keep at it. I tried flute as I love it too, but could not get the aperture, I like guitar but have a hard time with chords and strumming and it's hard to say to give up on an interest, but it is on the side for now anyway.

    For me and my abilities, I seem to be doing well with piano with the Piano Video Lessons course I have been using, and want to follow through and keep at it.   It is only a hobby for me, but it keeps my mind as active as it is able to do for me.  I have to do the best with the brain I was dealt with, and to learn the best I am able to do.  To do any less with what I HAVE been given would still be a loss.   I will keep trying to learn and continue to be encouraged to move on with piano at whatever pace I am able.

New camera tripod mount

   I frankensteined a new camera tripod setup using RAM mount system parts attached to an extra music stand tripod for a better view for future camera sessions and recordings.  

    The interface RAM mount plate is screwed a 2x6 block with a hole on the bottom to fit the top of the music stand.  

   This will a be much more flexible for future camera sessions and recordings with my teacher to give her a better over the shoulder view of the student.  

   My previous three set-ups were to mount the RAM mount system 

   first to two heavy 2x8 layers sitting on the corner of table in the picture which was awkward to set up, 

    I then mounted it to the keyboard table which worked, but the camera moved as I played, 

   and then I mounted it to on the wall over the keyboard which didn't quite extend far enough from the wall to over the kb, and the long reach made it hard to keep tight enough to stay in place. 

   I feel this new setup will be the best setup yet.  I will have to use for my next video or lesson with the teacher to find out...

PVL Nov bonus Patreon reward

  This month Lisa the Teacher is offering a November Bonus for $10 Patrons! Video Mini-Lesson reward.


   It is a valuable bonus reward in that, normally a $50 dollar monthly Patron gets only a 5 minute recorded video assessment.

  I am set up for my check-up on Sunday Nov 12th at 11-11:15am
  I have been stuck on Unit 3 Lesson 1 - (Free Youtube lesson video) since August 4th trying to learn to play the both the notes at the same time I play the 'chords' to 'Good Morning'. I also practice "Ode to Joy' regularly' with 'Christian Dedication' as an ongoing goal song.

Thumbnail of lesson-1-34-time-dotted-half-notes-33

Sunday Post Lesson Update: The live Mini-Lesson allowed Lisa to give me some immediate and important feedback to me on what I could do give my practice sessions more value to me. While having me keep practicing my current songs 'Ode To Joy' and 'Good Morning' she is also having me move onto the next lesson Unit 3:Lesson 2.

Completed UNIT 2 of my one year online piano course

   UPDATE: January 11 2018 My teacher Lesa made new Certificates of completion upon completion of the courses at PianoVideoLessons.com  Each certificate has 1 more flagged not on it.

New 2 flagged, Year 1 Unit 2 Certificate Of Completion Certificate

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   I completed UNIT 2 of the one year online piano course I am taking.  On to UNIT 3 of  Piano Video Lessons - UNIT 3.  I hope to continue to progress at playing the piano.  I am continuing through the course while keeping practice with 'Ode to Joy' and 'Christian Dedication.  

   My Right 4th and 5th fingers have bothered me off and on while playing so I have during these times broken up my practice songs up into separate daily sessions.  I have never been diagnosed with arthritis but even before piano lesson I have wondered.  I hope to address this at my next doctor appointment.

   There will be no Personalized Coaching Video(PCV) this month as several patrons decided not to contribute to the course at the last moments of the month.  I hope there will be more patrons who are taking the course decide all the teachers hard work and materials are worth contributing for, and perhaps even decide that it is worth $10 a month to get a chance in the monthly drawing for the PCV.  I sure found mine that I won very useful to me as the feedback from her alerted me to a couple habits with my hands during playing that I need to keep in mind.  I would never have known if not for her tips for me in my PCV.  I hope to have the opportunity for another PCV in the future.

Playing on the porch

  I am still enjoying and getting use out of the Piano Video Lessons course.

    Right now for the summer I have my keyboard on the porch, it is enjoyable to practice out in the yard as I continue to practice Lesson 11 'Ode to Joy,  Lesson 14 'Wind Chimes' and Song 7 ' Christian Dedication'.

   Like all students I supose, I sometimes feel I move too quickly on some lessons, and other times I feel like I hang on whatever current lesson I am working on too long. Sometimes it is hard to know how long to work on the current lesson or if I should be moving on and stretching out. I have a tendency... err habit of buzzing through the 'finger jim's' practice and such. If the lesson feels like I am playing a song I have a tendency to slow down and work on it longer. Right now I know I need to work on L 14 'Windchimes' for a while until I get it right, meanwhile keeping L11 'Ode To Joy' as part of my daily practice as well.

July PVL Personalized Coaching Video

The July ‘Piano Video Lessons’ ‘Personalized Coaching Video’

& and my notes from the teacher's comments.

The July drawing it was a lot of fun.  Here are the two practice songs I used for the video for the teacher to critique for me and my notes from the PCV.  The teacher's PCV link to her reply is in the last section of this post if you want to get right to it.  I enjoyed Lisa’s help and pointers to use as I continue to learn to play the piano.

Let’s Go Skipping Hands Together

First I chose to practice ‘Let’s Go Skipping Hands Together’ from Unit 2 Lesson 7.  Here is a previous practice session I recorded of this song when I was working on this lesson before I removed the last of the keyboard ‘helpers’.  Lesson 7 was one of my marker lessons I wanted to come back to review but had not done.  Consequently when I came back to record it for a second time for my PCV, instead of showing improvements, I had to do go through it several times until I got to where I was before.  Notes from Teacher comments: Rhythm steady, Beats and count perfect, Natural curved hands, not tense.  Can’t see wrist position in video.  Move hands into keys toward black keys.  Missed one note, I played F instead of G key.  Included tips on hand and arm posture.

Ode to Joy

The second song I played was ‘Ode to Joy’ from Unit 2 Lesson 11 that I am currently working on.  This is a song I plan to continue to practice and play for friends, and so is a song I wish to continue to improve on and add complexities to it, such as playing some real chords with it.  I would enjoy a few simple upgrades to the song I could add.  I will no doubt want to make another future practice video of this song to compare with as well.  Perhaps even for another Personalized Coaching Video for PVL. Notes from Teacher comments: Line 1:  Left hand wrist not level but angled pinky(5) down.  Line 2: A little bit of volume weakness in right pinky.  Line 3: Good but slower and more cautiously which is ok.  Played correct notes but need to practice line 3.  Line 4: Had some errors because of pressure just coming off of line 3 that I had trouble with.

During my video I asked how to add some ‘upgrades’ to my playing of ‘Ode to Joy’’ I would like to make a future video using some of these improvements.  Here are the teachers suggestions:  Notes on the Teachers tips about adding more to my playing of ‘Ode to Joy’: Play C triad chord for line 1, 2 and 4.  For line 3 can play the G chord.  Another option is to play the song left and right hand in unison.  Can also play left hand lower an octave in the base for lines 1, 2, and 4 for stronger ‘forte’ but move back up for lie 3 for lighter ‘piano’.  Can also use pedal.  Add dotted quarter rhythm to last 3 notes in lines 1, 2, 4 - dotted quarter - eighth - half as in original.  So here is my teacher's reply to my PCV practice session at PVL on YouTube.  I hope it benefits others. Thank you Lisa for providing the July PCV for me.

  

Year 1 Unit 1 - Complete!

UPDATE: My Teacher made new Certificates Of Completion for each course unit. Here is the new one for Year 1 Unit 1  This first certificate only has 1 flag with one more added for each Unit.

New Year 1 Unit 1 Certificate of Completion from teacher

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Yippie ! Year 1 Unit 1 - Complete!

Done, and moving on through Year One.