Topic by dazric

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Topic: Piano Pictures For Beginners 1

If you're familiar with my (albeit limited) YouTube output, you might be expecting something a bit wacky and experimental, so this may come as a relief (or a disappointment, depending on your point of view). It's my first attempt at publishing some original compositions. Here I set myself the challenge of writing some repertoire for beginners: 6 pieces in Middle C position with no sharps or flats. Some more advanced Piano Pictures are in preparation, and I hope to publish some of them later this year. I've created a dedicated YouTube channel for Piano Pictures. There's also a website: https://pianopictures.webador.co.uk/ - this includes details of some arrangements which I've previously published. For copyright reasons I'm only allowed to do 30-second demos of those, so I haven't featured them on the forum.

The sheet music for Piano Pictures For Beginners 1 is available on Sheet Music Plus, here's the link: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/22..._id=740691

These days I'm usually spoilt for choice with splendid Pianoteq sounds. However, it was surprisingly difficult to find something that I thought would come across well with limited range, simple textures and no pedal. After considering quite a number of pianos, I finally settled on Blüthner. The preset is Model One with the 3rd mic activated, and just a little extra reverb (LiquidSonics Reverberate). Fairly happy with the sound for now, but I will do a new video if I can come up with something better. Always open to suggestions!

https://youtu.be/EcEoEdAPSx8

Last edited by dazric (14-04-2022 13:09)

Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

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Re: Piano Pictures For Beginners 1

Bravo dazric!   First, I wish I had these songs when I was 9 years old- I did not like the piano book I used. I stopped after three years.

This music, and videos, are very nice. I first thought it should be easier but then noticed that    ”for piano students who have been learning for just a little while”. Good. And it’s nice that some more advanced Piano Pictures are in preparation. My favorite became Midnight in a spooky house    Fun those two last chords - forte, then piano. Very nice

And Bluthner was a good choice. My first years with Ptq I used Bluthner Model One in several of my Contest videos. It is still a good sound and I return from time to time to Bluthner Model One. And one of my my Contest entry's  ”Dreaming Pianoteq 5” is recorded with Bluthner Mod One, can be found on my Youtube with date 9.10 2016, if interested. At that time Bluthner had a softer sound.

You have experience in teaching, so the end result will surely be excellent.
I wish you the best of luck, dazric.

Stig

Pianoteqenthusiast, Organteqenthusiast, Harpteqenthusiast, Harpsichordteqenthusiast

Last edited by Pianoteqenthusiast (14-04-2022 21:54)

Reply by dazric

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Re: Piano Pictures For Beginners 1

Thank you so much, Stig, for your encouragement - it means a lot!

These pieces are certainly aimed at serious students. Not necessarily budding concert pianists, but kids who love music, enjoy a challenge, and are keen to play to the best of their ability. My aim was to make the pieces easy enough to be approachable, but challenging enough to be interesting. And I wanted them to sound something like proper piano music rather than 'plinky-plonk tunes'! With guidance from a good teacher, they should be achievable after working through a typical piano primer such as John Thompson Book 1.

I went through quite a lot of revisions and rewrites before arriving at these 6 pieces. Many of my initial ideas will be recycled for more advanced pieces in future collections!

Last edited by dazric (15-04-2022 09:56)