Catch up

I thought I ought to do a round up of the things that I am practising at the moment:

Technical exercises - I am still doing articulation exercises to try and up my speed.  It is gradually having some effect I think. I'm also doing long notes based on arpeggios - trying to improve tone, dynamic range and tuning. Doing arpeggios is good as it means I'm doing notes across the whole range of the instrument.

Studies - this week's study is Luft No 20 which is in C# minor.  I really like this one but it has some tricky passages and also a lot of rhythmic changees - lots of subdivisions as it goes from minims to crotchets to demi semi quavers to quavers to semi quaver tripets to trying to fit 5 notes into the space of 1 semi quaver....it is making my head spin a bit.  Hopefully I will get another week to work on it.

Hindemith Sonata - There are only 2 movements.  The first one grew on me a bit - though having heard a recording of it with piano I would still say that it is a Sonata that is more fun to play than to listen to.  I really do not like the second movement at all.  Slow, random notes, strange rhythms.  It really doesn't do it for me at all. So hopefully won't be spending too much longer on this. 

Telemann Fantasia No 8 - still working on the second and third movements of this as we haven't looked at it in a lesson for a few weeks.  I really like these pieces but there are still a few bits of this that I am struggling to get into my fingers.  It just doesn't seem to go as expected.  Improving though.

Mozart Oboe Quartet - have been working on third movement in lesson which has some really awkward bits in the middle.  It is getting better though. 

I have finally agreed what I'm playing at the Adult learner concert and Garden Party.

Adult Leader Concert - second movement of the Mozart Oboe Quartet. Sadly the piano accompaniment for French Suite turned out to be too tricky and an alternative needed to be found.  The first movement of the Quartet exceeded the time limit so this is my third (maybe even 4th) choice piece.  My accompanist seems quite happy with this one though.  I need to get practicing and make sure I have a VERY good reed to pull it off!

Garden Party - I've had a run through with pianist for this, which seemed to go very well.  I am playing:
Mozart Quartet Movement 1
Piazolla Oblivion
Dring Italian Dance.

Hopefully this fits the bill of light, accessible, easy to listen to classical music and it should take just over 10 minutes.  I just need to time the pieces and send the programe to the organiser (and practice of  course!).

Piano exam 28th June.  Playing my pieces for a friend tonight.