Danny's Piano Thread

[DannyBoy]

For those who don't know, I bought a digital piano last December.  I took a class at my college in the spring that really helped me a lot with the basics.  That ended in May and I really haven't played regularly since then.  About 2 weeks ago, I got started up with this software called Piano Marvel.  Its pretty cool, you hook your keyboard up to your computer and it gives you feedback after you play a song on whether you played any notes wrong or were late, etc. 

I've been learning a few new songs lately, and here is my favorite of the bunch so far.  A little early, but thats okay.  I'm working on another Christmas song too with a real steady left hand rhythm, gonna take some time.

http://youtu.be/3AHM-P2ydLs

hd link
http://youtu.be/3AHM-P2ydLs?hd=1

I saw Rock Band 3 came out and I knew it had a keyboard controller.  I thought 'ooh maybe i'll get that' but then realized wtf, you have the real thing, get back into that!  Very glad I did.  With the piano marvel software, it's pretty much designed like a video game so it's very addictive.  I can easily play for a few hours on a day where I have the time.

[millamak]

Ding fries are done.     Nice work Danny.  Next thing we know, he will be behind a grand piano. 

[Pete]

you gotta get ELake shredding on his guitar and you guys can start a band 

[Pete]

I'm also disappointed to not see Milo eating or drinking out of his dishes in the background.

[BC]

Is Balakirev's Islamey next???

[Jen]

Awesome Danny!
Sing us a song, you're the piano man; sing us a song tonight. Well, we're all in the mood for a melody; and you've got us feeling all right!

[DannyBoy]

Thank ye, all!  Sorry Pete, Mylo was probably too busy at his window post making sure there weren't any shenanigans going on in the parking lot.  And as for Elake, its hard enough trying to get Ben to pick up his guitar again.  Last I checked, he was storing Pauley's nail clippings in it.  He says its supposed to make the guitar sound better, I say BOLLOCKS.

Is Balakirev's Islamey next???

I wasn't familiar with this so I googled it.  You're a sick, sick man...

I practiced another song for a good 2 hours yesterday, almost got it down.  This is after practicing an easier version of it for hours the day beforehand too.

[BC]

Admittedly I googled it myself to find "the most difficult piano arrangement"....its sick sick....I found this youtube video that shows the score too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGLEf3m_PlY

Glad to see you have a passion for it- its an amazing feeling to keep working away, chipping at it, and then finally getting it!

[DannyBoy]

After dozens and dozens of attempt, finally got it.  The song is 'what child is this' or some of you may know it as Greensleeves.  Very nice song, but not as fun/showy as carol of the bells.  Big learning curve with the left hand playing 5 different broken chords throughout the song.  There is even a special co-star!  He is camera shy though.

http://youtu.be/-ebgeGAxUEo

hd link:
http://youtu.be/-ebgeGAxUEo?hd=1

[Pete]

it's really uncanny how much that cat looks like Sasha    Good job on the piano too.  How much time do you think you have invested in practicing now?

[DannyBoy]

Sasha is the one who looks like Mylo!   I thought we established Mylo is her father, but they grew apart due to her wild behavior.

Hm, that is a tough call.  The class I took was 75 minutes twice a week for about 4 months, so that is 40 hours in instruction.  Then factor in the time I've spent playing at home and I gotta imagine its somewhere around 80-100 hours.  I played a lot during the class, not much between then and 2 weeks ago, and I've easily put in 15 hours (at least) since then.  So I imagine closer to 100 or a little over.

And wasn't kidding with that comment in the video, I easily had to play What Child is This 30 times to get it right.  Whats crazy is I got it right on my 2nd try (once I was done practicing) in Piano Marvel.  I guess the camera adds some stage fright, hah.

[Heather]

Danny, good job on these! Very cool!

[DannyBoy]

Haven't done too much on the piano lately cause of school, but I got back into it recently.  Had a new idea for this video and it turned out pretty well, was fun putting it together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6LWS4gdpfM&hd=1

[Pete]

not bad man.  How much school do you have left?

[DannyBoy]

Thanks!

As long as classes are offered at the right time, I should graduate May 2012.  At this point, I still have 18 credit hours left to schedule (fall '11 / spring '12) so I'm getting close!