Thursday 9 June 2011

Sound

I am a keen pianist, and recently did my grade 6 exam after 4 years without lessons. It was a real challenge for sure, as I'd just been playing freestyle - jazz, rock, theme... whatever piqued my interest. Anyway, I ended up passing the exam (with distinction :p) and am now working towards grade 8 at the end of the year... The thing is, grades don't mean much to me (it's more of a qualification thing) and I never judge a musician by what grade they are. Just listen to this piece of music, an interpretation of the 'Castlevania III' theme from Nintendo. It reminds me how much I still have to learn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f42x1j8BGmI

Now I'm starting to learn it with an actual tutor, who notes the metaphors and implications of each note separately... which is why it's taking a long time to learn :)

15 comments:

  1. The piano is such a magnificent instrument.

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  2. Didn't read what you has wrote butgot a nice piano picture.

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  3. i play piano a little bit, and love it so much!

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  4. Ahh, as a piano player myself I can relate. Followed :)

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  5. I love the Castlevania series soundtracks, they're all pretty amazing!

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  6. what about grade 7? Is it possible to go straight from 6 to 8?
    How many grades are there? What does having grade 6 exam done actually mean?

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  7. I can't decide to learn piano or guitar.

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  8. Grades for any conventional instrument go from 1-8, and it's possible to do any grade at any time, but you have to do grade 5 before anything higher because it's like a 'milestone'. The actual exam consists of playing a selection of set pieces, scales, chords, and even singing [definitely my strong point (; ]. Here in the UK, you receive a certificate and qualification for each subsequent grade you complete.

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  9. Very nice. I've always wanted to learn to play piano, I took a few month of lessons and before that I would play by ear. I can't play with 2 hands though, but maybe one day I'll pick it up again and hopefully learn.

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  10. Good job! I find the piana the most complete instrument but my favorite is the saxophone.

    What do you think about sax?

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  11. Saxophone is God-tier, there's no questions need be asked when some blind black guy drops a pentatonic jam in a shady late-night bar on the sax.

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  12. Oh piano, I assume you play so you can get laid.

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  13. I play on my own as well, I might get a tutor soon too.

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  14. I play to reach a state of detachment amongst a sea of harmony, not to get booty :)

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