Hope to record tomorrow.

Prelude 4 done except for second page 16th notes.

Prelude 5: learned 1 page today at half speed. Rest is repetition so hopefully will be done soon.

Prelude 3: Not sure what to do about this one.

Chords are learned. Today, anyway. Now to polish.

Recorded Prelude 4 and have notes:
- tempo (need to get it nailed down in my head, as it changes from 72 to 56)
- 1st & 2nd lines (still get surprised by some of the notes!)
- quieter on finger brushes
- phrasing
- loud octaves
- just a few notes in chords
- last page pp
- bass too quiet

I don't know if some of the sound stuff is me or the microphone.

I think I'm starting to get a mental block on these Preludes. I seem to forget how to read music when playing them. But I did start Prelude 5 after having brain freeze on the last 5 chords that need learning for Prelude 4. Prelude 5 is going to be another super-fast one I will need to work on s l o w l y.  Luckily, I sort of learned it a few years ago and it's coming back quickly.  Goal is to work Prelude 5 up to ♪=112 consistently.

Prelude 4: 5 more chords to learn then it's on to dynamics and tempo.  Learning chords two at a time so I can get the quick placing.

Wish I had more time to practice. Prelude 4: need to figure out how to go from 72 to 56. And start adding dynamics.

Playing around with melody (cantus firmus) and single counterpoint instead of practicing (re: blister). It is difficult to write music I like.

Real Life is 3rds in sets of 4 16th notes - accents are throwing me off, which happens in music I read, too.

Prelude 4 almost done. A few spots just need worked up to speed.

Transcribing: Just figured out one tiny part of Real Life's rhythm.

Also, I have blisters.

Did a few exercises. Long week.

Prelude 3 - Everything except trouble spots easily up to 200. However, thumb joint started hurting and swelling while working on chords, so will work on Prelude 4 for a while.

Prelude 4 - chords - work at ♪=40?  So chords in 3rd and 4ths split in half.

Prelude 3 - Once I was able to get page 3 closer to speed, it started making more sense - the rhythm is like how I used to play the piano before I could play.

Sometimes stretching makes me feel euphoric, sometimes not. Today was a sometimes not day. Just couldn't muster the concentration needed. And my finger is still tender.

More work on Prelude 4. Middle section is up to ♩=56, but will need work on smoothness and dynamics.

Prelude 3 2nd page is still not sticking in my brain. As soon as I try to play the whole thing through, it's like I've never seen the page before. 3rd page need to work up to 200.

I *do* have a blister.

Prelude 4 2nd page worked more measures to 56.

Either poked a hole in my finger while rewiring a lamp, or gave myself a blister while practicing - couldn't play Prelude 3, worked on Prelude 4. Still in learning stages.

I think it's working - I successfully played the stuff I worked up to 200 two days ago at 200 consistently.  The newer stuff, however, not so much. Maybe it will sink in in a couple days.

Too tired.

Apparently speeding things up and forcing myself to play faster works. 144 seems like a snooze.

Played some Debussy - need to get decent version of Clair de Lune. Seriously, Salzedo, WTF.

Experimented playing tiny snippets up to speed in order to get past 144. It seemed to work - playing subsequently more slowly was easier. Right hand thumb is still throwing a wrench in the works. I'm over compensating by rotating my wrist to give myself leverage.  Could it be time to restart strength training on thumb? Concerned thumb joint might explode again.