Berceuse - Page 2 & 3 huge chords need more work.

Whittled 14 takes of Prelude 5 down to 5.

I have been practicing, just not posting every day. LGR - pushing up to 80. Berceuse - trying to get to 40. Work on tempo changes.

Today working on getting Prelude 5 files onto my computer and re-assessing quality and useable parts.

Re-upholstering my couch and my hands have been bothering me from the staple gun, so I've been grabbing minimal practice time here and there when I get a chance.

Today I was able to really practice and am completely wobbly on LGR and Berceuse. Sort of sped them both up LGR to ♩ =72 and Berceuse to ♩= 40.

Recorded slow playthrough of LGR and Berceuse. Lots to work on. Going to try adding dynamic before speeding them up this time.

Also, I probably will never get a good recording of LGR unless I get a new harp. :(

Played through both Berceuse and LGR with metronome. LGR was a little faster than I wanted because I can't find a metronome that goes down to 30.

Also playing with click tracks in microphone and Audacity.  Audacity has what I want, microphone doesn't. Would need a laptop to record in Audacity - or really long cords.

I finished up Berceuse and was able to play both that and LGR through at half speed perfectly. Achievement unlocked! as the kids these days say.  Although, maybe I should record myself to make sure.

Also, I realized I can play "Hurt" on the harp, simply by using G♭ and F♮. That would have been helpful... ulp... 7 years ago.

Continuing to work LGR and Berceuse to 1/2 speed.

Berceuse - Skipped the glisses, finger still hurts from blister. 1/2 a page left to learn before it's a repeat of what I've already learned.

LGR - Went over last 2 lines again at ♪=52. Work on harmonics and get them PERFECT.

I did indeed give myself a blister practicing glissandos yesterday. It's a small one because I stopped sooner rather than later. But it's still a small spot of hurt so I didn't play today.  

Instead, I listened to approximately 1:42:26 of Prelude 5 in order to determine what's useable. As usual, on the first listen, nothing sounded great to me.  Oh, and I never want to hear it again. 

Hands a bit hurty today. Ran into snag with Berceuse glissandos.

Berceuse - Going really well at ♪=92, maybe even too slow because 32nd notes at ♩=35, which is faster.

LGR - Pretty much learned, just need to speed up and polish.

Berceuse - goal: have whole thing at ♪=92. Do not rush triplets.

Berceuse - work on triplet rhythm.

Starting Berceuse - last measure has a triplet in it.

Played slowly through LGR.

Voice Leading Exercise

I used the Yahoo! Media Player I found here and put the javascript in my blog's design template.  What do you think?

I wrote something I actually like! And it's also an excuse to see if I can actually put a player in my blog post.
Player is there! But no music!

ETA: I recorded Prelude 5. Whether I have something useful or not, we'll just have to see.  If not, TOO BAD. I am done with it and I am done with Prelude 3.  I am calling it quits.  Maybe I'll pick these up again someday, but not likely.

Worked on LGR.

Read through Berceuse again and I think this is going to be an enjoyable one to learn (for a change, apparently!).

And wow, playing music shuts everything else. I completely missed two (well, more like 2.5) appointment-type things today.

Tried to record Prelude 5, but couldn't play it AT ALL, microphone ran out of batteries, extension cord took a bit of work to find, etc. etc.

Slightly more productive today. Going to try to record Prelude 5 for reals tomorrow.

ETA: Oh, dur, I also got a new page up on my website today for NIN - http://www.motorharp.com/nine-inch-nails-harp-versions.html

Completely unmotivated today. Tried to practice Prelude 5 and got worse as it went along. So instead "practiced" Vers La Source, LGR, and Berceuse.

Chipped away at more coding of website.

Exercised.

Recorded Prelude 5 to see where it was weak.  The whole thing is weak. I'm tired... of thisss piece...

More exercises.
Little bit of Prelude 5 and 3.

Exercising for today. Worked on website more.

Finger to the point it doesn't hurt when I play at all. Yay!

Poking around fixing behind the scenes things on the website and designing new pages.

Pinky better enough I could play with minimal pain, and of course, I played more than I planned - I missed playing severely.  Just did some exercises.

Spending another day with my fingers taped together.

I think I've actually sprained my pinkie, perhaps multiple times. It was swollen when I woke up this morning so it is splinted and taped to my 4th finger and I'll see what it looks and feels like tomorrow.

I think I now have a blister on top of my cyst. Or it's just coming closer to the surface.  Really uncomfortable when playing now.

LGR - end part up to 1/2 speed. Still think it'll need a lot of work.

Prelude 5 - Still need to work on big picture idea of what this is about

Prelude 3 - Trouble spot slightly better after having played it slowly every day.  Keep doing this for all eternity?

I need to play the last two lines of LGR at ♪=40! S o o o o   s l o o o w w w . . .

Apparently, heat is not the normally wonderful thing it is when used on a finger which has been bent backward.  And my thumbs were hurting while playing.  Bummer.

Played a little Hasselmans before I had to stop.

Prelude 3 - Even practicing this at 44, I knew less than I did yesterday. What is it about these particular measures?

Looking Glass River - Learned 2 more measures.

Prelude 5  - Was losing concentration after working on LGR so decided to quit instead of waste time.

I Finaled LGR and I realize the ending is going to take a LOT of practice.

Going to try to do voice leading with the "melodies" I've been counterpointing, maybe.

Looking Glass River: Refreshed what I already knew and learned another measure at ♩ =60.

Prelude 3: tried those chords again, and yes, it was as if I'd never seen the music before.

Prelude 5: After playing along with Finale version, noticed new spots to fix. Worked on those today.  Need to work on thumb scale especially.

Prelude 5. Playing with adjusted and corrected Finale version.

Wrote a counterpoint I sort of like.

Prelude 5 - Listening to Finale version to see if I can get any insight.

prelude 5 - at a loss as to what to do dynamically.  I basically know it, it just doesn't sound interesting in the true sense of the word: holding someone's interest.

The cyst in my thumb has migrated into the end of my finger, slowly moving along with the growth of my fingernail.  So now I have what is basically a blister deep in my finger, right where my thumb hits the string. And this configuration does not go numb and stop hurting the more I play.

Due to weather, took it easy and wrote some music - 5th species counterpoint.

Also, sitting and working on website. Red border trick from http://css-tricks.com/the-css-box-model/ is really helpful for troubleshooting css.

And now for a bit of a lie-down... zzz...

Good practice today.

Prelude 5 - worked on getting consistent start.  keep working on problem spots

Prelude 3 - worked at 120

Looking Glass River - 1st page at 60

Probably taking today and tomorrow off because of heat...

Back to work.

ETA: Found another mistake, this time in Looking Glass River, either in the accidental or pedal markings. The B♯ or ♮ harmonics in the 2nd to last line. 

So... Lazy...

Prelude 5 is at the point where I can mostly work on shading.  I need to record it to catch the storyline and figure out how to bring that out.

Yesterday, I poured a significant quantity of simmering water on my left hand, leaving me with no desire to do anything with it but to stick it between two ice packs.  However, I really wanted to play and had big plans before the scalding, so I wrote music instead. It was a good compromise - I spent more mental than physical effort.

Today it's been blasted hot outside and in, so even though my hand is almost completely healed (!), I had no energy to play.  So I wrote more. And then practiced a little because my hands were stiff and simply screaming at me to play. 

And now I'm a bit wrung out and feel the need to recline on the couch with a mister bottle.

Prelude 5: Worked on detail spots.
Prelude 3: Played trouble spot slowly a few times.
Looking Glass River: Played through once very slowly. It doesn't seem like it will be too challenging, however, I read about someone else who had learned it and it took them a year. 

Started Looking Glass River by Rudolf Forst. Keeping it real slow to start with.  Need to slow down Prelude 5, too. Different parts keep slipping in and out of my mind as I'm playing so I can't consistently work on anything.

Routine maintenance on my bike ended up taking 6 hour instead of 2, so minimal harp due to time and tiredness.

Low motivation day. Prelude 5: did get one good run-through where I could actually hear the music.  Not able to play up to speed, though - couldn't focus enough.

Prelude 5: Got the whole thing up to speed almost. Need to work on problem areas. Largest area on pg 1.

Prelude 5 Page 2 to 96/76. Easier than expected. ???

Working on getting 1st page over 132. Also, working on prob spot in Prelude 3 again.

Prelude 5: Need to work problem spots as I speed up.

Prelude 4 is done and up! http://www.motorharp.com/srebotnjak-preludes.html

Sort of maintaining at 132.  In other words, working the stiffness out of my arm after taking a tumble off my bike. Again.

Now working Prelude 5 up to ♪ =132.

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.

Sore muscles from working out, but lots of energy from working out, but tired from working out, combined to make me not feel like concentrating on learning anything yet ended up playing for an hour.  Salzedos Preludes (not Srebotnjak!), Vers La Source, (Flight)... basically whatever was on my music stand.

Was all excited that I was doing well on Prelude 4 until I realized it's ♩=56 not ♪=56.

Prelude 3 - Have to work trouble spot thoroughly and slowly every day.

Prelude 3 - still falls apart at ♪=144. Still need to play it slowly to memorize that section.

Worked on about 2 measures of Prelude 4 before giving up from feeling cold and having a drippy nose. And sleepiness.

I did post Prelude 1 finally.  The one that made my thumb joint explode.  So it's not a great version, but it's the only one of me playing it that's ever going to be in existence.

Prelude 3 pg 2 up to ♪=144.  Need to start slow and work up again.

Prelude 1 almost done in Audacity.

Ignoring transcribing.

Page 2 up to 100, start out less tomorrow and work back up.

Dizzy interrupted practice.

Prelude 3: start speeding up - pg 1 done. Pg 2 start at 56 and work up. Remember where accents are and 3rd octave F is loud.

Prelude 4: start at ♪=50 after tempo change and work up.

Transcribing: Entered what I could in Finale.

Today was one of those days where I don't feel like tuning.  Or concentrating.

However.

Prelude 4 opening triplets up to ♪=132. Will be better with concentrating. Prelude 3 run through was... not bad.  Need to work on trouble transitions. And the 16th notes.

Website only has 50M, not 50G, so need to take things down.  And slow loading times for songs. Third strike?

Recorded Prelude 3 - need to:
+ count 123-12 to get swing
+ still work on line 2 pg 2
+ practice detailed dynamics

Prelude 4: up 2 back 1 to get it under fingers.  DO THIS.

Transcribe: Real Life is unfathomable.

Using foam that I'm allergic to for pillow stuffing is not a good idea.  Wool batting, however is fine. And potentially has non-lethal vapors should there be a house fire. Not that I'm expecting one.  

Strike two for web hosting (1-2 day customer service).

Can almost play Prelude 3 at ♪=132 - that's averaging parts I can't play well with parts I can play at speed.

Started on Real Life. Thought I wasn't going to be able to figure out the chords, but I think I managed - first part is Amaj and B♭maj arpeggiated.  I does change key after the break.

Finally making a cushion for my harp bench so I can stop flattening my accent pillows.  Thankfully, I didn't get rid of the leftover foam from making my harp cover.

Come back to 2nd line after rest of piece is finished. I have about 1 more page to learn - everything else is repeats.

Finished Movement of Fear. Slightly more interesting chords than Christian Says. In E minor and possibly B harmonic minor in some spots.

Stuck on one spot in Audacity.

Augh! This piece is killing me!

Enjoy the last + in the measures in Zarabanda.

My thumb base joint started hurting and got worse as I played, so I cut it short after .... hey 1.25 hours! Go me. Anyway, I cut it short, but not before getting the 2nd line pg 3 up to 160 comfortably (not including thumb pain).

Prelude 4 started, and sounds like it's going to be really interesting. And easier. The opening glisses are in a weird tempo and I need to remember to count.

Wish I could play more today!

Audacity: Got one whole pass in order. Got stuck on finding an error-free passage on pg 3, so working on it later.

Slept most of the afternoon away, so had energy to just play - lots of Salzedo in 5/4.

So tired - just played a few Etudes.

Audacity - organized and labeled all tracks.

I was smart today and practiced before playing Terminator Salvation.  I had to ice my hand when I got home. *giggle*

Playing line 2 and 3 takes immense concentration. It will take a lot more work. Got it up to about 100 and still sounding good. So maybe goal for tomorrow is 120.

Was going to work with Audacity today but can't stop listening to B-Boys.

Practice: Started over and started slowly. Now have 2nd line pg 2 to 80 satisfactorily. Now I can start speeding it up.

RIP Adam Yauch. *sigh*

Practice: Worked up to 160. Need to work very slowly instead, over and over, maybe about 80 or less.

Transcribe: Need to listen to some things in phrygian mode.  Also, relisten to phrygian guitar mode.

Workout + work on tough lines = sore arms.

Finished transcribing Christian Says to the best of my abilities.  It sounds hilarious in Finale with the instruments I picked.

I'm taking this week to do some more digging on HMLKKBCJ - Hattie Mabelle Lynn Knapping Kittridge Barker Childs Jacobs.

I found another directory listing from 1897 in Worcester Mass for her as Mabelle Lynn, Mrs., a music teacher, at 345 Park Av. "h. do." What does that stand for?  In the abbreviation index it says h. = house and do. = ditto.  Ditto what? She lived and taught at home?

She's also listed in 1898 at the same address.  In 1899, she moved to 11 Murray Ave.

In 1906, she and Henry Jacobs are listed in the real estate record section of the Worcester City directory as follows:
Jacobs Henry L & Mabelle L. Childs, 5 Benefit, blds $5100; 4320 ft. $2800.
I'm going to assume she did NOT own a building with Henry and have that info published in a city directory while she was married to Harry. But hey, you never know.

The contents page says "Real Estate Record: A complete transcript of the city assessors' books relating to real estate, showing name of owner, size of lot, and valuation of every estate in Worcester." Why are there two prices? Does that mean they bought the building together before they were married?

She is listed in 1898 city directory as Alhambra Mandolin, Guitar and Harp Club Director, and in 1899 and 1900 as Alhambra Mandolin, Violin, and Harp Club Director.  She was also listed under orchestras as the Director of the Alhambra String Quartette.

I am trying to find any ancestors, and it seems that her cousin May Belle Grace Dadnum (1876-1941) married Henry Irving Everett (1877-1921), and they had a son Dana Whiton Everett(1915-1985). He married Doris Emily Jenner (1916-2000) and they had a daughter Dorothy L Everett who died in 1978 at the age of 40.  But she apparently had children, and so far that seems the only possible connection to Mabelle.

Practice: 2nd page 2nd and 3rd line need to memorize. Need to learn entire piece then polish.

Transcribe: Got a lot further. My big problem is still rhythm, but it is getting easier. And I can recognize a fifth without having to sound it out.

Good practice - stretched and ate vegetables before. Makes a difference?  Need to buckle down and power through trouble spot w/16th notes on 2nd page.

Got printer ink so I can print out music I finally got spaced right in Finale.

Domain transfer failed again, so website is still not up. So far, everything is going as I expected. :/

Continuing Audacity work.

It took over 20 minutes to get music spaced properly in Finale. It was a case of "select this before you perform this action, but we're not going to tell you what you have selected".

Lower goal tempo for P3 to something like 152.

Worked on p2 of P1 in Audacity.  I may have some useable portions, but that opinion changes every time I listen to it.

Practice - Groggy from allergy meds. Skipped the 2nd line and tried the 3rd. Feel like it's doable now - hands not so stiff as previous few days.

Trans -

Practice: Another flubby finger day.  I feel like maybe I need a "pre-workout shake" before I practice on days I'm tired. 2nd line was impossible hand apart and together today.

I heard a few more notes in transcribing, but only could be sure of 2.

Tendons and joints stiff and swollen, possibly due to allergies, possibly due to getting woken up at 3am by neighbors. Practiced a little hands apart on Prelude 3 and got nowhere.  Or maybe I did - I'll see tomorrow.

Transcribing later.  ETA: Got a large part into Finale, and that seemed to make things make even more sense.