Corelli's Giga

I'm starting Giga and love this version. It sounds a little like the violin is teasing us.

Need to do pressure testing on Gavotta, Siciliano, and Sarabande for recording next weekend?

I dropped a knife on my finger last night - not sure how that happened - and it's still gushing. I wasn't able to practice, really, but got my fingers warmed up enough to where they felt ok.

Siciliano REALLY needs the melody line brought out, and the mid-range quietened.

Gavotte - need to learn the additions I made.

Tambourin - continue work on trills.

This is what happens when you have pedal changes and wobbly ankles.

Test record Siciliano and Gavotte tomorrow.

I think Gavotte and Siciliano might be close to being ready to record.

I've almost (re)learned Sarabande in under a week. It helps I learned it before and it's slow.  But I need to not let that keep me from putting as much dynamic work into this as the other pieces.

I finally figured out where this particular Gavotte by Corelli is from: it's from Concerti da camera Op. 6 No. 9, and is usually titled "Gavotta: Allegro." It's a really sweet little piece.

Forgot to post yesterday - I need to listen to my recorded Gavotte variations today. And apparently this Gavotte is not the most popular Gavotte he wrote so I can't find any versions by other people to compare.  I'm flying blind here, people!

A lot more progress on Siciliano and Rigaudon. Still need to practice variations of Gavotte in prep for recording.

Recorded Gavotte - need to listen tomorrow.

Need to clean up trills in Tambourin.

Listen to Tambourin tomorrow.

I forgot what I was going to write...

Oh yeah, I need to learn Siciliano with the chords broken and record that and compare it to unbroken.

I finally figured out the reason I couldn't play some things in Chaconne: my harp bounces around when I play loudly, which is why I would miss notes and why I can play it just fine quietly. 

I need to really wedge it between my shoulder and jaw, right up against my neck. Of course, this completely changes my perspective of the strings and I was missing notes because of that.

J. S. Bach - Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord in E-Flat Major BWV 1031 ...

This is the version I like of Siciliano. And here's the link because blogger sucks. http://youtu.be/rvbKD_iA5-I

It's amazing how amnesia strikes as soon as I turn the recorder on and I have no recollection how to play something I've been playing just fine for weeks.

Need to go measure by measure in Siciliano to get dynamics and working on bringing out melody. And apparently, relearn it.

Shaky arm has calmed down. Still not sure what was going on.

Finished initial learning of Gavotte.  Rewrote some fingering.

Siciliano needs more melody work. 

Tambourin - working on difficult chord progression.

I think I have a mental block against Rigaudon.

Thumb was KILLING me where skin is thinner.

Weird shakiness in my left hand prevented me from learning anything new today, so just ran through all the things I've learned from Solos. My left 4th finger was missing everything. I think I'll go have a bit of a lie-down. Too bad I don't have an appropriate Victorian fainting couch, sheesh.

I *have* been practicing, just not noting it. Today I split up Tambourin into phrases and moved the metronome up 2 clicks on two of the phrases.  This seems to work better for getting rid of buzzing. Or I could need to record again as I might be ignoring things as usual.

The melody line is coming out slightly better in Siciliano.

Gavotte is almost all done, and Rigaudon is barely started, and I'm too tired to do more.

My thumb is still peeling.

Listened through Tambourin today.  Lots of buzzy fingers.  Slowing it down and picking it apart is showing lots of sloppy playing. Also, it's easier to be less buzzy when playing less loudly. 

Listened to a recording of Siciliano to find out exactly where the melody line is. Not where I expected, and I may need to change fingerings in order to bring out the melody properly.

Gavotte seems to be coming back to my fingers quickly.  Rigaudon is more challenging.

All need muscle-building work.

And I'm hoping my thumb is finally done peeling. It's like a notepad - ripping off a fresh sheet every day.

Started Rigaudon (Rameau) and Gavotte (Corelli) today. Made worksheets for both. Rigaudon is going to be challenging, Gavotte is both shorter and easier. And slower.

Siciliano and Tambourin both got the "record 3x in order to put colored dots on a copy" treatment to see where the problem points are.  There are... quite a few.  I hesitate in Siciliano and need to clean up the buzzing.  Tambourin is maybe not as far along as I'd like.

Worked on Siciliano. Small bits need chaining.  Then played though all the things I've learned out of Solos for the Harp Player in order to keep them in my hands.  Not too bad, I think.