What could have been

I haven’t really played the piano seriously since I was 17. Even then I didn’t even come close to my potential. I hated to practice. I had too many interests and I loved sports especially soccer just a bit more. I wasn’t that great at reading music so I usually just memorized every piece from listening to how my teacher, Mrs. Rosenthal, played it. From time to time I think about trying to get those skills back. I feel like its still in me. My right hand still has the ability but my left hand is woefully uncoordinated now from lack of use. I still remember all the technique my teacher taught me even if I can’t execute it well anymore. I picked up a collection of Beethoven’s Sonatas a few years ago. I always wanted to learn how to play the Grande Sonata Pathetique #8. I have feebly tried and given up a few times. This morning was another time. I was all set until I saw this perfomance on You Tube which pretty much led me to realize I do not have the time to become good enough to ever do this song justice. So since I can’t play it, let’s enjoy Freddy Kempf.

Now there’s something you didn’t know about me.

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This entry was written by Scott Allan and posted on March 21, 2008 and filed under Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment(Latest is displayed first) or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

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4 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

Very interesting, Scott. I stopped taking piano lessons when I was 12 or so. I was pretty good, if I do say so myself, but got tired of the lessons. Boy do I regret it now. I do have a piano and every Christmas I bang out “Silent Night” for the cats.

Thanks for the video, it is superb. One day, though, I would really like to hear you play it.

1. mad_cow on March 21st, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I’m just an old man with a tin ear who couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, but I have always enjoyed classical music. The Chattanooga Opera Association and the Chattanooga Symphony both used our high school stage and auditorium for their performances and I was on the school stage crew, so I got to hear a lot of classical music without having to pay, and I even got to mingle with the performers.

My own musical talent was limited to filling an empty seat in our church choir with instructions to just lip the words but remain mute.

Thanks for an enjoyable video.

2. Don on March 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 am
Julie,

I actually decided not to give up after reading your comment. If I can just get past the first page, the rest seems manageable. I’m just not sure I can play it that quickly but there’s only one way to find out.

Don,

That was quite an opportunity you had to hear some real music. Why don’t you have a blog? I’ve seen you post on so many local blogs and it seems like you have a lot to contribute. Also, I thought you were on my blogroll already. Not sure what happened. I just put you back on.

3. Scott Allan on March 24th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Scott, if there were 48 hours in a day and I were more technically competent I still wouldn’t have a blog because I’m so tied up with other matters such as my website @ http://www.doctoriq.com/
Which is devoted to trying to help Alabama become the 25th Initiative and Referendum state. I’m also involved with the Democracy Defense League (http://www.thedemocracydefenseleague.com/) which is an Alabama grassroots organization that wants to eliminate voter fraud through its legislative agenda. To help promote both of those goals, I write numerous letters to editors and sneak in some comments promoting them on blogs. One of my letters was published today in both the Gadsden Times and the Tuscaloosa news @ http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080325/NEWS/105962226/1028/TL04. I also try to help other people and organizations at times with what I consider to be their worthwhile endeavors.

Thanks for the compliment, though.

4. Don on March 25th, 2008 at 9:01 am