Saturday, April 28, 2007

Tickle the Ivory

This past week has been so hectic and busy! I'm so glad it's over and the weekend is here. With all the craziness I've decided I need to make sure I have some ME time everyday just doing something that rejuvenates my soul. So my new habit to work on is playing the piano for at least 15 minutes a day. I regularly substitute for the organist at church and play the hymns and primary songs at home but it has been a while since I've played any classical or ragtime pieces. During my 15 minutes I'm only going to allow myself to work on what I call 'my fun songs.' Anybody have any suggestions of good songs to try? Here's a sampling of songs I already enjoy playing so you can get a feel for what I like:

* any Scott Joplin ragtimes, especially Easy Winners
* Alla Turca by Mozart
* Ecossaises by Beethoven
* Jim Brickman pieces when I want something more relaxing
* I've just started playing Air and Variations (The Harmonious Blacksmith from Suite No. 5) by Handel, it's lovely!
* I think it would be a blast to play the piano part of Shotgun Boogie. I am currently looking for the music to that.

So now I can add playing the piano to my list of habits.

Habit 4 Play the Piano
Habit 3 Clean as I go - needs some improvement
Habit 2 Use positive reinforcement with my children- mostly a habit
Habit 1 Exercise for 30 minutes every day- habit

The Lazy Organizer has more links to others who are also working on Smart Habit Saturdays. Feel free to browse or even join in!

11 comments:

Jen said...

I love Rondo Alla Turca! I have to track down another copy of that sheet music some day.
Good luck! It's amazing what 15 minutes a day will do!

Kassie said...

Hope you pull it off. I only got in one day last week. Wish I could play fun music like that, but I was a baaaaaaad girl who refused to practice and had to teach myself to play the hymns as an adult. I can play them because I know what they are supposed to sound like. Have a great musical week.

Vanessa and Rebecca said...

OOOOOOOO Montse pick up the new Pride and Predjudice music. Jon got it for me for Christmas and finally got it to me for my birthday. SOOOOO much fun. challenging (off set timings) but soooo pretty and relaxing.

An Ordinary Mom said...

What a great habit to work on. We actually "own" a piano - my in laws have given us their old one, but we can't exactly fit it into our apartment so it is still living at their house - and I can't wait to start playing it again.

I love the Maple Leaf Rag, Canon in D, You Light Up My Life, the theme song from Terms of Endearment and anything from Les Mis and Phantom.

Peculiar Blogs said...

Love your habit! I can't wait to have a piano again. :-)

Craig Howes said...

Joplin is my favorite! I love "The Entertainer".

athena said...

i just wish i could play!

while you're at it, do a recording and post it on your blog! :)

andalucy said...

yes! good idea about posting a recording. :-)

Montserrat said...

I would post a recording if I could, however I don't have anything to record with, not even a video camera! It is on our list of 'need/want to buy in the very near future.

Jennifer @ Fruit of My Hands said...

Great list of music...makes my fingers itch to play! It's easy to get rusty when you haven't been playing in awhile, isn't it?

Good luck! Someday I hope to have a house where I can jam on the piano after the kids are in bed. Right now, my piano is right across the wall from Taryn's bed, so all my playing time is in the form of tandem duets with a toddler...

Trudi said...

Good for you taking some me time. I surely need to follow your example and add 30 min. of exercise every day. I think I'll wait until I get done with this school year.