The Quarantine Diary 3
Day 3
I used to play classical piano. From age 5 to age 16, I took lessons from a variety of teachers, most of whom eventually learned not to play a passage for me, because I relied on my ear more than my sight reading for learning. By the age of 16, it was evident (to me, at least) that I would not be a concert pianist. I gave up the lessons and began several years of garage band experimentation. This eventually led to about a 30-year side career playing in bands. During that time, I learned almost every new song either by ear or from another player. When occasionally confronted with anything more than a chord chart, I would have to admit that I don’t read music well.
Although I don’t play gigs any more, I still play for my own enjoyment at home, and I do try to learn new songs from time to time. But I wondered, how bad would it sound if I were to try to pick up some classical music and actually read it again?
I’ll emphatically admit: Really, really bad!
In a box of things I had brought to my house after my mother died in 2013, I found a “Schirmer’s” book of Chopin Preludes. The renewed copyright on this book is 1943, meaning it was probably my mom’s. The price was originally $2.00.
I opened it to Page 7, Opus 28, No. 4, the prelude in E minor. It’s a well-known piece, which I recognized when I slogged my way through the first two measures. The piece is slow, short, and has only one slightly challenging (for my ability) passage of about three measures toward the end.
Can I read my way through the whole thing before the COVID gets me? I certainly have time to try.