Piano Log

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Piano Log 2013-7-12

Warming up for GranMarie’s Memorial Service

A little over two years ago, my grandmother passed away. I played at her memorial service, as well as many other times that weekend. Here’s a recording I made when I was warming up on the stage where we were going to hold the service.

She played piano as well, and I spent a lot of time that weekend poring over her music books, and reading her notes in the margins. I grew up on the other side of the country from where she and my grandfather lived, so I didn’t get to see her very often. It was very cool to be able to learn more about who she was, and to discover similarities I didn’t realize we had.

Piano Log 2013-7-12

A little over two years ago, my grandmother passed away. I played at her memorial service, as well as many other times that weekend. Here’s a recording I made when I was warming up on the stage where we were going to hold the service. 

She played piano as well, and I spent a lot of time that weekend poring over her music books, and reading her notes in the margins. I grew up on the other side of the country from where she and my grandfather lived, so I didn’t get to see her very often. It was very cool to be able to learn more about who she was, and to discover similarities I didn’t realize we had.

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Piano Log 2015-7-30 Part 2

I made this recording right after the last one, again with the Sony PCM-M10. It’s a bit longer.

Because of a very busy work schedule over the past few months, I’ve had a hard time finding time to even play piano, let alone record. It was really nice to be able to sit down and make these tracks.

Piano Log 2015-7-30 Part 2

I made this recording right after the last one, again with the Sony PCM-M10. It’s a bit longer.

Because of a very busy work schedule over the past few months, I’ve had a hard time finding time to even play piano, let alone record. It was really nice to be able to sit down and make these tracks.

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Piano Log 2015-7-30 Part 1

Trying something new with this recording. I recently bought a Sony PCM-M10 Portable Audio Recorder, which records in stereo. So far, I’m really liking it! I’m able to record in much higher resolution than I did on my smart phone. Plus, this device is able to filter out some low frequencie sounds (like wind or household noises), and it also limits the levels so there is hopefully no distortion at the louder end of the spectrum.

This recording is on the mellower side.

Piano Log 2015-7-30 Part 1

Trying something new with this recording. I recently bought a Sony PCM-M10 Portable Audio Recorder, which records in stereo. So far, I’m really liking it! I’m able to record in much higher resolution than I did on my smart phone. Plus, this device is able to filter out some low frequencie sounds (like wind or household noises), and it also limits the levels so there is hopefully no distortion at the louder end of the spectrum.

This recording is on the mellower side.

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Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2014-3-11 Part 1

Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2014-3-11 Part 1

I’m considering starting to compose finished pieces using ideas I’ve explored in these improvisations. I would then make recordings and release them in albums. I would also make the sheet music available for sale. These are grand ideas, and because of the nature of my day job, there are only certain times in the year when I would have enough creative energy and time to devote to such a project, but…it would be so cool, wouldn’t it?

Piano Log 2014-3-11 Part 1

I’m considering starting to compose finished pieces using ideas I’ve explored in these improvisations. I would then make recordings and release them in albums. I would also make the sheet music available for sale. These are grand ideas, and because of the nature of my day job, there are only certain times in the year when I would have enough creative energy and time to devote to such a project, but…it would be so cool, wouldn’t it?

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Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2015-3-3 Part 2

Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2015-3-3 Part 2

Here’s another recording from March, released after the fact! It’s a long-format one.

I’ve been thinking about why I typically choose the keys I do to play in. And what makes a key feel like it does? I find I gravitate towards flat keys, but what does that even mean? A-flat Major is technically the same as G-sharp Major. But I believe I always think of it as A-flat when I’m improvising. Similarly, I often think of D-flat Major, not C-sharp Major. B-flat minor, not A-sharp minor. Is this typical? I wonder! But I also wonder if my penchant for flats steers me away from improvising in keys that just have sharps in their key signature – like B Major and E Major…