Improvisations
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.
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.
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?
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…
Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2015-3-29 Part 1
This was an improvisation inspired by a piece I wrote in elementary school called “A lot of Jazzy Jazz” (which was itself a variation on an earlier piece: “A little bit of Jazz”). Not sure how actual jazzy this ever was, but it was fun to play with!
Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2015-3-29 Part 3
Here it is – the last post for March. I wrote Ocean Squalls when I was in late elementary school. On Sunday night, I read through it a couple times and then put my music notebook away. This is me playing it from memory, and taking a little artistic liberty. I hope you enjoy!
Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2015-3-29 Part 5
Only two days left in March, including today! I’m trying to decide how frequently to continue posting to this podcast. I recently went through all my files, and I have more than 200 recordings. They are not all ones I would want to share publicly, but many of them are. If I continue to record a few new piano logs every week, I should be able to post at least two every week for a long time. Stay tuned! What I’ve learned through the course of this month is that I love doing this podcast, so it shouldn’t be hard for me to continue!
Yesterday, I went through my tiny composition notebook from when I was very young. I was born in 1982, and there were little pieces in there from ‘87 to ‘92. My dad is a composer, and most of them are written in his handwriting. Many of them are very much in the style of the beginner pieces I was working on. The first one is “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, but with “Mel Bass” instead of Alberti Bass. The last one is a piece called “Ocean Squalls”, which I was very proud of. I recorded that one yesterday as well, and I’ll be posting it tomorrow.
Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2013-10-4 Part 3
This piano was in a little courtyard at Harvard Law School. I had the feeling of being in a sort of room, even though I was outside. It felt oddly private. Perhaps as a result, I think this improvisation ended up sounding more introspective.
March 2015 – Day 28
In 2013, this young person passed away after a tragic bicycle accident. I played thinking of him, and thinking of the people he left behind who grieved his passing. Often, music can express things when words aren’t helpful. And also, I’m not a traditionally religious person, but sometimes for me, playing music is the most direct and raw way of connecting with something larger than myself. I don’t really ever choose to attend religious services, but I am always so willing and grateful to be able to play music for them, because I believe I’m helping to hold that open space for the people who are listening.
March 2015 – Day 27
I drove over the river from work in Watertown on my lunch break to play this piano. It was unusual in that the keys were painted in addition to the cabinet.