The annual music party is coming up in about two weeks.

I'll be doing two piano/violin pieces with my violin friend, who kindly still agrees to play with me even though I fall apart whenever we're playing anywhere other than in my living room.

It should be fun unless I crash and burn like last year. We're playing one slower piece to start with, and then we're actually playing one of the pieces that we played last year. People sometimes play pieces they've played before, so I figured that was a good idea. I butchered it so badly last year, I doubt anyone will even recognize it.

Which reminds me, the other day I ran into another regular of these music parties, he doesn't speak very much English (and I don't speak Spanish) so our conversations are always a little ... restricted, unless his wife is there to translate for us. He's a dynamite guitarist and he and his wife (who plays piano) always do these neat, bluesy pieces together, they're both very good musicians.

Anyway, we were talking about this year's party, and he complimented me, something like "you always play very well" and as I was starting to say "oh no I'm really..." he added "very avant garde." And I was thinking, oh my god, does he think I actually play that way on purpose!

quote:

Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
Anyway, we were talking about this year's party, and he complimented me, something like "you always play very well" and as I was starting to say "oh no I'm really..." he added "very avant garde." And I was thinking, oh my god, does he think I actually play that way on purpose!

Never turn down a compliment....

At some point you’ll have to say ‘That wasn’t Stockhausen, that was Chopin’

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:

quote:

Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
Anyway, we were talking about this year's party, and he complimented me, something like "you always play very well" and as I was starting to say "oh no I'm really..." he added "very avant garde." And I was thinking, oh my god, does he think I actually play that way on purpose!

Never turn down a compliment....

+1

quote:

Originally posted by jon-nyc:
At some point you’ll have to say ‘That wasn’t Stockhausen, that was Chopin’

Steve, Bernard, quite right!

Seriously, I am really looking forward to it, and I'm sure I don't sound nearly as bad as I imagine I do. And I will enjoy it regardless, but it would be lovely to be able to play a wee bit better than last year....

I suspect most are more concerned with how they play than how you play.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:
I suspect most are more concerned with how they play than how you play.

Oh no doubt about that. Somehow that doesn't really help me though.

You will do great!

Have fun.

I like to think of you as a modern day salonnière, providing a venue for people to share conversation, ideas, and music. That is so cool.

I'm sure you and your guests will have a wonderful time. It's the getting together that's the best part!

quote:

your guests

Just for clarity (or something! ) I'm not hosting this one. (If I were, I wouldn't be too worried about performance anxiety, I usually do great on my home piano in my living room, even if there are lots of people there)

This is the party held every year at the home of a retired Japanese teacher (she's the woman who was basically responsible for hiring me, and her husband plays classical guitar). It is sometimes amazingly attended and super crowded, and other times when "not many people" attended, there are 30 people there.

But yes, it is a wonderful party! And once we move (fingers crossed) I hope to host more parties like this myself (and some day, again fingers crossed) I hope to be doing it with a grand piano too!

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to this party. 1.5 weeks left to practice!