I want to play Zelda's Lullaby and Spice on Piano

Day 31? Well i’ll be the first to admit I got sidetracked. At the end of this I didn’t quite finish what I planned to, but I added a bunch of stuff and I’ve stuck to it, so I would say it was more than a win. Hopefully I’ve established my piano practice as a habit at this point. I’ve been working more on sight reading and understanding the music, than brute forcing my way through a few songs. I think this will prove more useful in the long run. I established a work out routine and have stuck with that for 2 weeks as well. I don’t plan to stop, but I guess that’s as close to project complete as I’m going to get. Learning is a lifelong task after all.

Day 30. I didn’t play that much today. My practice was interupted by delicious green curry chicken and never came back. C’est la vie. Then I had a pretty good nap.

Day 29. Just worked in the book really. It introduced some Hannon exercises for strengthening fingers and such. It’s nice how on some of the songs it feels like it really comes together. I know the left hand is usually playing cords and the right isn’t moving much past 6 fingers but it sounds good. I ordered alfreds all in one book 2 and Hannon exercises, just based on how fast I seem to be moving through this book. I’ll probably go through it again just to try to drill into my head which note is which.

Day 28. I worked on the book for an hour. Compared to yesterday I got around 25 pages done, but I mostly skipped the writing in the book parts, and I can’t do anything with the pedal parts. Mostly I just learned a few cords in the G position as opposed the the C position from yesterday. Not sure of the names, but I think it’s G major, C major (again with different notes) and F#? (On review the cord is called D7.) I also found some warm up exercises as well. I do feel like this is going to really help going forward, as I feel like I’m starting to get some idea of were the notes are without trying to feel my way out every verse. The melodic 2nd and 3rds seem to be helpful to get a mental idea of were your fingers need to go. At this rate though I’m going to have to get the second book faster than I thought, along with maybe the hammon exercises for warm ups. Although it wouldn’t hurt to maybe go through the book a few times after I finish to reinforce the concepts. Also I was rewatching My Hero Academia, and I think I sometimes forget how solid and smooth the arcs are.

Day 27. Yay! My books came! That’s really all I did today. I knew a lot of it so I ended on page 47 or so. Mostly I only learned the c position for each hand and some useful chords. C G7 and F. I only went through the adult adventures book, so I didn’t find any great warm ups but I do finally have a few days off. My main plan is to try to focus on some proper technique and hand position before I jump back into practice for my songs.

Day 26. I didn’t really practice anything new really, just kinda played through what I already was playing but I did try to make it play a little smoother without looking at the music. Excited for my books arriving hopefully tomorrow, and really wanting to start learning Cristina. I’m real tired and ill be even more tired tomorrow, but the rest of the week I should be more free.

Day 25. Update time. Work hasn’t really slowed down but I feel like the rest was good. I should have some more time during the week though so I’ll get to take it a little easier. Good news is they can’t schedual me any extra unless they want to pay me that sweet OT. Anyway, I mostly just practiced what I already did before, just trying to nail down the first page and a half. Other good news is I think my piano books should be here wednesday, so I’m looking forward to maybe some more structured practice. I also did a recording of Spice up to were I’ve practiced. It’s slow, so the recording is almost 2 and a half minutes.

Link when it decides to upload https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DfDvuJaFwNfh9zowKO4X3P8VHaXxn3Wy/view?usp=sharing

Day 23. Not really an update today. I won’t say a lack of motivation, but a lack of energy. I think today I need rest. I might write an update tomorrow, but I mostly intend to take it easy till monday.

Day 22. I sounded out the next 8 verses of Spice, making some steady progress. It almost sounds like a song. I think I’m around verse 44 or so, so I guess maybe I should be happy just how far I’ve come. It’s also workout day, so we are going to get right to that. Hopefully next update will have a little more meat to it.

Day 21. Late update, but I took a nap. I wasn’t feeling very motivated today to be honest. I’m a bit sore from trying to work out, but once I sat down, I feel like I had fun. I worked on the next section of spice, kinda sounding out the next 16 verses. That’s right, we are solidly on the second page. I can mostly play the first page without looking which is nice. My books will not be here till after my project ends, but maybe that’s ok. I don’t really plan to stop. I want to give a thank you to this structure that me work on something I wanted to for a long time. See you space cowboy.

Day 20. I mostly just practiced the next 8 verses of Spice, and I started my main workout today and now I’m dying. Please send help. (I’m ok, just dramatic.)

Day 19. So I did my normal practice trying to play as slowly and smoothly as possible today. I did record a better version of Zelda’s Lullaby, but the thing I’m most excited about is I made a workout routine that I plan to follow after the piano each day (the real workout is 3 times a week, but I can do the warm up and stretch every day). I want to translate this into building some better habits for myself and I’ve been doing well at this. Update over.

Zelda’s Lullaby (Better Version) https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DRYTpdfA6Ilne3FAMDi5hnUnTA1arLAN

Day 18. Look mom, I’m 2 Day 9’s. So back to my normal afternoon practice, I mostly just worked on the first section of Spice hands together real slow. I’m thinking for tommorow I’m going to write out another chunk and work on that. Nothing else much to report, but I did take video of the two pieces for reference. I didn’t have anyone to hold my phone though so it’s just pointed at the floor. I will say Zelda’s Lullaby didn’t come out my best, and two more attempts were not any better. Maybe it’s just throwing me off, having it be recorded.

Warning, it’s a little loud.

Zelda’s Lullaby https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CXn4Vkk8QGYQFqJTVzDHMWLcgQp-PjLR

Spice https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CWTJTIrbAD0p5rop9O8bTgNyZLJtZ5Q0

P.S. (I’ll update when the links are up) I’m thinking tommorow I might try to get my best version of the song recorded.

Day 17. I’m actually guna be busy all day, but I remembered reading a reddit thread talking about how to stay motivated. One of the points he made was to have no zero days. Is it 11:59pm and you have not worked on your goals? Work on them for a minute. I kind of took that to heart, and I want this project to reflect that. So I woke up and practiced in the morning before I had to leave instead of like 5 in the afternoon. An important other point was forgiveness for yourself because sometimes you fail. Anyway, I just ran through my warm-up and played the 3 songs I’ve been working on through hands apart and together once. Simple and clean (🎵 as the way you’re making me feel tonight 🎵.) I hope everyone has a good Sunday!

Day 16. I mostly practiced the first section of Spice, or most of the first page, hands together today going painfully slow. But it actually gave me a bit of confidence that it is achievable for me and that means a lot. My left hand has a good idea of were the chords are and almost works better when I’m not thinking about it. I just need to drill it down a bit more. Other than that I almost want to add a workout routine after the piano because I’ve been really good at keeping on it, because of these updates. I wounder if I can transition this to after my project is over. Anyway that’s all for me, and I hope Loopy feels better.

Day 15. I jotted down a few more verses to work on for Spice, but man the timing is tricky for that song. Practice practice practice, it comes a little smoother most days. I just need to keep at it. It is hard to tell if I’m playing it right sometimes with all the eighth notes and the mix between the left and right for it to sound right. I had a good day today even if I have to go to work tomorrow too. It’s a secret to everyone.

P.S. (Please tell me if you get my jokes, I need the validation.)

Day 14. Full day of work (work) today but that’s good. I mostly practiced the latter part of Zelda’s Lullaby and the beginning of Spice, same as before. For the Lullaby I tried playing it to tempo and that was crazy. Mostly I practiced the last 20ish verses and tried to play consistently, which i tend to do. For Spice I mostly practiced the cord progression on the left hand as it is most of the first page, but unlike Lullaby, my hand gets lost when I’m not looking. I also ordered a few practice books. Alfred’s and Adult adventures as they seemed to be the most recommended for adults. (This is the end of the update.)

P.S. I never really end updates but this one gets two endings. The feelings of joy for you, dear reader, I hope are as infinite as the amount of times I’ve had to google words I should already know how to spell.

Day 13. I did my normal practice but I identified some stuff I would like to work on. I started figuring out the first page of Spice from food wars, hands apart and it came out pretty well. Unlike Zelda’s Lullaby, I took the sustain off as this song has eighth rests and I feel like I have not practiced actually holding notes as long as I should. I should look into that pedal thing again. Every day it seems a little smoother, I just need to look into a better warm-up, as the finger movement is coming along nicely. Spice did throw me off a bit as in the left hand it has me holding A in a cord for a whole note, but my right has me playing that same exact A. I’ll have to watch the video to figure that one out.

P.S. I also updated my project and weekly goals to better reflect were I’m at. I don’t want to give myself an excuse to coast.

Day 12. I really only practiced a little today, but I wanted to do some research into a practice book for technique and some more warm up exercises. I do have a present though. I bribed my brother with Coca Cola to record me practicing the song. Spoiler, I didn’t make it to the end, but I can, and that’s all that matters. Also I want to play some magic and all the companions and 3 color decks are really hurting me in the rare department. One day I can make a Tier 1 Deck!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1C5hvyvFACQRblR_xZWMp14EiR7kHIMF3

(I’m not sure how to put it in the post)

Day 11. Did my usual 30 minute practice. I feel like it flows a little better now when I try to play it, but I’m not sure if I’m off today or something but I kept forgetting what the notes were. This must be what happens when I don’t have my Earl Grey at lunch. I also practiced some more Dry Hands, hoping to be able to play hands together in a few days. I did my call to the college campus which required a few swigs of vodka, because calling people I don’t know spiked my anxiety. Now maybe a nap is in order…

Day 10. I might practice more today, but I did about 30 minutes this morning. Mostly just working on the last bit and actually sounding out the timing for the last few verses. All in all, I can almost actually play the piece all the way through, although I still get hung up and misplay notes in a few spots. I tried to work through a little more of Dry Hands, but I think I’m starting to get in the mood to try a new song. I will say every time I feel a little more comfortable playing with two hands at once. It’s almost like the less I think about it, the better I do.

Day 9 (Ha.) Really short practice today, just the 15 minutes. I did practice the Harder section with hands together, because that’s really all there is left. I can almost play the whole song through with hands together but that last part was making my hands sore with the way I have to bend to hit the octave. I was looking at other songs, but maybe I will work on Cristina from Steins Gate. Not sure.

Day 8. As I’ve noticed that when I drink I practice more, since it’s Friday I spent almost 3 hours practicing today. I actually spent some time on the harder section at the end, and can play it janky and painfully slow. I’ve actually made a lot of progress and have been looking at some other songs to play. I may have underestimated myself so I’m thinking of adding a song to the goal just to make sure I’m not taking it easy.

P.S. I tried practicing Spice from Food Wars, and Secret Base from Anohana and holly hell, I have no idea how they do the little twisty things with their wrist to play those 4 note cords. Worth looking into I guess.

Day 7. I hadn’t thought it had been a week yet but I guess here we are. I’ve been practicing as soon as I got home but today was pretty stressful for no reason’s at all, so I put it off and had some Jim Bean. I was good though and did my practice. I think I have a good handle on the first 16 (verses? I should know this…) That’s honestly most of the song, so I might have to extend my project to another song. The song for the curious.

https://musescore.com/torbybrand/scores/1694686

Day 6. I find I really want to practice when I get home. I tried playing the right hand through the first 8 staffs or so without looking at my hands and had mostly success. I think with a little more practice I should be able to play the first 8 staffs with hands together. It definitely gets a lot trickier after that. These updates are making me want to work on my spelling…

Day 5. I practiced for a while on dry hands and it went really well. My hands have started to recognize some of the cords so I don’t have to think as hard. I did come to a somewhat distressing realization that assuming middle C is the third C on my keyboard the song is written one note past how many keys I have. I guess it’s ok though, as my song isn’t dry hands anyway. The carrot discord helped with the problem chord from yesterday. There is an A in the right hand cord so I just skip it.

Day 4. I came home from work and felt like practicing right away. I almost got all the notes written for Dry Hands, but I was having trouble with the first cord. It looks like it’s too far for my hands to reach. (I’m not sure how to post an image…) Got it.

https://imgur.com/4amKga2

Day I’m not sure (3?). So late start but I practiced Dry Hands today. Still recovering from Covid 19, but I had fun practising. The sharps were really throwing me off, because I didn’t know if it applied to just the notes on the lines or all notes. Somone recognized it though so that was nice. I also jumped into the discord and talked a bit. It really brightened my day so thank you all.