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BR B's avatar

Here's a link to my favorite (mind blowing) and deeply authentic rendition, which is the way I discovered the piece, on a CD called "Russia's Most Beautiful Music." https://youtu.be/E__Q4mmPKLY?si=4-tUmztT8vqj738x

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Garreth Brooke's avatar

Oh yeah! This is awesome!! Thank you!

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Clare McGinn's avatar

This is lovely. I’ve come back to the piano after forty years and am really enjoying it. I played guitar and mandolin in between, but piano was my first love — I got to Grade 7 back in the day, glued to the books. This time round, I’m playing by ear and just exploring. I’m enjoying your writing too. Funnily enough, I wrote about magpies a few days ago — though in a very different context.

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Garreth Brooke's avatar

I'm so happy to hear it, Clare. Working adults who return to the piano is one of my biggest joys — it's so much fun watching you uncovering all your forgotten skills and make all these wonderful discoveries!

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Clare McGinn's avatar

Although I have accepted I will never have the skills I had at 17. Just felt so effortless but also drilled into me after years of training. So glad I found you here.

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Garreth Brooke's avatar

I think that's OK, though — we enjoy things very differently when we're older, and there's such a wealth of wonderful repertoire out there to explore!

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Catherine's avatar

Great article! I think we all encounter a request to learn a "new" piece of music at least once a month. Often the virtuosos version that they have found on Youtube. The suggestion of combining elements from different versions is a great one. Thanks Garreth!

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Garreth Brooke's avatar

Yeah, those virtuoso versions can be a nightmare! This 'Magpie' approach evolved out of my trying to figure out how to find a balance between their enthusiasm for exactly those videos, and actually giving them something achievable. I hope you find it useful in your studio!

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