Episode 31 - Practice is Weird

Piano, finally

In this episode of Piano, Finally, host David Reidy dives into the quirks and challenges of piano practice, sharing his ongoing journey as a late piano learner. David kicks off with reflections on the National Chopin Piano Competition in Miami, discussing the incredible dedication of the finalists and the nuances in their interpretations. He praises the Chopin Podcast's Ben Laude for his insightful contestant interviews, which shed light on the intense preparation behind performances.

David then shares his latest podcast recommendation, We Can Be Weirdos, hosted by Dan Schreiber. Though not primarily focused on music, David highlights episodes where music becomes a central theme, such as conversations with British band Bastille's Dan Smith and 90s star Peter Andre.

The heart of the episode, however, is David's essay on the "weirdness" of piano practice. He reflects on the long hours spent repeating small sections of music to reach fluency and the strange phenomenon of making more mistakes after multiple playthroughs. To keep his practice fresh, David experiments with structuring his sessions around different pieces, from scales to repertoire, and shares his ongoing quest for the "perfect" practice routine.

David also provides an in-depth review of his evolving home studio setup, which now includes a versatile Arturia Keylab Mk3 MIDI controller and an extensive suite of virtual instruments. He discusses the value of having dedicated tools for composition and sound design and how these additions inspire him to keep experimenting and composing.

Finally, David updates listeners on his progress, playing recordings of his current repertoire pieces, including Bagatelle in F by Daniel Gottlob Türk and Afternoon Snooze by Andrew Craggs. He details his improvements and the areas he’s still working to refine.

Whether you're an advanced musician or just beginning your musical journey, this episode is a relatable exploration of the ups and downs of practice, with plenty of thoughtful insights and practical takeaways.

Join David for another week of progress, inspiration, and musical discovery—perfect for anyone finding their own rhythm at the piano.
https://www.arturia.com/products/hybrid-synths/keylab-mk3/overview

https://musio.com/

https://mackie.com/en/products/studio-monitoring/big-knob-series/big_knob_passive.html

https://www.mannys.com.au/

https://www.turramusic.com.au/

https://carlingfordmusic.com.au/

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فصول

1. Welcome (00:00:00)

2. Opening (00:00:14)

3. Podcast - We Can Be Weirdos (00:02:17)

4. Essay - Practice is Weird (00:04:21)

5. Review - Composing Equipment (00:07:50)

6. Closing (00:11:41)

7. Progress (00:12:37)