Piano Poems

I took classical piano lessons from age 7 to 16.  I loved the piano.   But I frequently ditched my scales and arpeggios in favour of the sheet music for Chariots of Fire and Easy Piano Hits From The 70's.   I tried to pick out tunes by ear and was thrilled when a choral teacher taught me the power of I-IV-V for basic accompaniment.  I tortured my family with improvised "fishpond" music throughout most of high school. 
I never excelled in classical music - primarily because I didn't work at it.   I hated recitals and exams; I got horribly nervous and made mistakes.  Once my life became filled with the visual arts (which you can edit as much as you like before sharing), I tucked my piano playing away into a private practice. 
 I have recently started to re-think how I hear myself on the piano, thanks in large part to Jacob Collier, a most freeing musician.   He has given me permission to enjoy mistakes.   He is helping me re-hear what I improvise not as music, but as lines, shapes, volumes, expressive movements - and poetry.   And as I record myself for the first time - I realize that I can save, trim, or delete the results - so I do have some control over what goes out into the world.  Beyond this, I know almost nothing about audio recording.    What's here is what I choose to share with you.  "Mistakes" and clunking pedal included.  

Poem 14    What gesture drawing sounds like to me.   May 8, 2025.

Poem 13    Can you please wait until I'm off the phone?  April 30, 2025.

Poem 12    Trying to get them to talk.  April 30, 2025.

Poem 11    Nearly Done.   April 30, 2025.   

Poem 10    Gratitude.  April 20, 2025.

Poem 9     Pretending to be an entertainer without worrying about the notes.  April 13, 2025. 

Poem 8    Noticing.  April 12, 2025.

Chant - Women's Showers, Kinesiology Department, CSULB.    April 11, 2025.

Poem 7    Scattered Flax.  April 10, 2025.

Poem 6    Gone.  April 10, 2025.

Poem 5     Slipping Memory.  April 9, 2025 .

Poem 4    Walk with me?  April 8, 2025.

Poem 3    Für Unease.  April 7, 2025.

Poem 2     Unrecovering Awkward Person.  April 7, 2025.

Poem 1    Pete and the Coyote.  April 5, 2025.

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