Episode 72 - A Bit of a Challenge

Welcome back to Piano, Finally — the podcast of one bloke who’s learning piano later in life.

This week’s episode is all about stepping up to new challenges and enjoying the progress along the way. I’ve been practising more than usual, working on three pieces — including my first “real” classical work: Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. It’s tricky, but rewarding, and I’m discovering just how much a single piece can transform practice from routine to exciting.

🎧 YouTube – Yuja Wang and Rachmaninov
In 2023, Yuja Wang performed all four Rachmaninov Piano Concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in a single evening at Carnegie Hall — the first time anyone has ever attempted it. Not even Rachmaninov himself did that. The concert was also a scientific study: Yuja, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, members of the orchestra, and the audience wore heart rate monitors throughout.

• Watch the ToneBase overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isuT10uxNZE
  
  
• See the Carnegie Hall analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuA9l77ODbs
  
  

Together, these two videos offer a fascinating look at the physical and emotional energy behind performance — and maybe an excuse to count piano practice as exercise.

📝 Essay – A Bit of a Challenge
After nearly two years of learning, I’m now tackling pieces around the Grade One level — not perfect, but recognisable! My goal has always been to play “real” music for others, not just eight bars of Ode to Joy. Choosing something like Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is ambitious but deeply satisfying. Even a few bars of it sound great, and that joy makes practice fun again.

🎼 Review – Easier Classical Piano (Hal Leonard)
Found at Mooloolaba Music, this hefty 300-page volume is packed with 174 pieces by 44 composers — from Bach and Beethoven to Tchaikovsky and Burgmüller. It’s beautifully printed, spiral-bound, and a great value for $53. Perfect for players moving toward the intermediate level.

• Hal Leonard
  
  
• Music Junction
  
  
• Amazon AU
  
  

🎶 Progress
Devi and I are refining three pieces: Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, and Trumpet Tune by Jeremiah Clarke (attributed to Henry Purcell). All recorded on the Kawai NV10 using Cubase 15 and Pianoteq 9 with a Shigeru Kawai SK-

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