Joy of performance

When I got back to the piano a few months ago, after a 15+ year absence, I didn't know what would happen. Ooo boy! A lot has happened. I have practiced with abandon, found a great teacher -- Rebecca Wren of Ford Piano Studio -- and things really are happening! The joy of it is that I find I can perform at a level which was not a part of me 15 years ago. What a fine feeling.

For the past two months I've been working on learning a piece recorded by Marian McPartland many years ago. The piece is her interpretation of "If You Could See Me Now". I am working from the transcriptions of Don Sickler and John Oddo: "The Artistry Marian McPartland" (c 1985) I purchased my copy of this book on eBay. Amazon also lists it..

When first approached two months ago, I thought the first measure of page 48 was going to be out of reach. Today, well ... I'm just so happy with it!

Here's an mp3 clip of my playing earlier this evening: For me, it's pure magic!

You can also hear Marian McPartland's performance of this piece on Napster .