Piano/Organ lessons

My piano/organ lessons with John Barratta have been and continue to be a big help. I can see improvement. I try to practice the Hanon and Czerny daily. I have also started working on classical pedaling technique (heel and toe - with my organ shoes.) This has been a struggle but it is coming along.

MusicReader update

The computer program and app in which I store my performance printed music had a major update. There were some bugs as usually with any update, but www.musicreader.biz people were very helpful and responded with corrections. I really like the program.

One thing I will be doing.. since ipad screen is smaller than normal sized glasses I will be getting "organ glasses." They will have a focus length of 30" (I measured the distance from my eyes to the music rack at Bristol Glen) and also will have some magnification. I figure that distance should be fine if I ever play on a 4 manual (or larger) console since the eye doctor said they will a leeway of 10-12 inches. We will see how they work

Woody Woodpecker theme

Last week I acquired several pieces of vintage sheet music from Kampko among which was the theme from the Woody Woodpecker cartoon. It is fun to play. I played it at Bristol Glen this week asking them to guess what it was. I got several cheers of "Woody Woodpecker."

Kampko Vintage Sheet Music Shoppe

I have spent a lot of time this week looking through the online catalog of Kampko. They have vintage sheet music from the 1800s up through the 1980s. It is a great source for out of print music. I placed two orders and can't wait for them to arrive.

www.kampko.com

MusicReader software upgrade

The MusicReader software I use to display my printed music when I play is supposed to be releasing a significant upgrade this week. I have been waiting anxiously for it.

If you are interested, you get get more information at...
www.musicreader.biz

On a Little Street in Sinapore

When I heard a recording of an organ arrangement of "On a Little Street in Singapore" I thought it was a great tune but not like the arrangement. I have finally made a simple, yet haunting arrangement of it which I really like. Hopefully the people at Bristol Glen will like it.

Middletown Paramount

I drove up to Middletown, NY to hear John Baratta play the silent film, "Steamboat Bill" at the Middletown Paramount. He did a wonderful job and the organ sounds great. It is a 3/12 Wurlitzer and I was invited to go up and play it when our schedules could link up.