Sunderland Music Festival Piano Romantic Class Grade 9

This is Josh and this is my competition performance on Valentine's Day of Chopin's Nocturne in C# minor in which I played against 4 other competitors.

I am 12-years-old at the moment.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sunderland
• Music
• Festival
• Chopin
• Nocturne
• RCM
• grade
• piano
• Josh
• Watson

[helliop]

looks like one of the entries bailed, but its good there was some actual competition, sometimes when i entered in sunderland its only against another person, which i find more difficult. really well played, one of the best interpretations i've seen. i think you really took the time to get to know the piece well.

[jwabacus]

Yup - first entrant was a no-show. It would seem that when the level exceeds grade 8, there are very few per piano class. I agree that it's better with some competition - as it was here. it's also interesting that someone else knows about Sunderland! Did you play there recently?

[Vook]

This is my favorite piano piece of all time. It just bursts with emotion, beauty, and expression at every note. It really is a piece to grieve by. You played it well.

If I could offer some suggestions, I think I you could've used more rubato. You could take more time between phrases, especially to stretch out the dynamics. Have you, by any chance, tried writing lyrics to the piece and singing it to yourself? When I did that myself, I really found a great musical significance in every note.

[jwabacus]

Thanks for your comments! I hope I've matured somewhat - musically - since I played that a year ago (I'm now 13). I'm going to relearn this and will take your suggestions to heart. It's one of my favourite pieces too. I've seen lyrics to this but thought they distracted from the piece; however, I've not tried writing my own - a huge task, I'm thinking.

[tonyyezj]

Josh:

You're obviously very very talented. Congrantuations on first place! You deserved it, no doubt. I have a question: How do you play the part where it tells you to speed up, with triplets for the right hand and eighth notes on the left hand. My problem for that part is that I can't get the timing right for that particular part. Any tips? Thanks!

[jwabacus]

Hey thanks! How did I get the timing right? Well - I have the most fabulous teacher and she just made it happen. Actually I can only remember playing hands separately (and slowly) and then, voilà, it just happened. I'll look at my score again and see what markings she put on it. I'm working on some VERY neat grade 10 RCM pieces now - love them - especially Mozart Sonata K332. Later!

[PianistCor]

Why only 89. He should at least get 90..That is an A :-))

[RumbleTheFirst001]

This kid is very impresive

hes got some talent

[timjolam]

One of my favourites...I, too, played it at 12 yrs and it's always touching to hear this song even though it's played differently by each individual.

[MmRogers1988]

What excellent playing of this emotional piece.

[PeterU1949]

What a famous piece so effectively played! I find this Chopin Nocturne moves me to my core.  Well-done!

[Gr33nkiwi]

I lied, you actually play this a bit faster than me at some parts, I was judging the speed by the time and the opening, oops my mistake lol.

[Gr33nkiwi]

Good job :D I'm playing this too, I play it a bit faster, I don't have the patience to play it slow lol.

[AznDDRhero]

I remember learning this song after i watched the movie, The Pianist :)

[EmilieP9]

wow.. well done! (:

[GregAnthus]

You ARE maturing musically. I've watched your videos for quite a while now and I plainly see it, although this was done quite a while ago and I find this performance just right for me.