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-EX grand.

You can contact me:

• via email at david@pianofinally.show; this is probably the best option
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All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

Transcript

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Welcome back to Piano, Finally — the podcast of one bloke learning piano later in life. This week’s episode is about taking on challenges and finding joy in the process. I’ve been practising more than usual — partly because I’ve added a big new piece to my list.

It’s my first “real” classical work: 0:14

Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. It’s a challenge, but it feels great to play something so famous and expressive. There’s something about tackling a piece that’s beyond your comfort zone that changes how you practise. When every bar takes time, you learn patience — and that makes progress more rewarding. Speaking of challenges, Yuja Wang recently performed all four Rachmaninov Piano Concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in one night. The concert took place at Carnegie Hall with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra. No one — not even Rachmaninov himself — has ever attempted that before. The concert was also part of a scientific study — Yuja, Yannick, the orchestra, and even the audience wore heart rate monitors. You can see a brilliant overview on the ToneBase channel and another detailed analysis from Carnegie Hall’s YouTube. It’s a fascinating look at the physical and emotional effort that goes into performance. Maybe it even means we can count piano practice as exercise. After nearly two years of lessons, I’m finally working on pieces that sound like music, not just exercises. It’s a small thing, but when someone recognises what I’m playing, that’s a big milestone. My aim has always been to play real music for real people — not just for myself. Even if the notes aren’t perfect, the joy of sharing them makes it worthwhile.

If you’re looking for new repertoire, I’ve been using a fantastic book: 1:31

Hal Leonard’s Anthology of Easier Classical Piano. It’s 300 pages with 174 pieces by 44 composers — from Bach and Beethoven to Burgmüller and Tchaikovsky. It’s beautifully printed, spiral-bound, and great value for the price. I found my copy at Mooloolaba Music, but it’s also available through Music Junction and Amazon. It’s ideal for late beginners and early intermediates who want to explore classical music.

In lessons, Devi and I are working on three pieces: 1:56

Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, and Trumpet Tune by Jeremiah Clarke. All three have their own quirks — but together they make practice more interesting. Everything this week was recorded on the Kawai NV10 using Cubase 15 and Pianoteq 9 with a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX. Each time I sit down, it feels like I’m getting closer to making music that means something. Thanks for listening — and remember, progress doesn’t have to be fast to be satisfying. You can reach me anytime at david@pianofinally.show or visit pianofinally.show for notes and links. See you next time, and keep enjoying your own music-making.