Piano, finally

Piano Finally is a podcast by an old bloke who is learning the piano, finally. I cover the process of learning the piano and music theory as an adult learner. I also review piano books, hardware and other materials from an adult learner's perspective.

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Piano, finally

Episode 75 - Something New

November 30, 2025 • David Reidy • Season 1 • Episode 75

G’day everyone, I’m David Reidy. Welcome to Piano, Finally — a podcast by an old bloke who’s getting around to learning the piano, finally.

With the exams marked and reports written, the last weeks of the school year bring a welcome return to regular practice (and twice-daily swimming). This week’s episode is built around a story in two parts: a run of theatre outings, and an unexpected new musical adventure.

🎭 Performances Around Sydney
A free week meant several nights out:
• The Rest Is History Returns at the Opera House, with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook delivering a lively extended podcast episode and Q&A.
• Bell Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet, a polished, contemporary staging with excellent pacing and standout comic moments. Video excerpts here:
https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/romeo-and-juliet

• Devi Mamak & the Caravan Band, blending sitar, sax, drums and dancers in a Marrickville venue that doubles as a belly-dance school. More info:
https://caravandancecompany.com.au/

📝 Something New – Joining a Community Choir
An email from Sydney Festival announced a community choir performing on 25 January at Barangaroo. Despite not being a singer, I signed up — partly out of curiosity, partly to step outside my comfort zone. The rehearsal, led by composer Nardi Simpson, was warm, energetic and enormous fun. Two of the four songs were introduced, including Four Directions, complete with harmonies and some accidental “clams” in the projected lyrics. With over 200 people in the room and only a handful of tenors, it’s going to be an adventure.

🎼 Review – Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (Schirmer)
Another aspirational addition to the music shelf. This Carl Czerny-edited volume includes fingering, dynamics, a short biographical essay, and all 48 Preludes and Fugues. Clear engraving, perfect-bound, and solid value.
https://www.musicjunction.com.au/products/complete-well%EF%BF%BDtempered-clavier

🎹 Progress
• Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata: Still uneven in places, but improving.
• Wynn-Anne Rossi – A Wild Chase: Nearly complete and played from memory.
• Trumpet Tune (Clarke/Purcell): Slow but steady.

Recorded on the Kawai NV10 using Cubase 15 and Pianoteq 9 with a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX piano model.

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Episode075: 0:00

G'day everyone, I'm David Reidy. Welcome to Piano, Finally, a podcast by an old bloke who's getting around to learning the piano, finally. Welcome to show number 75. Thank you very much for listening. If you're back for another episode, thanks for returning. If it's your first time, I hope you enjoy what's in the show. Are you also learning a musical instrument? Let me know how you're going with it at david@pianofinally.show. Exams are marked and end-of-year reports written, so the final weeks of teaching begin. That means more time for practising over the next couple of months — and back to swimming twice a day. There’s prep to do for next year, but that can wait for the holidays. This week's show is a little different. I'm splitting the essay into two parts. I'm writing this Saturday afternoon, after Bell Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet* and before Devi’s show in Marrickville. I’ll write the second half tomorrow afternoon, once I know how the story ends. I’ve seen a lot of performances this week — planned around knowing when reports would be done. It also coincides with the England–Australia cricket Test series, so plenty of British performers are in town. I went to *The Rest Is History Returns* at the Opera House — Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook delivering a live extended-podcast-style evening. They riffed on Russell Crowe’s roles in *Gladiator* and *Les Misérables*, leading into Commodus and Victor Hugo. On Saturday, I saw Bell Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet* — simple staging, excellent pacing, and strong performances.

Episode075: Bell Shakespeare tour nationally; here’s some video: https: 3:49

//www.bellshakespeare.com.au/romeo-and-juliet

Episode075: 4:56

The last performance was Devi Mamak and the Caravan Band in Marrickville — sitar, sax, drums, dancers, and a great atmosphere.

Episode075: Venue link: https: 5:06

//caravandancecompany.com.au/

Episode075: 5:56

Something new. An email from Sydney Festival announced a community choir performing at Barangaroo on 25 January. I decided to join. The choir works with Indigenous musicians and artists, bringing Blak music and song. The first rehearsal is tomorrow near the Harbour Bridge. Two more in January, dress rehearsal on the 24th, performance on the 25th. Part 2 — The rehearsal was wonderful. Nardi Simpson welcomed us and led the session. Four songs in total; we learned two today. One simple and lovely, the other more complex but great fun. Of 200 people, only about six were men — bolstered by women who sing in the tenor range. Some projector hiccups and typos (“clams” instead of “calm”), but the group sounded wonderful by the end. More material arrives soon; next rehearsal is mid-January. Stepping outside my comfort zone was absolutely the right call. Review — *The Well-Tempered Clavier* (Schirmer). Edited by Carl Czerny, with fingering and a short essay. Clear engraving, though from older plates.

Episode075: Link: https: 12:05

//www.musicjunction.com.au/products/complete-well%EF%BF%BDtempered-clavier

Episode075: 12:51

I’m looking forward to more practice time and the upcoming choir performances. Beethoven’s *Moonlight Sonata* continues slowly but steadily. Wynn-Anne Rossi’s *A Wild Chase* is nearly complete; *Trumpet Tune* is progressing slowly. Recorded on the Kawai NV10 using Cubase 15 and Pianoteq 9. Thank you. Thank you.