Project Update 11/27/11

This is pretty much a wrap-up of everything I did over the five day weekend.  On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, I practiced the whole piece twice each day.  (Yes, I took Thanksgiving off).  So, on Saturday, I recorded the music. 

I recorded it using a small video camera on a tripod looking at the 'profile' of the piano, so you can see half of my face, the side view of the trumpet, and all of the keys (I angled the camera a little).  It took 4-6 takes, as each take was about three pages (don't know how many minutes) of music; I stopped in between each take to empty my spit, turn pages, etc.  For one of the takes, I also took a different angle with my digital camera, so you can see the piano keys better.  

Now all I need to do is upload it to the computer and edit it into one continuous string.  I am also going to edit out two mistakes that I immediately 're-performed' in the video (but it still won't be perfect). The only thing I'm not sure about is the sound quality-I did not use professional equipment, the trumpet already sounded bad because I was playing directly into the piano, and the piano/trumpet have different volumes that might not have blended well.  

I'll get the video up as soon as I have time to upload and edit it (I have to buy an adapter to get the video from the camera to the computer). 

Google Day Five (Update 11/14/11)

This fifth Google day was definitely my most productive Google day yet.  I managed to get the piano in the auditorium, and I had it pretty much the whole time. I was able to play through my piece 3 times today.  There are certainly stronger parts than others, but I am ready to start videotaping it.

I plan to tape it at home, and, like I've said before, I will probably have a number of cuts in between so that I can turn pages (the music is 11 pages), empty my spit valve, etc.  I don't think my little finger is as much of a problem (when it comes to resting the weight of the trumpet on it) anymore, as it's resistance has been built up. See, there's something good already: my smallest finger has gotten stronger. That's the sign of any good project (this is sarcasm, for those who can't tell).  But, nonetheless, I am actually pretty excited to see how my final project will turn out.

Project Update 11/7/11

At this point, I am pretty much ready to record my project.  I think I will record it in groups of three pages and edit it so it flows smoothly.  I've got it to an acceptable tempo (for the one really fast 32-note+ part I decided to to 'falls' from the first note - where I hit the note and then chromatic down quickly w/a decrescendo). 

The biggest problem I am having is fingering, now that I've got it up to tempo.  I can finger the slow parts fine on the trumpet, but since I am holding it with one hand and pushing the valves down with the middle part of my fingers, fast parts sound a bit sloppy.  I'm working on those as best I can, although they may just be more staccato as my tongue will cover up my finger movement. 

Finally, I'm not sure of the best way to record it. I could just do it from one angle, but I think that I am going to move the camera around when I turn pages to make it a little more interesting.  It'll also be good to re-familiarize myself with iMovie '11.