River

I've been regularly enjoying playing the piano.  Taught myself to play to a reasonable standard over the last year.  I already know how to read music, so it wasn't like I was starting from scratch.  The knock-on effect has been that my sight-reading has improved too - I know the bass clef well enough now, I don't to have to look up what the notes are anymore :)

I'm an avid charity shop scavenger of piano tidbits these days, as well as recently discovering the joys of digital downloads.   I have to watch out for song arrangements that carry the tune in the piano treble clef as well as provide the vocal line.  I think it's unnecessary if you sing along.  I prefer to have the piano provide the harmony alone and not the tune as well.  I like to think I can sing that part myself!

I decided that this winter I would learn pieces that mark the season, so aside from xmas carols, I'm studying Winter by Tori Amos, What Are You Doing This New Year's Eve by Frank Loesser and River by Joni Mitchell.

River is the first one I'm tackling, 'cause I love Joni Mitchell's music so much.  I've already had a go at Rainy Night House.  Bought a book of her music, entitled Anthology, but this was disappointing as all the glorious piano introductions are truncated AND each piece carries the tune in the piano accompaniment (tsk...).  Thankfully, I bought it from Amazon for £5, so it's no financial loss.

Downloaded better arrangements from Music Notes, though there are still segues from verse to verse that don't follow the recording.  I've been pasting portions of blank manuscript over these and correcting the piano part to what I hear on the album.  Reading the blurb on the digital manuscript, this action is illegal. Hmmm...