Episode 65 – Aspirations

Welcome back to Piano, Finally, the podcast from an old bloke learning the piano. With the showcase just a week away, I’ve doubled practice sessions—half an hour in the morning, twenty minutes in the afternoon—rotating between the Kawai NV10 and Nord Stage 4. Devi’s electric Kawai will be the instrument on the day, so I’m aiming to be ready, even if the occasional wrong note slips through.

🎧 YouTube Spotlight – Paul Fey
My organ journey continues with Paul Fey’s channel
. Unlike Ben Maton’s rural churches, Paul explores grand cathedrals—St Peter’s in the Vatican, the Basilica of St John Lateran, and others across Europe. His playing showcases not only the music but the instruments and buildings themselves. Paul also offers music collections on his website, and sometimes even records on a Hauptwerk virtual organ. A channel full of grandeur (and the occasional penguin).

📝 Essay – Aspirations
Recent podcasts have focused on structured goal setting, but for me, aspirations work better. A goal implies measurable outcomes; an aspiration simply points the way. Last year, I thought playing at the 2025 showcase might be possible—that aspiration has now become reality. Though I abandoned Rossi’s Wild Chase in favour of the “old four,” I still count it as success. Looking ahead, my aspirations include tackling a few bars of Beethoven’s Moonlight or Waldstein, playing Elton John and Billy Joel, and even writing something original. No deadlines, just direction.

🎼 Review – Complete Beethoven Sonatas
To keep Beethoven in sight, I bought the Bärenreiter Complete Piano Sonatas
, a three-volume urtext edition from Music Junction (AU$297). They contain all 35 sonatas, including the early WoO 47 works. Sturdy, heavy, but not designed to sit flat on a stand—but inspiring to have on the shelf. Browse the full Beethoven repertoire at Music Junction
.

🎶 Coming Up
Before the next episode: Devi’s piano showcase, a big birthday party, and Sounds Inside at the Sydney Fringe Festival.

🎼 Progress
Daily practice of the four showcase pieces: Spindler’s Canon, Türk’s Bagatelle in F, and Craggs’ Afternoon Snooze and Blackout Blues. All recorded on the Nord Stage 4 using its electric piano settings.

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