AYG, You've Been Gone Too Long

About a week ago, I recorded this video showing my progress with Lesson 2 of After You’ve Gone (AYG). It features the “intermediate” stride left hand.

I was planning to move on to the advanced version (with tenths), but then two things happened: (1) pain in my left wrist, and (2) an unexpected five-day trip to North Carolina (where all I have is a little Yamaha keyboard).

I initially thought about shifting my focus to Lesson 3 (right-hand stylizations), and I did that for a couple of days. But it was really hard to practice those on my toy-adjacent Yamaha, so I decided to set AYG aside until I could get back to a real piano.

Friends, I will be back at my real piano tonight! My wrist is feeling fine, so I have the option of returning to Lesson 2 and starting the advanced stride section, or staying with Lesson 3. I may try to do both, but I’m not sure that’s the wisest approach.

I’ll probably work primarily on the left hand, while regularly reviewing the right-hand stylizations as I master the advanced stride. No hands together yet, but just enough review that when I do get to Lesson 3, I’ll be closer to the coveted “hands-together” phase of this arrangement.

I say “this arrangement,” but in truth, I’m planning to come up with my own embellishments as I learn it. I’m not allowing myself to play exactly what’s written. I need to make this my own. And tonight, I just might start doing that.

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