Laura (Early-Intermediate Piano Solo) Alfred's Adult Level 1
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- Опубліковано 29 січ 2016
- TEACHER DEMO. This song is on Page 150 of the Alfred's Adult All-In-One Course Level 1. In 1944 the music was composed by David Raksin for the movie "Laura" which featured Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews. Then in 1945 Johnny Mercer added the lyrics to it and it has become a Jazz standard with over 400 recordings including a well-known version by Frank Sinatra.
SHEET MUSIC
Alfred's Adult All In One Level One:
www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/...
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PIANIST
Performed on a Bosendorfer 7'4" Concert Grand Piano (225SP) by Norma Meis
Camera: Canon Vixia HF R600
Microphone: CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser
Audio Recording Software: Audacity
Editing Software: Blender
![Erroll Garner - Laura [Jazz 625]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/sRA-WV01Ogk/mqdefault.jpg)
My father used to play this song almost everytime he plays the piano at home. He passed away last month. Everytime I hear this song, it reminds me of him. ❤️❤️😔 I hope I can master this song too like he did
Precious memories. Thank you for sharing. So very sorry for your loss. --Norma
🥺🥺🥺
I really started feeling sad when I first heard the song but very beautiful
I have memories of my dad playing Tea For Two in F# in the 60's.
So sorry for your loss... keep him in your heart forever 😥😥😥😥
I remember playing this for my piano final in high school...quite difficult for me at the time, but I enjoyed every moment of it because it was too beautiful to give up on. I miss my piano-playing days.
I hope you'll be able to get back to the piano again sometime soon. It will be there ready and waiting patiently for you. --Norma
This helps me so much as an older student learning the piano. It helps me make sure I have the rhythm correct.
I'm so glad that you've found the video helpful! This song does have a bit less structured rhythm than others. I do have a bit of flex with it. I like to think of the tempo like a rubberband, stretching and returning, but retaining its shape. This is an expressive song, not march-like, so it is okay if you linger a bit here and there as you feel it. You want to have a general sense of the beat, but you do have some wiggle room with this one. Just enjoy it! --Norma
Why is this making emotional?
Z szzzzzz zee
Favorite song in the book. I was really losing motivation towards the end then this song came up
It's so wonderful when you find a song that you enjoy and yes, so much more motivating to practice! --Norma
This song made me think I'm never going to be able to complete it and completely demotivated me.
Very mysterious and beautiful song
Best song in the book. I hope I can learn it soon.
Well, you conquered "Amazing Grace". You can do this one! --Norma
This song sounds beautiful, I am currently learning on the right hand right now and its pretty tricky. I love to learn these Early-Intermediate songs at a young age. Thank you for recording what it sounds like!
You are very welcome! Good for you learning these early in life! --Norma
92PianoKeys I tried putting hands together on the first line, I tried my best and it sounds good when I keep practicing the first line, but the next three lines is throwing me off, I keep rewatching the video for help and I have gotten a bit more far on to the 2nd line, the 3rd line is making me suffer (in a different way). But my piano teacher will help me more with both left and right hand, thank you again for helping me going on to the 2nd-3rd line of the song! Can’t wait to master this piece to share to my class!
@@stwocks You are welcome! So glad that you have found the video helpful while learning this song. --Norma
92PianoKeys Norma! I tried hands together when I figured out the left hand notes! (thanks to you), my playing sounded exactly like yours but slower! Thank you so much for me going up to the 4th line in the first page! This video helped me a lot to go through the left hand. Once again, thank you so much Norma! :) -Maura
@@stwocks You are so very welcome! Congratulations on your progress! Keep it up! --Norma
I’m still learning this .Thank you for play piano to me for practise.
You are very welcome! Glad that you are finding the videos helpful. --Norma
I love your playing. Thank you for your videos.
Thank you so much!! Thank you for taking the time to listen and comment! --Norma
Aloha Norma. I don't know if you still monitor for comments on these works but if so.....just a big THANK YOU. I recently retired and am attempting to work through the Alfred series for beginner piano adults. Having your work as reference on the pieces is a blessing to me. FYI.....Hawaii has been my most beloved place to visit with many memories over the years and I know how devastating the global pandemic must have been to so many there.....i hope the very special spirit of the people and place will be appreciated by all those who will return to those shores as visitors. I hope to return. Thank you again.
Aloha Joseph, yes, even though I'm not currently posting new videos, I am still monitoring the channel and responding to comments. So glad that you're finding the videos helpful in your piano journey! And so glad that you've enjoyed many visits to the islands over the years. Yes, it is a very special place and I'm exceedingly grateful for the privilege of living here. I hope you'll be able to visit again sometime soon and enjoy all the beauty here. Thank you for taking the time to listen and comment! Mahalo! Norma
Learning this right now and always come back to this video. Thanks!
You are so welcome! So glad that you're finding the video helpful! --Norma
I can live the rest of my life hearing this😍💙Hope i can improve my sight reading skills asap...
Wonderful!! Yes, you can improve those sight-reading skills, but it takes time. Be patient and persistent with the process. It is good to spend a portion of your practice time just reading music, not with the goal to perfect a song but simply for the exercise of reading notes. There are leveled books that you can use for that purpose or simply finding music that is at a comfortable reading level for you and then reading/playing ALOT of it.
If you are still not super solid and speedy on your note/name recognition, you can use "Note Spellers", flashcards, or apps to work on that. There are also several great programs that you can use if you want to "game-ify" your sight-reading skills. "Piano Maestro", "Simply Piano", "Piano Marvel" to name a few.
Hope that gives you a few ideas as you seek to build your sight-reading skills.
All the best to you in your musical journey. --Norma
@@92pianokeys40 Thank u so much❤
I use a free program called "Notecard" and it's like flashcards on the computer. It's super easy to get into, I'd recommend it
It's been a year. It's incredible how I've improved, all thanks to your videos to help me! Now I come back here and realize the true meaning of it. Thank you so much! Now I'm nearly in Grade one!
Yay! That's awesome! Celebrating with you!! --Norma
Thank you!! Hope you have a pawsome day !!~@@92pianokeys40
I'm on this song now and love it so much. Thank you for playing. This helped a LOT!
So glad that you found the video helpful! --Norma
I love being able to hear you play this song! So far, this is my favorite song to learn as an older adult, and your example is really helpful! Thank you!
You're very welcome! Thank you so much for your kind words! --Norma
Nice song. reminds me of a time when its raining.
Yes, I think so too! I always enjoy asking students what a song makes them think of when they hear or play it. It's fun to see the variety of images music can create. --Norma
I just tried playing this and thought I was just playing it wrong. Nope, it's just a different kinda song and I love it!
Yes, it does have some unexpected harmonies in it. So glad that you are enjoying the different jazzy sounds. --Norma
SO BEAUTIFUL OMG
Thank you so much, Tyler! --Norma
I’m playing this song for my next lesson can’t wait to play it this will very much help me very much to learn the rhythm
So glad that you've found the video helpful!! --Norma
Wow amazing sounding bosendorfer
Yes, we LOVE our Bosendorfer!! It is an amazing instrument, such a delight to play! --Norma
Such a beautiful song !!
Thank you so much! --Norma
@@92pianokeys40 No problem ! And you are very talented at playing the piano !! :)
This is a huge help. Thank you.
You are very welcome!! --Norma
Thanks, this is helping me a lot as I'm just getting to this point in the book. I'm really glad they included a melancholy, mysterious, and romantic tune like this as some of the others were way too upbeat and positive for me.
You're welcome! Yes, I have many students who truly enjoy the more minor, mysterious, melancholy pieces. I'm always in search of those and offering them to students as supplements to their method books. Glad that you are enjoying this one! --Norma
Thanks for the demo, this is easily the hardest piece in the book. Now at least I know how it should sound.
You're very welcome! Yes, this one is a bit trickier since it has more chromatics in it and is less patterned than some of the other pieces in the book. --Norma
I would argue At Last is hardest in the book. Something about it is more trickier
Excellent. Thanks.
You're so very welcome! --Norma
Still practicing this 😢 so hard 😵
This is a tricky one. Just keep at, you'll get there. --Norma
Brilliant work at playing the song ! Such a nice melody !
Thank you so much, Kaitlyn! Aloha to you from Hawaii! --Norma
@@92pianokeys40 :)
You're welcome !! ~
that sounds really good,
Thank you so much!! --Norma
This is so helpful for what it is supposed to sound like! I’m working on this piece now (older student now at advanced beginner).
So glad that you are finding the video helpful in your musical journey! --Norma
Thank you.
You're welcome! --Norma
Haunting, like a dead person come back to life... Well played again!
Thank you! Quite the powerful visual. :) --Norma
@@92pianokeys40 I was actually referring to the movie " Laura" that the song came from, great old movie
@@johnbemery7922 Thank you for the clarification. I hadn't seen the movie that the song came from. New perspective. :) --Norma
Yeah I know, and it makes me cry for some reason 😢 😭
Currently learning this piece, I find a little challenging as I don’t know the song. But this really helps, it’s not the hardest piece, I find songs with 2 hands doing totally different things really hard, this piece the hands work in tandem, so I should get it fairly quick, thanks for these vids, they really help….
So glad that you have found the videos helpful! Yes, having our hands doing completely different things at the same time is a challenge. It gets easier in time. --Norma
I had to come back here to remember how it sounds like hehe. You play just so fluently !!
Thank you so much, Kaitlyn! --Norma
Good film too.
That is such a pretty
piece/peace that it deserves to be longer :-)
I, Barack the composer 🎼,
shall add another section to this very worthy piece/peace😊
Excellent!! --Norma
I hated this song in the book very much and then I listen to you play it and now I kinda want to relearn it....
Glad that I could bring a different perspective to the song. --Norma
Still there
Hi Norma...just love to hear you play! I recently started using a CAD U37 to record piano. It's my first time using anything other than an iPhone. Any advice on getting good, clear sound? It would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, very helpful
Muito bom
Muito obrigado! - Norma
Hi wonderful rendition. Just got a very quick question. On bar 9, I can’t fathom why the pedal needs to be lifted on the ‘laugh’ syllable. It sounds the same to me whether i lift it or keep it down. Do I need to keep the f and the aflat at the beginning of bar 9 held down for the duration of the bar? Thanks for your hep on here, it is much appreciated by all us noobies! 👍
The F and the Ab in the left hand are "dotted half-notes" and therefore should be held down for 3 counts in a 4/4 time signature, and then lifted off when you play the C. Regarding the pedal question, in that particular measure, I would pump the pedal according to what sounded best on the instrument I was playing. Some may need it pumped a bit more for clarity and some may be fine there being held down. I have 2 pianos in my home and I have to pump the pedal a bit more often on my 7' 4" Bosendorfer than on my 5' 9" Stegler because of the extra resonance that the Bosendorfer provides. If you are playing on an electronic keyboard, it may not need as much pedal pumping as on an acoustic piano. Acoustic instruments will be more affected by the wood or carpet flooring, curtains, ceiling height, size of the room, etc. I usually try the pedal first as it is notated and then adjust as needed. The ultimate decision should reside in what you think sounds best on your instrument in your environment. Let your ear be your guide. --Norma
92PianoKeys that is a very clear explanation. Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I understand now. Lovely song, am determined to learn it properly and videos such as this help me no end 👍
@@speedy7834 You are very welcome! So glad that made sense. --Norma
Can anyone recommend me pieces like this?
You might like the "Alfred's Adult Greatest Hits" series. It comes in 3 levels. It's available on Amazon.com or SheetMusicPlus.com. --Norma
What would you set the metronome to play this at your speed? I so enjoy your piano videos. Thank you.
Thank you for the compliment! My metronome speed is very approximately a quarter note = 104, but I do tend to speed up and slow down a bit since it is a more expressive jazz song. I think of the tempo like a rubberband that stretches back and forth a bit but still retains its shape. :) --Norma
Thank you.
You are very welcome!
Hello, where would you classify the start of early intermediate at in the Alfred's book?
From about "The Entertainer" to the end of the book except for "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" which is much easier. --Norma
@@92pianokeys40 awesome thanks for that
It actually makes me so excited that you said Gilligan's isle is alot easier. Means I'm closer to finishing the book than I thought!
Second line, third measure, i notice you are holding A/C whilst playing the G twice. That's what I found myself doing also, and preferring, but it's not as written.
You are correct, it is not written that way. I just re-watched the video and hadn't even realized that I'd done that. So funny. The sound result is the same since the pedal is down for the measure, but I totally played it as though those quarter notes were written as whole notes. Great attention to detail! It's interesting that you found yourself doing it as well. I'll have to pay attention to that spot and see what other students intuitively do there. --Norma
I do EXACTLY this VERY THING with that measure. Oddly enough, my very observant teacher lets it go by. For some context, I’m almost 71 and am only in my fifth year of piano study.
I play in a slightly syncopated (?) style, not quite as shown. I’m a big fan of the American standards and grew up listening to arrangements by Nelson Riddle and Gordon Jenkins. I guess the style is ingrained.
I like your playing and would love a Bösendorfer of my own. I’m happy with my “beast”, though. A Baldwin SF-10. Thanks for these videos. They help a lot!
So that’s what it’s supposed to sound like.
😁
my fingers are still stiff 😭 how do i play elegantly 😅
Is this a ghost song?
I never saw the movie "Laura" which this song was composed for in 1944. Maybe someone else who is familiar with the movie can join the conversation and provide us with some insight. --Norma
0:15
The song after this, that is have yourself a merry Christmas. I thought it would be slow, but it’s crazy fast.
I came here to see what this song supposed to sound like per Alfred's page 150, so thank you for this!
I've been trying to improve on my almost nonexistent sight reading and unfortunately this one is proving a big challenge compared to others, the problem being jazz chords so when you isolate left and right hands it just sounds completely wrong (especially when also trying to get the right notes!).
Unfortunately I still can't *instantly* see and play intervals particularly where there's accidentals too so it's going to end up more being a memory exercise (which playing by ear is for me) with the sheet music as a reminder rather than being able to just pick up something new and play it which is my aim.
Glad you found the video helpful! Yes, jazz chords can be a challenge with all of the accidentals and dissonant sounds. Also, this song is less patterned than some of the others which creates greater challenge for the note reading. It takes time to build those sight-reading skills. You just have to keep at it. It is good to spend a portion of your practice time just reading music, not with the goal to perfect a song but simply for the exercise of reading notes. There are leveled books that you can use for that purpose or simply finding music that is at a comfortable reading level for you and then reading/playing ALOT of it. If you are still not super solid and speedy on your note/name recognition, you can use "Note Spellers", flashcards, or apps to work on that. There are also several great programs that you can use if you want to "game-ify" your sight-reading skills. "Piano Maestro", "Simply Piano", "Piano Marvel" to name a few. Hope that gives you a few ideas as you seek to build your sight-reading skills. All the best to you in your musical journey, Norma.
@@92pianokeys40 Thank you so much for your comprehensive reply and suggestions - I'll keep at it... the other hardest thing I'm finding is that the bass clef effectively has notes that are 2 lower than treble i.e. middle line is D where it's B on treble, so is taking some thought... I guess eventually it'll be more translated to muscle memory on the keyboard!
@@budgiefish Yes, it does take some thought to differentiate between reading treble and bass clefs. Repetition is the key. Keep training the eye and the hand. And be patient with the process, remembering that you are learning how to read a symbol language and translate that into hand movement. --Norma
Great work, but I have noticed that you haven't been uploading any videos since 5 years ago. Because I would love to hear more of your recent piano songs that you have been learning. Also I am not forcing you to play again , I am just curious. Busy or not, I hope you have a nice day.
P.S: Also I have never been to Hawaii and I think that Hawaii sounds like a nice and relaxing place to go. So I hope you are doing well in Hawaii or wherever you are, and also, i might actually plan to go to Hawaii some day if the pandemic may end. So hope this comment finds you well and keep up the good work in playing the piano !!
Thank you, Kaitlyn, I just got too busy teaching piano to continue with a steady stream of videos, but I do still monitor the channel and respond to comments. So I am still very much playing the piano daily with students and with my own practice time and composition. And I love it!! The piano is such an amazing life long instrument that is always offering opportunities to learn new things and continue to improve my skills. All the very best to you wherever you are in the world and Aloha from Hawaii! --Norma
@@92pianokeys40 Thank you for replying, and I'm glad that you still love playing the piano ! Also I am learning how to play the song, Laura, and your video helps a lot ! I hope you have a lovely day !
@@kaitlynchua1721 Thank you so much! I'm so glad that you are finding the video helpful. I hope that you have a lovely day also! --Norma
@@92pianokeys40 :)
You're welcome !
Nice
Don't know why, but this melody sounds bad to me @1:03.
This song is quite dissonant and has unexpected twists and turns with its jazz harmonies. Some people like the sound of that and some people don't. That's okay. For example, I have some students who LOVE Major 7th chords and some who cringe. Music is art and we all have our preferences. --Norma
WTH?!? This piece is supposed to be played as directed, "SLOWLY, WITH EXPRESSION". Why are you guys trying to race to the end ??? This is supposed to be a beautiful soft piece, not a carnival ride, FYI. Sheesh.
u wth if you know how to play the song dont frickin watch it doesnt matter KAREN
0:16
0:18
0:15
Hi Stephanie! --Norma
Um just an fyi, it was D and Bb