I think the connections between how we listen, how we practice, and how we then perform are really insightful

It's interesting talking about sound, I was on a walk yesterday and I was listening to some music on Spotify and the performance was very good and moved me deeply, but I thought the audio quality was kind of poor. When I got home I realized my headphones were halfway plugged in and then the recording sounded REALLY good. I think that deep listening will mitigate the audio quality, but it certainly is a plus.

I agree that we have to listen while we play. Sometimes what is even more useful is to record yourself and listen to that. I don't think it's a substitute for being present while playing or practicing, but I think both are useful. Playing music in and of itself is so experiential that it can be easy to lose objectivity about what you did, but on a recording, what plays back will always be the same even if what you are able to perceive may change.

Thank you

I’m looking forward to your next episode! This was very thought provoking. Thank you!

I came to listen to this after reading the listening guide on Patreon and I was intrigued. This is so beautiful! And now I’m intrigued and want to watch the film.

nice

This has been one of my favourite pieces for decades! Thank you for sharing such a beautifully done rendition❤ I like it because of its melancholy softness.

I like your listening question, I think beautiful pain is a good way to describe the nostalgic feeling this piece portrays. It reminds me of the feeling of watching a child grow up--it's a beautiful thing to watch them learn and become who they are, but it is painful to realize you'll never experience them at that age again. I very much feel that in this piece, and you portrayed it beautifully!

I've been thinking about clarity this week, so I thought your listening guide question was interesting. I think clarity is something quite separate from volume--loud and soft messages can be both clear or undefined. My taste leans towards quiet clarity. To me it can be quite striking and refreshing in today's online space, but I think that is because there is so much that is loud. So in a way the loudness does make the softness more potent.

Beautiful piece! To answer the listening guide: I think being calm is a choice. Maybe even less so a choice in the moment (although it certainly is that), but making little frequent choices that foster calmness or help you feel grounded will prepare you to choose calm in the chaotic moments.

I think your listening guide question is important. If you are chasing a more immature kind of carefree that includes disregarding parts of your life now that will lead to a beautiful future (a kind of carefree I sometimes see paraded on social media) that isn't ultimately going to make you relaxed and carefree later. Maybe a better word for that is careless. But intentionally making decisions that will help you lead a more relaxed and joyful life now and later, like letting go of unnecessary distractions and focusing on gratitude in the moment, can help you feel carefree without losing the most important things. To sum up, the goal is an intentional carefree attitude, not a shortsighted careless one.

Thank you for this listening guide question! There is definitely value in considering the good that has come from challenges-it is so easy to only see the hard parts. The most beneficial hardships I’ve faced are probably too personal for a KZbin comment, but the more I reflect the more I see the good. It seems that the more difficult the challenge, the greater amount of good came from it. I’m excited to consider that idea more and see if it holds true across all my experiences.

My favorite arrangement of this song!

You arranged this song beautifully! I think it's my favourite on your channel so far. And the listening guide question was actually a really meaningful experience. It took me a few minutes to dig deep and find the answers, and I think I have one now. The most meaningful goals I've pursued are about personal and spiritual development. They're big goals, and maybe ones that you can't track with numbers, but that you can look inside and determine whether you're moving forward or not. The specific goals are probably too personal to share in a KZbin comment, but I was encouraged to realize that I can say "yet" to all of them. I haven't reached them yet, and some days it feels like I'm so far from the target, but I can still move forward in their direction. That's really hopeful, and I think this song captures that hopeful feeling so well.

Love this one! I liked this listening guide question as well. I think the feeling of searching is resolved by the end of the piece. When the piece becomes more lively around 2 1/2 minutes in, it feels like the happiness that would come from finally fitting in a missing piece or finding something that was being searched for.

I love this piece! In answer to the listening guide question, I think that you could make an argument for this piece either sad or happy because it's a sort of mix of the two. My vote is that this piece is more sad than happy. I imagined this piece describing a scene in a book or as a track in a movie, and I think it would fit in a sad scene that has a peaceful acceptance to it--it feels nostalgic, almost hopeful. Those are both beautiful, happy things, but they come with the sadness.

To answer the listening guide question: I think, ultimately, people choose that path because it's worth it. They believe the benefits to themselves or others would be worth the cost. I like that this piece had a hopeful, determined tone because I think that captures the feeling of embarking on something difficult in the pursuit of something better.

I had to think about this listening guide question for a while. I think that no, it's not usually possible to move on to something new without losing something in return. By choosing one path forward, you're inherently saying no to other paths and opportunities. That doesn't mean your choice isn't right, it is simply the reality of living and choosing your path in life. I also think that even wonderful and exciting steps forward can have some bittersweetness because you're closing the previous chapter and won't get to experience it in the same way again.

This piece is so fun but it's also peaceful. I love it! To answer the listening guide question: I don't know how to waltz very well so I'd probably end up looking something like a Chocobo. But maybe that would be fitting. XD

I love this piece so much! To answer the listening guide question: I don't think all sad things are beautiful, but beautiful things that are sad are sometimes the most poignant. In my experience I'm equally likely to find beauty in both happiness and sadness. Although I seek out the happy kind most often in daily life, I've learned the most from sad beautiful things.

This was an interesting listening guide question! I had to think for about this one for a second. I think the mood of this piece is what I hope a typical day would feel like: peaceful with a soft movement forward and some wonderful, meaningful moments like the climax near the end of the song. Daily life with a young family sometimes feels more chaotic and the mood of the home feels more up and down but I think this piece captures the idyllic peaceful moments I always hope and look for in daily life.

I loved this whole piece so even though I liked the slower sections more, I think they were both needed! The tension in the faster sections made the slower parts feel even more peaceful in comparison. I really enjoyed hearing this live and I'm glad you recorded it!

Here's my answer to the listening guide: I think this piece is more mature than youthful. It has a youthful quality for sure, but overall it feels more meditative to me and I associate that with maturity more than I do with youthfulness. Great recording!

I love that ending so much! To answer the listening guide question: I definitely think there's a sweet spot. It's easy to live on autopilot or get distracted and beautiful moments can pass before you even notice them, so there is value in holding on to a moment. But try to hold onto it for too long and you end up living in the past, trying to force a feeling or an experience that isn't there anymore. The balance is probably different in every case, but when you're paying attention I don't think it's hard to tell when it's time to let something go and be in the present.

Love this one!❤

What an amazing lively audio-video recording!👍👍 Thanks a lot for sharing this musical beauty.🎼🎶🎹💯 Warm greetings and respect.🙏🙏

I really like this one! It is perfect for studying

Amazing video!! You can really feel your passion seeping through as you play, I love this piece because it's so nostalgic to me. Can't wait to hear more!!

This will always make me think of Dad. Well played, both of you.

So good!

When did you get married

I love you Anna and William! Great concert!

👏👏👏👏