The Old Rugged Cross (Gospel Jazz version) - Rev. George Bernard

[@Володимир-ч9т1ю]

You demonstrated all your skill and professionalism so that I could listen to your incredibly talented performance of an absolutely phenomenal cover of this magical music. Thank you Elena Fortin 👍👏🌹🌹🌹💕.

[@elenafortinmusic]

I am glad you enjoyed this--it suits the gospel style so well and I enjoyed learning this.

[@anc706]

Our Pastor favourite song 🎵❤️🙏

[@elenafortinmusic]

It is definitely a standard! Glad to hear that it's a favourite--one of my favourites too!

[@DavidMiller-bp7et]

Nice work again. Not easy to play "The Old Rugged Cross" in a-slow, rather rockin' strong accent beat-swing; effective though. As you play it slow and thoughtful, it's not in the least irreverent. It's a style a lot of folks would take to. Really nice fade out at the finale. This could be done in most any church and folks would feel "blessed." It's valid as a religious piece, some entertainment, always essential in my book, value and enjoyable to listen to; few folks would turn off when this one was spinning on the turntable. I love it. I worked on it for a couple days before going to something else. I like it though; will eventually get back to it. This "Gospel" is one of my favorite Edstrom books; I play a lot from this book, working on many at one time. Very nicely, think tastefully, done. Great intuitions on the music. Kudos!

[@elenafortinmusic]

Thank you for your comments as always! (I missed you while you were gone to San Diego!!). I was wondering if some of the Gospel or Hymn arrangements could be considered irreverent. (I try not play them that way!) Some of the arrangements I am not sure would fly well in church--conservative ones anyway. They are still of value to me, because of my interest in seeing how the arranger treats the material. I just have a hard time with some of them, and even some of the Rock or Pop ones too as being a bit too far out. But I take them in the spirit that they were meant, and they always make a very interesting intellectual (and/or musical) exercise.

[@DavidMiller-bp7et]

@@elenafortinmusic Missed you too. Really busy, did see one piece on my phone. We came back with colds. We were connected to hundreds of people who were connected to thousands of others; lots of bugs floating around this year. This one seems like the common cold; unlike the stuff we both got over the last 2-3 months which was more severe. Overjoyed to be back at the keyboard, yesterday. Workiing Denis Zdanov's "easier" pieces, suggested in the course to make sure the skills get incoprparated. I've gone back to slooooow, for these examples, a Burgmuller + a Bach. There was a bunch of years trying to play stuff up to tempo before I could handle all of it. Bad habits develop. Again, now "starting over," AGAIN, another reset after 15 years in grade as some kind of pianist. Denis talks "PATIENCE," patience and more patience, not talent as the way forward. I see it now as the most direct pathway to speeding up. As you contribute, "Playing at the speed of no mistakes;" takes discipline with someone of my tendencies. It seems like everyone who plays really well didn't skip that step. You can tell your students, David says practice slowly, for good reason. No doubt they will be impressed by my celebrity status.

[@DavidMiller-bp7et]

Afterthought: If one practices too fast with considerable messiness, the messy parts themselves become "learned" behavior. Not just a zero sum game. i have been aggressive an ambitiouss all my life, with a good nature, but still driven; like with many things, there is a better way. Slowing down will never take away from the things one already does well; you will never lose those things. It's the discomfort in working on what needs improvement that = max progress. Yeah, I know, even a blind hog finds an acorn.

[@elenafortinmusic]

@@DavidMiller-bp7et I hope you all feel better soon! There are some nasty respiratory viruses going around in this neck of the woods. Trying to stay healthy in this weather is tough too. Are you taking lessons with Denis Zhdanov? His website looks very professional. Patience is a thing that is hard to find in students (and people!) these days. Many of them want shortcuts to big repertoire and it's hard if they don't listen. I did work very hard at being accurate in my playing and reading when I was younger. It certainly helps me now. My best students are the ones that play very slowly and carefully when they are first learning something. It is so hard to correct something that is practiced wrong!

[@elenafortinmusic]

@@DavidMiller-bp7et lol "... blind hog..." I've never heard that expression before but it's colourful! I'm getting slower in as I get older. 🙂