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- title: Foreword
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- I'm Allan, and welcome to my humble book of memoirs about piano playing.
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- The idea of taking notes about my lessons with Sir Dingdong Fiel started ever since I met him on our
- first sessions. He handed me a small notebook to put down notes as we go along the journey of technique
- and expression upon approaching the instrument. I have since filled a lot of its pages, and we were
- equally proud of what we've accomplished after numerous productive weeks. One of our sessions, I decided
- I'd want to progress this even further, so with the still-evolving knowledge of authoring books combined
- with my experience in computers and technology (I work as a software developer by trade), I embarked on
- a project in order to manage my thoughts, as well as to produce a living document of our experiences,
- learnings, and aspirations.
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- I have been playing piano ever since I was young, at a very nascent age of 2 years. One day, a family
- friend brought a keyboard at our home in Valenzuela (it was a Casio CTK-330)--unaware of anything else
- but enthusiastic, I decided to try playing the instrument with a short selection of folk songs that
- were taught to me (_Sitsirit-sit_, _Ako Ay May Lobo_), as well as some timeless classics like _Ode to
- Joy_ (I credit Casio for putting "song banks" in their keyboards). I hope the reader would not see this
- as hubris to know I was considered a "gifted child" and that I drank the best milk formula to make me
- smart (that was always the branding of milk formulae ever since). Despite all those, I still consider
- myself not anything out of the ordinary, that I led a relatively normal life. I had a period where
- I played less piano, either simply I was unable to, or that I felt clueless and lost with which way to
- go. I got my first piano purchase (a second-hand Clavinova) with my first paycheck, but I was not
- immediately aiming to develop my skills, but to rekindle my interest with playing. When I moved out and
- got a place of my own is when I started to try expanding my skills and repertoire, and since then I
- set my goals to become better at piano. A series of events had led me to Sir Dingdong Fiel from a
- Facebook ad regarding his mentorship program. I contacted him during the later days of 2023, while I was
- on a serene and relaxing vacation from Batanes with my girlfriend. As soon as we got back home, on New
- Year's Eve, then I got into a video call with Sir. I have played Chopin's Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1 for him.
- We talked for a bit about music, and he told me I got into his program. I was glad and grateful, and
- I anticipated our meetings in person.
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- The memoirs I present are a mix of experiences for the most part, as well as ideas that might be useful
- to you, dear reader, that you could incorporate in your playing, or discuss with your peers when talking
- about piano technique and musicality. This book, like any other material, serves to inspire instead of
- forcing to a certain way of approaching the instrument. Each pianist will need to get accustomed to
- various factors such as their physique and their mental workings in order to develop virtuosity in the
- instrument.
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- If you found this book to add value to your playing, and ultimately to your life, then I am honored to
- have given you a worthwhile experience. Thank you.
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