AMIRALI BANANI
Science Education.
Travel & Photography.
Global Experiences.
LATEST
LATEST MEDIUM & SUBSTACK PUBLICATIONS
LINKS TO PUBLICATION PROFILES
Download and Read Amirali Banani's eBooks on the Following International Sites
Rakuten Kobo
Amazon Kindle
OverDrive
Barnes & Noble
Fédération Nationale d'Achats des Cadres
Mondadori Store Italia
Librerías Gandhi
Booktopia – Australia's Local Bookstore
楽天ブックス (Rakuten Kobo Japan)
TOP EBOOK REVIEWS
RECENT PIANO PERFORMANCES
Amirali Banani performing at the UBC School of Music in Vancouver | May 15, 2022
Mozart – Turkish March
Having heard this piece time and time again in movies, recitals, and even street piano performances, I decided to learn it during quarantine back in December 2020. It took me about 3 weeks to learn it -- albeit with intense practice. The reason I was trying to learn it so fast was that I had to perform it for the Crescendo International Music Competition (CIMC) in January 2021. What really helped me learn it quickly, however, was not hours of practice, but the method. With the help of my piano instructor, Oscar Liu, we broke the song down into 3 distinct chunks with different chords and melodies. From there, I spent about one week learning each chunk and finally put it all together by the end of the 3 weeks of practice. Of course, I could not combine the three chunks into one piece at once; I had to first ease the transitions between the chunks and then polish the piece to ensure that it was at its best. Finally, I recorded and sent my performance to Crescendo, and subsequently qualified to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Chopin – Valse Op.69.1
Just like all his other pieces, Chopin's valses (or waltzes) are virtuous and are marked at times with profound expression that eases into subtlety by the conclusion of each verse. These elegant variations in the dynamics of Chopin's valses are what make them so special -- and ultimately what lured me into learning this piece. Valse Op.69.1 is one of the twenty-five valses that Chopin wrote, and one of only eighteen that have survived to this day. Learning the piece was not particularly easy, primarily due to the timing of the left-hand chords which were played at irregular intervals relative to the melody. To overcome this difficulty, I simply used a metronome to ensure proper rhythm. Part of my practice also includes watching professionals play the piece that I am trying to learn on YouTube. I use the performances of those professionals as the gold standard that I try to achieve through repeated practice -- and this is particularly handy when learning pieces like Chopin's Valse Op.69.1.
Beethoven – Sonate Op.49.1
Similar to Chopin's valses, Beethoven's sonatas are expressive pieces that are intended to convey a sense of emotion and personality. These elements are brought to life in Beethoven's Sonate Op.49.1 with the use of varying contour, pitch, and volume. While conventionally the left hand plays chords while the right hand plays the melody, the main challenge with learning this piece was that the melody was at times governed by both hands or would alternate between the hands. In a sense, each hand would be playing a rather distinct melody that seemed to go together well to create the beautiful contour of the sonata. Learning how to play each hand separately was rather simple, however playing both hands together even after mastering each one was certainly a challenge. I had to pay close attention to both hands to ensure that I'm playing the correct notes while simultaneously keeping an eye on the beat to make sure that the right notes are being played at the right time. With moderate practice, it took me a month to fully learn the piece. However, with more time and effort, it can certainly be learned in just a couple of weeks.
Paul de Senneville – Mariage d'Amour
"Mariage d'Amour" is a beautiful piano piece that has been captivating audiences for decades. This romantic melody was composed by Paul de Senneville and first released in France in 1979. It is characterized by its delicate and intricate fingerwork, which creates a soft and flowing sound that evokes feelings of love and passion. The song is typically played on a grand piano and features a series of arpeggios and runs that interweave to create a complex and highly emotive musical tapestry. Despite its technical demands, "Mariage d'Amour" is a favourite among piano players of all levels and has become a classic in the repertoire of romantic piano music. Whether played in a concert hall or in a private setting, this beautiful piece never fails to evoke feelings of love and tenderness in its listeners.
Learning this piece at first is not easy due to its variable pacing and chord progressions. Because of this, I found it very difficult to learn without using a metronome. To capture the true essence of the piece, it must be played with a romantic setting in mind. When playing, picture yourself sipping wine while enjoying a lovely sunset alongside the love of your life in the French countryside. If you can set your mind to such a setting at the piano, you will be able to play the song in the emotive, romantic fashion that it ought to be played in. I love to play this song every time I am at a piano and it is certainly one of the most fun and addictive pieces I have ever learned.
Chopin – Nocturne No. 20 in C# Minor
Chopin's Nocturne No. 20 in C# Minor is a poignantly beautiful and melancholic piano piece that is beloved by many classical music enthusiasts. It is often referred to as one of Chopin's most popular works, and for good reason. As the name suggests, the piece is written in the key of C# Minor, which gives it a rather dark and emotional quality. The left hand plays a simple arpeggiated accompaniment that creates a flowing and dreamlike texture, while the right hand plays a touching melody that is both lyrical and expressive.
The piece starts off quietly with subtle touches of the keys and gradually builds in intensity, with the melody becoming more pronounced and the accompaniment growing in complexity. Variations in the piece's dynamics create a strong sense of drama and emotion as the piece ebbs and flows between moments of quiet contemplation and passionate outbursts of expression.
One of the most challenging aspects of playing this piece is achieving a sense of balance between the two hands. The left hand must provide a steady and flowing accompaniment that is at times played at irregular intervals, while the right hand plays the melody with precision and feeling. It requires careful practice with a metronome and attention to small details in transitions between phrases, changes in dynamics, and readjustments in the tempo of the left-hand accompaniment in accordance with the varying speed and expressiveness of the right-hand melody to achieve the perfect balance.
FOOTBALL STATS & HIGHLIGHTS
NAME | AMIRALI BANANI
BORN | JANUARY 27, 2006
AGE | 17
HEIGHT | 173 cm (5 ft, 8 in)
WEIGHT | 62 kg (137 lbs)
POSITION | WINGER
ALL-TIME
FOOTBALL
STATISTICS (2015-2023)
TOP HIGHLIGHTS
