Translate This Page

Sunday, January 17, 2010

My Favorite: Happy Island on Facebook

A friend invited me to play a game called 'Happy Island'. Usually, I ignored unwanted invitation requests (especially for useless stuffs), but dunno why I confirmed the invitation and started playing the game.

*My island, LOL still (level 8)

Now, still I play the game. Simply funny. Developed by Crowdstar, this game allows us to build and decorate our own island. Also, visiting our friends is allowed.
But nowadays, hardly to be online so I haven't played the game for several days. I just play it again and see nothing changes a lot but my buildings have earned coins to be collected. I just click on the buildings and earn my money.

*Island Shop, enables us to buy some attractions and decorations for our island

There are some ways to earn money :

*Visiting Sendy's island
  • Visiting neighbors. Then, clean their trashes and click on the treasure chest. It will earn money, also gain the XP points
  • Clicking on the building. The indicator will show when the building is ready to be earned. Click the bag coin to earn money (it only works in your own buildings, not someone's building)
  • Cleaning your island. Trashes also spread around your island. Earn money by cleaning those trashes.
  • Selling decoration. This also can help you earning money.
 *NEW on Happy Island! If you have reached level 15, secondary islands are available! The picture shown above is about visiting Idoey's island

Something new on Happy Island. Secondary islands can be achieved if you have reached certain levels. I'm still in level 8 so I cannot achieve secondary islands. Also, higher level you reach, more attractions and decorations you can buy.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Suzuki Violin School: Violin Part, Volume 2

*Giggling*

*Same cover layout as the first one, nothing changes a lot

Poww!! (Falling from the ceiling like a spidey LOL) The second book of Suzuki Violin School books by Shinichi Suzuki. The songs included are (a bit) more difficult and more challenging than the first one. Still, song names and composers are written in 5 different languages (English, Japanese, French, Italian, and German).
Here is the songlist below :
  • Chorus From "Judas Maccabaeus" by G.F. Handel
  • Musette by J.S. Bach
  • Hunters' Chorus by C.M. von Weber
  • Long, Long Ago by T.H. Bayly
  • Waltz by J. Brahms
  • Bourree by G.F. Handel
  • The Two Grenadiers by R. Schumann
  • Theme From "Witches' Dance" by N. Paganini
  • Gavotte From "Mignon" by A. Thomas
  • Gavotte by J.B. Lully
  • Minuet In G by L. van Beethoven
  • Minuet by L. Boccherini


Several comments by me come to several pieces

*Hunter's Chorus, 3rd piece from the book

The piece should be played in Allegro, with catchy tunes at last 3 bars. Legato and staccato are also available here. The first favorite piece in this book.

*Long Long Ago, new variation part of the piece

Still, we can find this piece in this book. But, now played in G major (related to the first book, the same piece is played in A major [3 sharps]). The part above shows the variation part of this song. Legatos and staccatos applied to those notes make me dizzy. Down, up, up, legato, double up-staccato. Rrrrraarrrr...!!

*Bourrée, find this piece in this book

My second favorite piece in this book. Played in medium tempo (Allegretto), I can play this one well (but not perfectly). An ascending scale can be found in the first and the last part of this piece.

*The Two Grenadiers, I found some stupidities in this piece (together with my cousin)

Hahaha, here is a piece which has made me and my cousin laughed stupidly. Firstly, I didn't really like this piece until my cousin visited my house and said, "Wow, listen to this song. This is so stupid but funny!". I listened to the song firstly and it sounded a bit awkward, then she commented in some parts of this song :
"Listen! This sounds like.. rrrarr!!What's that?"
"Yay! I remember! This is like a song which has phrase like this, 'Tempat pahala dan dosa bersaksi..', right?"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
So stupid we were talking and laughing. Then, we found another stupidity at the last part in which is sounded like a song we have known before.
Yep! It sounded like one of Indonesian folk-song, "Dari Sabang Sampai Merauke!"
*Note : It might be sounded different for different people, just a speculation

*Gavotte from 'Mignon', I love the pizzicato-ed notes at the last bars

The third favorite song from this book. Still, the tempo in medium speed (Allegretto), but it has several bars which contains demi-semi-quaver notes and they sound like trills. Also, last bars which contain pizzicato for the notes. A bit cutie, like its name : Gavotte from 'Mignon' (Mignon means cute in French).

*Minuet in G, composed by Beethoven

The last favorite piece from this book. This is the second-last piece contained in this book, the last piece is Minuet by L. Boccherini. Nothing's really special here, but I love the way in moving the bow at the middle parts (legato and 4 up-staccatos).

This book can be found or bought at Amazon.com (possibly available in your bookstore or music store). I really recommend this book, and you gotta try it yourself :)

Monday, December 28, 2009

My Favorite: Guitars You Gotta Buy!

Some favorite instruments, info and pictures taken from Nuansa Musik. Really, I wanna buy 'em! Or some of 'em, or one of 'em. I think guitars only for this post (depends on time and I'm too lazy to re-arrange this post after uploading pics). Please choose one :)

Guitars
:
Gibson Robot Guitar (Limited-edition)

IDR 34.200.000

Gibson Les Paul Robot "Dark Fire"

IDR 49.900.000


Epiphone Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar

IDR 9.990.000


Caparison TAT II Frozen Sky (Handmade in Japan)

IDR 34.900.000

Caparison Dellinger II (Pro Black)

IDR 31.500.000

Yamaha Wes Borland Signature CV820WB Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar

IDR 39.480.000


Schecter C-1 Lady Luck Electric Guitar
IDR 5.300.000



Schecter C1 Exotic Star Electric Guitar
IDR 7.250.000

PRS USA Custom 22 Quilted Dark Cherry

IDR 37.500.000

PRS USA 1980 West Street Limited
(only 300 in the World!)
IDR 62.250.000

PRS SE Tremonti Electric Guitar

IDR 7.620.000

Music Man Steve Morse Signature Model Electric Guitar

IDR 25.800.000

Music Man John Petrucci 6-String Electric Guitar

IDR 35.800.000

Ibanez "Steve Vai" JEM7EAFX Prestige
IDR 29.170.000


Yamaha APX 900 Acoustic Guitar
IDR 12.840.000


Martin XCIT Ellipse Acoustic-Electric Guitar
IDR 15.900.000


Martin D28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar + Fishman Pickup
IDR 41.500.000



Ibanez EW50CBE NT Electro Acoustic Guitar Natural
IDR 6.410.000



Crafter AGE-500-BRS Acoustic Electric Guitar
IDR 4.360.000

Please, choose one :)
Or contact the store (Nuansa Music) for more info

My Favorite: Pianos from Famous Brands

Favorite pianos from my favorite piano brands. I can't imagine for the price but I keep imagining to play that piano, afford it, take it home, or play it on a concert LOL. Steinway and Sons, my first favorite piano maker brand. I've played a baby grand of Steinway and Sons once, and I really liked it! I wished I could take it home :'(

This is Steinway and Sons : Parlor Grand (Model A), with length : 188 cm (6' 22''), big enough for small space Steinway and Sons : Music Room Grand (Model B). 211 cm (6' 10 1/2''). Bigger than the parlor one, and truly I don't really like the stool.
Steinway and Sons : Living Room Grand (model O). 180 cm (5' 10 3/4''). See, this is smaller than both of 'em! I can put it in my living room or library! I love the stool :) it looks comfortable.
At last! Steinway and Sons : Concert Grand (model D), 274 cm (8' 11 3/4''), wtf I don't have big space for this one! But this looks so precious, luxurious, and.. *aaaargh! gotta get that! I have to work for.. umh.. I can't imagine 'bout the price :'(( Here are another pianos from Steinway and Sons (and please don't think about the price!) :


Left to right : Henry Z. Steinway (limited edition), Groove Park, Chippendale Grand

Left to Right :
Alma Tadema, 125h anniversary limited edition by Goertz, Oto no Kawa

Left to Right :
Olympia, Louis XV Grand, Karl Lagerfeld (limited edition)



Left to Right :
High Society, William E. Steinway (limited edition), Summertime

Left to Right :
Steinway and Steuben, St. Croix, Satin Rose


Moving to the next brand, Yamaha is my second favorite piano brand. I found it almost everywhere! My friend's house, music class, piano class, restaurants, hotels, yeah almost everywhere! But still, again and again, I'm concerning about Grand Pianos (dunno why I keep thinking of Grands, not Uprights).


The smallest (left), Yamaha GB1 A-PE Grand Piano. The most affordable Yamaha Grand Piano Ever! (the shop said). Okay, go to the next piano.

The bigger one (center), Yamaha DC3A Disklavier Grand Piano. It has lenght 186 cm and width 149 cm. More special features are below :
  • Built-in amplified speaker system
Incorporating a stereo (60W + 60W) audio system with dual two-way speakers, the Mark III Series pianos are totally self-contained musical entertainment systems. Enjoy ensemble concerts without external equipment. Or play the digital piano in Quiet model without disturbing others.
  • PianoSmart TMsynchronization
PianoSmart is a truly revolutionary breakthrough in Disklavier technology that intelligently synchronizes Disklavier recording and playback with the operation of the built-in CD player, allowing you to record yourself playing along with CDs of your favorite artisits. Compatible with the MTC (MIDI Time code) standard, PianoSmart can even synchronize Disklavier recording and playback with external devises, such as multi-track recorders and video cameras, through use of a MIDI sync box.

The biggest one (right), Yamaha CFIIIS PE Grand Piano. The biggest but also the most expensive one. In length 275 cm and width 160 cm.

Wow.. so many pianos, dunno what to choose :P