G'day, everyone. Welcome to show number ninety-two of Piano, finally, a podcast by an old bloke who is getting around to learning the piano, finally. In this week's show, I review the Sydney Theatre Company's latest musical, muse about cover versions, and review a really handy pocket device for practising note recognition and copying.

Theatre Review: My Brilliant Career On Saturday, I went to see the Sydney Theatre Company's production of My Brilliant Career. If you want the short recommendation for this show, get a ticket if you can; it is a great, fun production.

• The story was written by Australian Author Miles Franklin, telling the story of Sybilla, a young woman living in outback Australia in the 1890s.
• There is no band; the music throughout was performed by the cast of ten actors, all of whom do an excellent job.
• The lead performer is Kala Gare who plays Sybilla.
• Promo Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ts08hNxCOE
• Tickets: https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/productions/2026/my-brilliant-career

Essay: Cover Stories This week, I look at the fundamental difference between the two different ways we approach music. In classical music and examinations, strict adherence to the score is required. In contrast, big names in pop or rock concerts don't follow their own written music. Shouldn't we be encouraging students to build their skills, but then to take them in new directions?. Should we be asking them to write their own musical stories rather than just more cover stories?.

Review: Korg VPT-1 During the week, a small piece of equipment arrived: the Korg VPT-1 or Vocal Pitch Tuner.

• It costs AUD59.
• It can play a tone at any of the notes in its range and listen to what it hears to display the pitch of the note.
• I've been using it to check that I'm staying on pitch when I do vocal exercises from my voice teacher, Sussanne.
• Mannys: https://www.mannys.com.au/products/korg-vpt-1-vocal-pitch-trainer
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/KORG-VPT-1-Vocal-Pitch-Trainer/dp/B083ZTJYWF?th=1

Coming Up & Progress

• The Piano has returned to ABC TV in Australia.
• The Bell Shakespeare Company's production of Julius Caesar was excellent. Tickets: https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/julius-caesar
• In my piano progress, I'm working on Titans by Daniel McFarlane.

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All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.