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Learning JavaFX 1.0

JavaFX 1.0 has been released on 4th of December 2008. So, it is relatively new. Its latest language specifications and API documentations are available on the Internet. Googling will be enough.

Reading books about JavaFX is a bit of…mistake, because books are not as updated as the Internet. For example, I take a look at a cool book I borrow from a university library. That book mentions some basics of JavaFX as well as examples with explanation for some critical blocks of codes. However, I am very frustrated when finding javafx.ui.* nowhere in JavaFX 1.0 API docs. Hello? That thing is used in that book! How come I can’t find it in the docs?

Watching Others Practicing Piano is… Quite Fun!

Sometimes I wonder what NTU PE members practice in Music Room 2. So, I decided to watch some of them, whom I think quite interesting to be examined.

I’ve  (secretly) watched at least 8 people practicing piano in the music room (on each of their timeslots, of course). Here are some of my conclusions.

Stuff Practiced

• Some members spend all their time to (sight)read (hard) pieces.
  These people are usually good sightreaders. Some said that they don’t memorize well.
• Some other practice memorized pieces only.
  They have good memory. Most of these people sightread slowly or too shy to sightread.
• Several of them practice learnt pieces.
  This can be re-reading (not sightreading!) pieces or practicing memorized pieces.
• The rest practice pieces to be performed on concerts, exams, etc.
• Very few people practice improvisation…

Motivation to Practice

Sometimes I ask them why they practice. Sometimes they told me their opinions about playing piano or the pieces they played.

I usually perceive some of their words as their motivations to practice. The following are not necessarily true.

• Some people practice if and only if important events will take place.
  Important events = Exams, performances, concerts, etc.
• Some other practice because of being motivated after looking at others playing piano.
  Well.. this kind of motivation can be…
  “Other people play very nicely. They’re cool! I must practice hard!”
  “Hey, that piece I also can play!” “Hey, I can also play that piece!”
  “Huh? Am I the only one who could play that piece?” 
• Several members think there are interesting pieces to learn (sightread).
  This is usually because they have ever heard the piece. Err… so they don’t purely sightread… [But if the pieces are just too hard to read, that can be called sightreading!]

After getting all those conclusions, I can reflect upon myself. I usually practice learnt pieces. I am motivated after looking others playing piano and when there are interesting pieces to learn.
Sometimes I sightread. However, I usually stop in the middle because of being “frustrated” of listening to my own playing. After that, I go back to the first page which I have memorized a bit.
Hmm… one more thing… I have the worst d nervous system among others.  When I practice, I rarely have mistakes. When I perform (especially in front of unknown people), I shake very badly. This causes me to make mistakes which are not supposed to be made…

Hmm… I guess this should be made as survey form or so…