Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum What is "normal"?

Hi all! I have been lurking on this forum for a few months now. I'm basically an adult beginner, although I had a little over a year of lessons in late elementary school. I started lessons again the first week of October. It amazes me to hear some of the talented musicians here.

I realize there is no "normal" and I realize as adults we have different schedules, goals, skills, and methods of learning. But I am curious what people find to be typical progress. I enjoy playing, which was my only goal. But I would love to someday be better. How long have you all taken to get to where you are, and where are you?

As I said, I've been back at it for a bit more than a month. Just finished The Alfred Level I all-in-one adult book. Now I am working on Christmas music for the next while, from a Bastien book my teacher gave me called "Popular Christmas Songs" Level 4.

I feel slow but am ok with that. But am curious how others progressed, and with practice where I can see myself in a year....

Ordinarygirl:

You will find many strange people here, but I assure you, I might be normal,...maybe!.

Have a listen to the recent online recital and read the profile. It will give you a great sample of members abilities and their experience level.

Where are you in AZ btw?.

Hunky:
I'm in Tucson. I listened to the last recital, and am downloading the current one. Just seems that people who would post to a recital may be a bit to the right side of the "normal" curve when it comes to time they've been playing and ability...

Strange people here?

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you to hear there are strange people here.

There are however, some here that practice less than three hours a day, they may be the strange ones being referred too.

I must go Mr. Piano is calling.....

You can do amazing things in a year. Try to practise an hour a day, but don't be afraid to take a break if you feel fed up. It shouldn't become a plight, you have to want to accomplish something when you sit down at the piano. For example, learning that piece, or perfecting it, or interpreting it etcetera... don't just sit down because you feel you have to. Work on things a week at a time, and try to finish songs (that are at your level that is) in two weeks and then move on, drop them, you are the best you can be with them. If you still don't feel satisfied with it, then it is above your current ability, you will still have learned from it though. I you keep progressing that way, and try to play most songs you start on the best you can, which means the good notes but also the good feel, then you will progress on a long range basis while not having to think about that long range! You're constantly targeting things within your reach, and accomplishing things, which will give you a good feeling. In a year, it's amazing what you will be able to do, trust me. But try not to think too much about that time, and sitting at the piano daydreaming how cool it would be if you were already that good...
you have to focus on the things you might feel are simple now... cause that's the way it will always be... we always want more, and years from now you'll still think the things are working on are nothing much, because you are looking to more advanced pieces you'd like to play. This is always going to be like this! We always want to progress, and be better than we are... that's what drives us forward.

Oh and don't trust any advice Mr Super-Hunky might give you on how to play... his methods are quite unorthodox...

what is normal you ask. must we all ask this question of ourselves at one time or another?? if we do ask, does that mean we are not normal, or that we are republican and would like to conform to the normalities of society. is anyone learning piano normal??? once that love affair begins everything else ends.....because all you will want and long for is to touch your keys.

i think you have asked the wrong question--hahahahahahahahaha!!!!

welcome to the forums!!!

"Oh and don't trust any advice Mr Super-Hunky might give you on how to play... his methods are quite unorthodox... "


WTF??

mr superhunky==we all love and adore you!!! i love your methods, we all want to know your secrets!!!!

Absolutely no offense intended super hunky! I meant it as a joke, but see how it come over quite crude. Also read my review of your recital piece in the critical discussion room!

I believe I've seen Mr SH playing method sometimes ago. It's quite bloody if I remember correctly.

A rapid incursion, slash and burn, take no prisoners

Thats it, no more songs will I post ever again! .... well, at least for a week or so!

Nacht-ogen:
Geen zorgen. Het is al goed.

btw, hoe Holland? is. Ik ben van Friesland maar niet daar achter geweest aangezien ik een jonge jongen was.

Te slecht aangezien het schijnt dat ik alle marihuana en hookers! miste.
Dat is grappig, maar wat;nog grappiger s is dat bijna niemand zal begrijpen wat ik! schrijf!

P.S verzendt me sommige o.k. koekjes van de speculaaswindmolen!

I find it hard to believe that anyone trying to learn to play the piano can be considered normal. We subject ourselves to hours of alternating agony or delight at the keyboard. When things are not going well, we fall prey to self-doubt, and downright misery. When things do go well, we enter a state of euphorbia particularly when we finally get control of that difficult passage. Nothing normal about anyone (and I am talking about me at this point), who is ready to button-hole anyone who is within range and extol the joys of learning to play the piano, and furthermore, subjecting them to having to listen to me fumbling my way through a difficult piece,totally oblivious to the looks of sheer anguish on the face of the listener, who, at the conclusion of my "recital" has to struggle to say something kind--but not so kind that I will launch into another piece.

Gaby Tu---whose mind right now is how to squeeze in my regular practice and at the same time prepare for 10 guests coming to celebrate Turkey day with me.

gabytu you expressed it all better than I could have. The ups and downs of learning the piano are both exhilerating and crushing. I think that is why it is addictive: intermittent reinforcement gets you every time.

gabytu,

you said it better than my attempt at humor. If we're not crazy when we start we will be if we stick with it for long.

NightEyes - does Mr SH really speak Dutch or is he just having us on?

Aha, een nederlander in vermomming! Wat een aangename verrassing moet ik zeggen... ik ben blij dat je niet meer boos bent over wat ik zei over hoe je piano speelt, want ik heb al flink op mijn kop gekregen in de kritische vergaderzaal! Kom me maar een keertje opzoeken in Amsterdam om in te halen wat je hebt gemist...
en wat betreft die speculazen, weet je zeker dat je niet liever een zak pepernoten wilt?

I hope that answers your question, Frycek!

Nighteyes. Well, that says it all. Gaby Tu

Arizona harbors a speedo sporting Dutchman who raises lamas. Truth is stranger than fiction.