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Joined: Sep 2010
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When I quit in my 20s--years ago-- it was because my teacher suggested a year of Clementi or "Clementi-like" pieces to improve my technique. I started to hate to practice, then figured I wasn't mature enough to learn the instrument.
In retrospect I should have negotiated the program or found another teacher. I don't have to love every piece I play, but I just couldn't handle that regimen.
Hailun HG 178, Charles Walter 1500, Kawai CA63
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Op - After the thread is done, I would like you to start a new thread "3 top reasons why adults continue piano against all odds". That may inspire us more.
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I 've seen on some topic people advising someone how to practice 1 hour/day. And they disecated that hour in about 5 or so pieces of different things. They crammed everything in there from Hanon, scales, sightreading,to learning new pieces and polishing new ones. From my experience as a former guitar player and for 6 months also piano player, i can say that the aformentioned kind of schedual is the perfect recipe for building stress, building a sense of unacomplishement and just wanting to quit. It is highly desirable to be aware of the general goals a wannabe should have but i say this and i say it load...STEER CLEAR OF CLAUSTROPHOBIC SCHEDUALS WHERE YOU DO EVERYTHING AND NOTHING! Keep in mind your long term goals but each day feel free to just play what ever you want. If you feel like doing scales do them, if you feel like trying to play by ear a piece you ve just heard, to that, if you want to learn new repertoare do that! Do this things as long as you feel pleasure in doing them. When stress starts to build up, and still have time and will to practice go to the next thing you like doing. Of course this needs to be balanced in time and do attempt to tackle in the long term all things that one needs to learn in order to make real progress in piano playing and musicianship. Only dont be rigid about it!
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Great point. I always try to be supportive of my wife while she practices. Her on the other hand doesn't say anything encouraging about my practice!
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Great point. I always try to be supportive of my wife while she practices. Her on the other hand doesn't say anything encouraging about my practice! Sound like my wife and I on the golf course!
Estonia L190 #7004 Casio CDP S350
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When I quit in my 20s--years ago-- it was because my teacher suggested a year of Clementi or "Clementi-like" pieces to improve my technique. I started to hate to practice, then figured I wasn't mature enough to learn the instrument.
In retrospect I should have negotiated the program or found another teacher. I don't have to love every piece I play, but I just couldn't handle that regimen. I can understand that would drive anyone to quit. I'm a little more stubborn myself so I find myself setting my own direction and my teacher is happy with that as long as I am making progress, which I am. If I were to practice each of the things that he has suggested that I spend 15 minutes each day practicing there would be no time left to do anything else.
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Great first post, I think unrealistic expectations is top of the list, as well. I'm so grateful my friends and family are supportive of my playing, it makes a huge difference.
Starting over after a decade-long hiatus from playing! Yamaha CLP320
Burgmuller - Inquietude
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Excellent discussion topic! I agree with the need to play what you love -- within the limits of your current expertise and taking on the occasional thing you hate but your teacher assigned because it helps you develop a skill that you need to work on. Different strokes: I'd love to spend a year on Clementi-like pieces!
I also agree with the warning that you can't do it all in an hour-long practice session, which is about as much as an adult with a full-time job and/or family responsibilities can manage. Some days I'm happy to spend the hour playing scales and chords.
My sympathies to those who persevere in the face of unsupportive families. I would have re-started decades ago had I not been in a situation where my partner would very quickly have begun expressing annoyance and derision at my efforts. I admire your courage if you're carrying on in such circumstances. I think we also have to understand that progress isn't a constant thing. There are times when months go by and I feel as though I haven't progressed a bit. Then all of a sudden I get a month of very obvious improvement, and then I plateau again. Realizing that this happens can give you the will to see it through until the next period of obvious improvement.
Last edited by thumper49; 03/09/11 02:47 PM.
Currently working on: Suzuki Piano School, book 5, second half
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Excellent discussion topic! I agree with the need to play what you love -- within the limits of your current expertise and taking on the occasional thing you hate but your teacher assigned because it helps you develop a skill that you need to work on. Different strokes: I'd love to spend a year on Clementi-like pieces!
I think we also have to understand that progress isn't a constant thing.... We play because we love music, but then have to listen to ourselves play badly at times! Good point that progress isn't constant. We have to delay our musical gratification for a long time sometimes. Playing piano is athletic, mathematical, as well as musical.
Hailun HG 178, Charles Walter 1500, Kawai CA63
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I started recently, at age 49. I wondered if maybe I was too old. The common myth is that we can be too old to learn. But I was worried that maybe I was too old to physically do this. Even touch typing doesn't compare to what I was about to ask my hands to do. I have minor signs of arthritis in my hands. I probably didn't do all that great by my wrists from all those years in IT.
So far, so good. But that can still happen to me, or to many adults, older or not.
The odd thing about arthritis is that some adults find piano makes it worse, while others find that it offers some relief.
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Excellent discussion topic! I agree with the need to play what you love -- within the limits of your current expertise and taking on the occasional thing you hate but your teacher assigned because it helps you develop a skill that you need to work on. Different strokes: I'd love to spend a year on Clementi-like pieces!
I think we also have to understand that progress isn't a constant thing.... We play because we love music, but then have to listen to ourselves play badly at times! Good point that progress isn't constant. We have to delay our musical gratification for a long time sometimes. Playing piano is athletic, mathematical, as well as musical. Yeah, tell me about it! But I'm never giving up John
"My piano is therapy for me" - Rick Wright. Instrument: Rebuilt Kurzweil K2500XS and a bunch of great vintage virtual keyboards. New Kurzweil PC3X.
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Op - After the thread is done, I would like you to start a new thread "3 top reasons why adults continue piano against all odds". That may inspire us more. Excellent idea FarmGirl, excellent!! John
"My piano is therapy for me" - Rick Wright. Instrument: Rebuilt Kurzweil K2500XS and a bunch of great vintage virtual keyboards. New Kurzweil PC3X.
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Excellent discussion topic! I agree with the need to play what you love -- within the limits of your current expertise and taking on the occasional thing you hate but your teacher assigned because it helps you develop a skill that you need to work on. Different strokes: I'd love to spend a year on Clementi-like pieces!
I think we also have to understand that progress isn't a constant thing.... We play because we love music, but then have to listen to ou rselves play badly at times! Good point that progress isn't constant. We have to delay our musical gratification for a long time sometimes. Playing piano is athletic, mathematical, as well as musical. Yeah, tell me about it! But I'm never giving up John Me neither
music to me is kind of like putting together pieces of a puzzle i call it the paino because its where i put all my pain
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Put me down for "me neither" too.
There are some who decide to "just" listen and critique and don't play. The process of taking the various elements of the instrument, the person, the teacher, the notes or theory and turning them into music is complex-- and daunting. And why do we bother? Well, isn't the process fascinating?
Hailun HG 178, Charles Walter 1500, Kawai CA63
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The process of taking the various elements of the instrument, the person, the teacher, the notes or theory and turning them into music is complex-- and daunting. And why do we bother? Well, isn't the process fascinating? Indeed it is fascinating!! I'm enjoying and understanding the process much better today than I did over 30 years ago.
Carl
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Lack of performance opportunities. I was contemplating competing, only to find out that there are no festivals or competitions in my area that allow, let alone cater to, adult beginners. Everything that is out their is either geared towards small children or people who have been playing for close to ten years. If I entered into a competition they would take my age as the indicator of my expertise. The end result is that I would be competing against people, my age (25), who are busting out Beethoven Sonatas and Bach Fugues.
I am tempted to enter one of these competitions and just play one of my simple grade four pieces just to see the reaction it provokes.
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Lack of performance opportunities. I was contemplating competing, only to find out that there are no festivals or competitions in my area that allow, let alone cater to, adult beginners. Everything that is out their is either geared towards small children or people who have been playing for close to ten years. If I entered into a competition they would take my age as the indicator of my expertise. The end result is that I would be competing against people, my age (25), who are busting out Beethoven Sonatas and Bach Fugues.
I am tempted to enter one of these competitions and just play one of my simple grade four pieces just to see the reaction it provokes. Where are you from? If you are in the U.S., check out the Piano Guild Auditions. They cater to all ages and all levels, and are held in various cities all over the country. The Guild website itself I find less than helpful, because it doesn't really specifically explain the process, but this website has some good information.
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According to my teacher, who has been around the block a few too many times, the main reason adults (of whatever level) quit or as he says "yo-yo in and out of lessons" is : Too much thinking. In his mind, adults need to "do what they are told" ie engage fully in the process and avoid questioning and dissecting rationales for everything. In his mind, treating each student as an individual is something that any well-trained teacher would naturally do, but customization of each component of the lesson or varying the program significantly to suit the student's taste are counterproductive. Of course this is assuming that the individual wishes to learn classical piano. He also thinks that children approach performance with a lot more confidence and "abandon" than adults do, for the same reason: not so much higher cortical activity and calculations.. A bit too inflexible perhaps, but a fair amount of truth in there I think. That, and the variety of good points already mentioned.
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Joined: Mar 2011
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Great topic. I am new here and am totally enjoying these posts. I learned to read music as a child but only learned to play the melody with both hands doing the same thing. I have always loved the sound of the piano. My grandmother, mother, and aunts all played incredibly on a beautiful grand piano in my grandmother's living room. Why, and I have asked this a zillion times, was I only taught by an aunt that lived next door and had limited skills but was a schoolteacher by trade, hence the learning to read all notes. But, the most important thing is I am back to it. I started with DVDs but since Jan have been taking professional lessons. It is slow going, but being able to read music has helped so all was not lost!! I practice whenever the moment seizes me, and it is usually when I pass the piano. It draws me like a magnet. Loving it, looking to purchase a new one by summer, and my goal is to be able to pick up any music and play (of course with some practice).
My piano music is the expression of my heart!
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I wonder if there could be a thread called "10 reasons why child beginners quit"? It is less likely, because their parents won't let them.
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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