Bingo! My lack of daily discipline is thwarting my progress learning to play the piano and keep repertoire pieces from being lost. It's an exponential curve of learning and discipline. Thank you for this perspective on progress, Alvaro.
How is your piano learning process going? How long have you been going? Recently a friend of mine has started playing piano, I hope he doesn't decline and has patience. As a fun fact: One instrument I've always wanted to learn to play is the drum. Yes, I know it is extremely easy compared to the piano, but beauty need not be sophisticated, I have always enjoyed listening to the sound of the drum. Someday I'll get into it.
Don't sell yourself or drumming short, Alvaro. Teaching your body as well as your brain how to hold a rhythm for several minutes, or do complex percussions sequences is no easy task. Ringo Starr, for example, is admired over other drummers because he can hold one beat sequence steady for several minutes; a feat other "great" drummers can't do. And the rest of the band needs that talent in their crew. Meanwhile, a timpanist seems to have the easy job, but they have to tune their two drums to exact pitches. Also if they add symbols (sp) or gongs to their task, they need to be aware of tones and pitches there too.
As for my progress with piano, it continues to frustrate after three years. Granted, daily practice itself is a challenge and the motivation is lacking at times. Sometimes I can play many of my pieces well and get into a blissful state of reverie with them. Other times, I can't play the same piece or even the same sequence in a piece the same way in a row. Now THAT'S a brain thing and it's driving me nuts. Am I going senile? Or do concert pianists have this problem. The movie, Coda, with Patrick Stewart, talks about this problem. Really good movie if you're interested. And maybe this forgetfulness issue is something you'd like to tackle for one of your wonderful essays. And tell you friend to hang in there. The bliss will come, but maybe not consistently. 😩
That's right, Sue! It's not that easy to play percussion. In fact, it's soon to be Easter in Spain and it's a time when the drum is one of the main instruments, I'm already looking forward to hearing them.
Your problem of constancy when you lack motivation is normal, it happens to all of us. Sometimes you just don't feel like it, that's why it's so necessary to create an atmosphere that encourages you to do it even on a day when you don't feel like it.
Memory is a subject that interests me a lot, I'll come back to it in future essays!
Yes, because of your previous article about environment and motivation, I moved my keyboard next to the counter that separated my kitchen from a den. It's right there where I can sit and place a piece or two while dinner cooks. What concerns me, though, is the memory thing. Forgetting or screwing up the part the second time just after I played it perfectly. It doesn't make sense. I hope this isn't a sign of dementia.
Bingo! My lack of daily discipline is thwarting my progress learning to play the piano and keep repertoire pieces from being lost. It's an exponential curve of learning and discipline. Thank you for this perspective on progress, Alvaro.
Hi Sue! :)
How is your piano learning process going? How long have you been going? Recently a friend of mine has started playing piano, I hope he doesn't decline and has patience. As a fun fact: One instrument I've always wanted to learn to play is the drum. Yes, I know it is extremely easy compared to the piano, but beauty need not be sophisticated, I have always enjoyed listening to the sound of the drum. Someday I'll get into it.
Don't sell yourself or drumming short, Alvaro. Teaching your body as well as your brain how to hold a rhythm for several minutes, or do complex percussions sequences is no easy task. Ringo Starr, for example, is admired over other drummers because he can hold one beat sequence steady for several minutes; a feat other "great" drummers can't do. And the rest of the band needs that talent in their crew. Meanwhile, a timpanist seems to have the easy job, but they have to tune their two drums to exact pitches. Also if they add symbols (sp) or gongs to their task, they need to be aware of tones and pitches there too.
As for my progress with piano, it continues to frustrate after three years. Granted, daily practice itself is a challenge and the motivation is lacking at times. Sometimes I can play many of my pieces well and get into a blissful state of reverie with them. Other times, I can't play the same piece or even the same sequence in a piece the same way in a row. Now THAT'S a brain thing and it's driving me nuts. Am I going senile? Or do concert pianists have this problem. The movie, Coda, with Patrick Stewart, talks about this problem. Really good movie if you're interested. And maybe this forgetfulness issue is something you'd like to tackle for one of your wonderful essays. And tell you friend to hang in there. The bliss will come, but maybe not consistently. 😩
You have to get in the flow in music just as you do in writing. Good prompt for a column. Thanks!
That's right, Sue! It's not that easy to play percussion. In fact, it's soon to be Easter in Spain and it's a time when the drum is one of the main instruments, I'm already looking forward to hearing them.
Your problem of constancy when you lack motivation is normal, it happens to all of us. Sometimes you just don't feel like it, that's why it's so necessary to create an atmosphere that encourages you to do it even on a day when you don't feel like it.
Memory is a subject that interests me a lot, I'll come back to it in future essays!
Yes, because of your previous article about environment and motivation, I moved my keyboard next to the counter that separated my kitchen from a den. It's right there where I can sit and place a piece or two while dinner cooks. What concerns me, though, is the memory thing. Forgetting or screwing up the part the second time just after I played it perfectly. It doesn't make sense. I hope this isn't a sign of dementia.
Hahaha I think it is not dementia. It could happen to anyone.