Comments on: 2010 Resolution #3: Learn to Play the Piano/Keyboard

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:14:56 +0000

Note to self: read article THOROUGHLY before posting. :-)

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:12:46 +0000

Does your keyboard have a headphone jack? I’m a “real piano” snob, but I cannot deny the appeal of being able to practice without anyone else listening. I have always disliked playing in front of other people. Also, make sure your instructor understands your goals and will support them–my teacher in high school was a classical snob who wouldn’t teach the music that interested me. That was a major factor in my decision to quit.

By: Leah

Leah — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:32:28 +0000

I love the carpe diem nature of this goal. I had a lit teacher in college who would say “you want to learn how to play piano? Start tomorrow! In 5 years, you’ll have five years of experience.”

Good luck with your goal. Please do update us with your progress!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:56:52 +0000

I just donated my console piano (as it was in perfect working order but never a particularly good piano to begin with). My husband bought me a new digital piano, and I aim to begin practicing again, too, not an hour a day though. :-)

My digital has *graded weighted* keys. It makes a difference, and yes you will be able to play an actual piano if you have a keyboard with weighted keys.

By: Kristen@TheFrugalGirl

Kristen@TheFrugalGirl — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:25:23 +0000

I’ve been playing the piano for 24 years and teaching for 17 years (I started teaching when I was 14), and I have to agree with those who say an hour a day is a LOT! I don’t think I spent an hour a day practicing until I was in high school and was playing higher-level classical music.

Even then, I had to break up my practice sessions so as to spare my hands.

Anyways, when I have beginning students, I don’t give them a time goal for practicing. Instead, I tell them to play each song 5 times a day, 5 days a week. When you’re a beginning student and have really short songs, practicing should definitely not take more than a half hour.

I hope it goes well for you! I love being able to know how to play the piano, and it’s given me all sorts of opportunities both for fun and for pay.

By: Kara

Kara — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:47:36 +0000

There are some good suggestions here! Who knew that I could come to a PF blog site and learn good tips on practicing piano? I love that.

By: KC

KC — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:25:46 +0000

I have a little experience in this area. I was a very talented French Horn player in high school and college and tried to learn the keyboard as a supplement to my musical abilities. I’ve had varying levels of success. But in order for you to succeed you have to get over your hang-ups. Don’t be afraid for people to hear you – its gotta happen. If you really can’t get over it then plug in some headphones. But you are going to make mistakes and you will sound horrible at times. – its part of learning.

Also you have to set that practice time and stick to it – don’t over commit at first – if you know you only have time for 30 mins a day then don’t say you’ll do an hour – cause you’ll give up.

And I highly encourage you to tape or video tape yourself – it really does help. I did that with both my piano and horn playing. I never video’d myself, but I think it would be interesting to see how much you strain to concentrate and how tense you are when first playing. I think it will help you to relax while you play.

Good luck!

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:34:34 +0000

Trent, unless your keyboard has weighted keys, you will loathe the plastic compared to a real piano. There really is no comparison so see if you like it and possible get a digital piano with weighted keys later on.

By: Evita

Evita — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:26:56 +0000

Oh, Trent, it is a worthwhile goal. I like the fact that you are aware of the daily routine that will be needed to learn and progress. But where will these extra 11 hours be coming from?

I have played music (piano and wind instruments) since age 7 and have put thousands and thousands of hours into practice. I used to tell my adult students that they were entering slavery and was always dismayed when lack of time forced them to abandon.

But knowing how determined you are in everything you do, I say: go for it! and have fun with it! only personal pleasure will get you through the daily grind!

By: Leisureguy

Leisureguy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:19:34 +0000

I HIGHLY recommend the book Playing the Piano for Pleasure, which has all sorts of useful tips, including the tip of doing some sightreading every day. Best to buy it in hardback: he used two-color printing to show how to mark a score, with his marks in red. In the paperback, they printed everything in black. Duh.

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:10:29 +0000

Great idea Trent. From your writings, you spend a lot of time playing computer games, which really don’t seem to have any benefit but passing time and spending money on new / used games and equipment. Learning to play the piano / keyboard will give you a skill if you stick with it. Good luck!

By: spaces

spaces — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:58:52 +0000

I was a pianist for my first career … Make sure you learn to read the notes quickly and at sight. Flash cards work for a lot of people on this.

And bonus: Playing burns a fair number of calories. :-)

By: Jean

Jean — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:56:25 +0000

I am enjoying your resolution posts, and you have inspired me to think about my own resolutions – making them specific (and attainable), and how I am going to achieve those goals. I was a bit concerned, like a few of the other commenters, when you said that you were going to spend 11 hours/week on learning to play, on top of your exercise goals & having a new baby. But I was glad to see that you’ve already thought this through when I read that you are willing to drop other activities to accommodate your new activities. Hapy New Year – I look forward to hearing about your progress through the year.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:03:22 +0000

Awesome!

I’m spending my New Year learning to get better at sewing, something I’ve just started over the past few months.

I hope your piano playing goes well!

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:47:02 +0000

You should get over your fear of practicing in front of others. I used to have a similar fear, until I realized that it was standing in the way of me learning new things–namely, learning a second language.

By: John DeFlumeri Jr

John DeFlumeri Jr — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:46:32 +0000

That was a great decision to play the piano! I play too and even thought I’ll never ge “good” it is a real relaxing thing to do!

John DeFlumeri Jr

By: DB

DB — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:43:57 +0000

I’m with HonestB, don’t forget to ENJOY the whole excercise.

By: HonestB

HonestB — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:18:22 +0000

Trent, as a fan of your blog and a musician, here’s my advice to help you meet your goal:

-Music is fun. If the exercises you’re doing aren’t fun, don’t be afraid to play around with them to make them more fun. You’ll be more motivated to practice if you think of playing as a relaxing, pleasant part of your day than if you let it become about monotonous exercises.

-If your hands hurt, STOP. Come back to it tomorrow, and try to figure out what made your hands hurt. You don’t want to get Repetitive motion stress or carpal tunnel, and it’s not that likely that you will from playing keyboard, but don’t “play through the pain”.

-Teachers are important. Great teachers are hard to find but will make a tremendous difference in how fast and how well you learn.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:29:22 +0000

Trent was a programmer/Software Engineer, right? There is a tie-in between music and math/programming skills. Good Luck!

Bill

By: steven@hundredgoals.com

steven@hundredgoals.com — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:05:59 +0000

I like this goal, it reminds me of my goal to take guitar lessons (and of course, learn how to play). Bravo for pursuing another creative outlet.