Impatient New Adult Piano Student and Another Adult Piano Student is Too Self-Conscious by Georgia Zoe Schohl
Q. Why can't I learn to play piano faster? I'm a type A type person and I don't like the fact the I learn piano so slowly. I'm professional who is very well known in my field. My peers would laugh if they knew my dilemma! Why can't I learn to play piano faster? I get angry with myself as I am learning as fast as I'd like to. My goal is to learn to play Mozart Sonatas. Is this attainable for me at the age of 48? Are there some special techniques that I can apply to enhance the learning?
Jon L. , email
A. Please understand process of learning how to play a musical instrument like the piano takes time to develop because it requires a blend of many skills. Have you ever heard of anyone being satisfied that they were progressing the way they wanted to? I have never met a student who believed that they were pleased with their progress. There is so much a student, no matter what age, has to learn and to master. For example there is hand/eye coordination, note reading of bass and treble clef, playing both hands together easily, building strong fingers, good hand position, playing musically, and that's just for starters!
Learn to relax, manage your practice time wisely so you know what you should practice and work on. Talk to your teacher about it. Do you need to work with finger strengthening exercises, sight reading, understanding rhythm, or playing musically? Don't be so self-critical as it can hold you back if you allow it. Instead, suspend your judgment and apply yourself to completing your assignment. The fact that this is bothering you may be that you are progressing. Be positive and set some small goals that will help you reach a larger goal. Ask your teacher to help you set up some of those small goals so you can reach a larger goal of learning to play the first movement of a Mozart Sonata. It will gradually become an attainable goal for you.
Keep setting up small goals, and you will progress faster. But remember: don't judge yourself so harshly. The fact that it bothers you shows me that you are willing to work hard to attain your goals. Good luck to you!
Q. My child and I both take piano lessons from the same teacher and we attend lessons on different days and times. The problem with me is that I am afraid of sounding bad and making a lot of mistakes. I am a beginner and I know that I sound bad sometimes with lots of wrong notes when I play during my lesson for my teacher. I am trying very hard to learn to learn the notes but it is very difficult for me at times. Sometimes I think I'm torturing my teacher with my wrong notes. Do you have any advice? I don't want to give up, but I am embarrassed.
Rita M., Vancouver, B.C.
A. If your teacher has some experience, he or she has heard all types of students. I would like to offer you some encouragement. Please don't let your self-conscious thoughts block your learning process. I know that it is easier said than done. I read in your email that you "were afraid of sounding bad and making mistakes" but it does not mean that were doing that all the time. I bet you are a perfectionist and want to play with no mistakes at all. That is not realistic thinking for any student. Expect to make mistakes, and learn from them.
It is impossible to be perfect all the time whether you are learning to play piano or learning how to speak French! All teachers are mentally prepared to hear mistakes and they are there to help you through difficult passages or questions you might have about your playing. Being too self-conscious will not help you at all and will slow you down. Let go and try. That's the best you can do and you can learn from it.
If you have questions, make a list so that you can ask your teacher for your next lesson. The answers your teacher give may offer you some insight to playing better and give better understanding to your playing. But most of all, remember your teacher is there to help you understand the music. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Jon L. , email
A. Please understand process of learning how to play a musical instrument like the piano takes time to develop because it requires a blend of many skills. Have you ever heard of anyone being satisfied that they were progressing the way they wanted to? I have never met a student who believed that they were pleased with their progress. There is so much a student, no matter what age, has to learn and to master. For example there is hand/eye coordination, note reading of bass and treble clef, playing both hands together easily, building strong fingers, good hand position, playing musically, and that's just for starters!
Learn to relax, manage your practice time wisely so you know what you should practice and work on. Talk to your teacher about it. Do you need to work with finger strengthening exercises, sight reading, understanding rhythm, or playing musically? Don't be so self-critical as it can hold you back if you allow it. Instead, suspend your judgment and apply yourself to completing your assignment. The fact that this is bothering you may be that you are progressing. Be positive and set some small goals that will help you reach a larger goal. Ask your teacher to help you set up some of those small goals so you can reach a larger goal of learning to play the first movement of a Mozart Sonata. It will gradually become an attainable goal for you.
Keep setting up small goals, and you will progress faster. But remember: don't judge yourself so harshly. The fact that it bothers you shows me that you are willing to work hard to attain your goals. Good luck to you!
Q. My child and I both take piano lessons from the same teacher and we attend lessons on different days and times. The problem with me is that I am afraid of sounding bad and making a lot of mistakes. I am a beginner and I know that I sound bad sometimes with lots of wrong notes when I play during my lesson for my teacher. I am trying very hard to learn to learn the notes but it is very difficult for me at times. Sometimes I think I'm torturing my teacher with my wrong notes. Do you have any advice? I don't want to give up, but I am embarrassed.
Rita M., Vancouver, B.C.
A. If your teacher has some experience, he or she has heard all types of students. I would like to offer you some encouragement. Please don't let your self-conscious thoughts block your learning process. I know that it is easier said than done. I read in your email that you "were afraid of sounding bad and making mistakes" but it does not mean that were doing that all the time. I bet you are a perfectionist and want to play with no mistakes at all. That is not realistic thinking for any student. Expect to make mistakes, and learn from them.
It is impossible to be perfect all the time whether you are learning to play piano or learning how to speak French! All teachers are mentally prepared to hear mistakes and they are there to help you through difficult passages or questions you might have about your playing. Being too self-conscious will not help you at all and will slow you down. Let go and try. That's the best you can do and you can learn from it.
If you have questions, make a list so that you can ask your teacher for your next lesson. The answers your teacher give may offer you some insight to playing better and give better understanding to your playing. But most of all, remember your teacher is there to help you understand the music. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
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