Learn to play the piano

I cleaned my piano today. It was horribly dusty as a testament to my neglect. Then I played/practiced for 10 mins. “Old McDonald” never sounded so…bad….lol.

With John Cristando, a second year student. We covered the basics and I remembered about half the stuff. Nothing some review won’t cure.

I went out to their house and it is gorgeous and they have a baby grand, so that was fun. I’m working on “Old McDonald” currently. Will have another lesson with him in 2 weeks I think. The goal will be to find a piano teacher by the time I finish my last/2nd lesson with him.

I think the key is practicing a little every day. Sort of like juggling. A little at a time until you get it!

One of our students put an auction item up last year for two hours of piano lessons. I won the item. We are in the process of scheduling our lesson time!

My Yamaha came yesterday and Josh & I set it up last night. it is beautiful. now i can actually practice in between lessons and stop driving my teacher, Adam nutty because I suck. I hope that I fall in love with this even more. I love how time seems to just fly by and i get totally absorbed at the keyboard.

I’m still chugging along, 3 lessons in and I realize that this is WORK! lol. I ordered my clavinova/digital piano a few minutes ago. wait until my housemates see that come through the door! i guess I should warn them huh? I’m enjoying the mental agility of learning to read music, its like learning another language…

Had my first lesson w/ Adam yesterday. It was alot of fun. I can see this is going to be alot of work, but I’m excited. I also like having some non-exercise related hobbies.

I am going to look into the practice rooms here at the college to see if there’s a place I can practice until i get a keyboard, and I’m going to go to the local piano place to fart around and figure out what i want and I’m going to do my assignment for next week! SweeT!

Local teacher has indicated he may have space for me. We’re trading e-mail to determine a time. He’s about 1/2 hour from me, but it sounds like it’ll be worth having this guy as a teacher. I love his mom (a colleague) and apparently he’s pretty darn good! He trains in the classical style to give a foundation to play anything, then allows students to select pieces of their liking to learn as well once they have the basics down. Can’t ask for more than that.

I will have to look for a keyboard now…always something! But I’m excited!

through a quirky turn of fate i learned that my colleauge has a son who teaches piano and has a place to teach it! I gave her my info and number and I hope he gives me a shout soon.

i had been trying to find local teachers and its remarkably difficulty to find someone around here. everyone’s for hire for bands and orchestras but not for individual hire.

I am excited but worried I may be overcommiting (sp?) as I’m considering Karate and just signed up for a spinning class that goes through Dec. 18th (only 8 weeks left).

But I need activities to take the place of golf and riding my motorcycle as it gets too cold. But I’ve always wanted to do this and I’m really excited!

I know Mary Had a Little Lamb and Eric gave me an Aria to work on before we left the ship. One night I sat down to practice in the Piano bar and a few people came up and remarked at how impressed they were with how far I’ve come in only 4-5 lessons.

I am hooked and dreaming of an 88 key keyboard when I get home, but where is home? and i already have a ton of traveling to do. So maybe it is all about getting something relatively portable? or just deciding that it is just that important-which i think it is. also as a combat to spending time on the internet and to eating. i am very grateful to God and proud of myself for attempting this goal and following through while on the road. I know it is important to me and am willing and ready to cut out some of the other things i have wasted my thoughts/time/money on to pursue it. Divine.

practiced on my own today for about 20 minutes. mary had a little lamb is coming along well. even played it with my left hand (solo). also practiced some aria thing erik gave me, but it isn’t sounding right to my ears, but i’m getting the key-work down. fun. no pressure. just trying to play 15-20 minutes at a time. i downloaded some lessons though-from online to look over tonite.

i also have to remember how much fun and how accomplished it will feel to play some of my favorites:
maroon 5
out of eden
kiss from a rose (seal)
save the best for last
stevie wonder