Learn to play the piano

to upgrade this goal. I want to learn to play the piano proficiently, or well, or even better than I do now.

I know how to play now and it’s very exciting, but obviously I’m not good enough to do much. I randomly pick a song, read the music, and slowly figure out the fingering on my own. It’s quite a mess sometimes and it can take me several hours to play a simple song without mistakes.

Still, I have to say that it’s quite a nerve calmer for me. I find myself heading for the keys when I’m upset (or bored) and it helps relieve my angst.

(I’m glad I purchased that full size keyboard. It has been making quite a difference.)

I’m quite shocked at the fact that it’s assumed a person who learns on a keyboard won’t be able to play the piano. Or the fact that you would be considered a keyboard player and not a pianist.

This whole time I’ve been learning, I’ve been switching from grand pianos to digital pianos to my cheapo keyboard. I obviously can tell the difference between the keys, but it doesn’t hinder me from playing one or the other.

As a beginner, I kind of resent the fact that for me to be considered a pianist I have to learn on a “piano” and not a keyboard. How is someone supposed to afford something like that for a new “hobby”?

Frankly, I was irked by such thinking and bet I could prove everyone wrong who thinks that way.

The Casio PX110 it is! (I bought it off Amazon.)

Even though the Suzuki has a metronome and the ability to practice each hand separately to pre-recorded music – I can’t return it if something goes wrong.

So, I figured $500 isn’t worth risking.

Yay! I’ll have a full-keyboard! [I’m excited.]

Class is almost over and has been going very slowly by the way. I find myself playing what isn’t assigned to the class so that I don’t bore myself.

I’m wondering if piano 2 will fit into my schedule in the fall. If not, I’ll have to practice on my own or afford lessons, which will be tough.

I still love learning to play, so that’s a good sign. Usually by now, I would’ve lost interest and moved on to something else. The piano is actually very gratifying at times – figuring out the music and having instant results? It’s awesome.

I’m actually looking into purchasing an 88-key Casio PX110 or Suzuki SS100 – I can get either one for about $500. The keys are weighted and touch sensitive, so that’s a major upgrade from what I have now (not to mention the whole 88, full keyboard thing). Plus, I can return the one I have to the friend I borrowed it from.

But, I have to decide on the Suzuki by tomorrow since I’ll be purchasing it from a flyer I saw at my school…

$500 is a big investment for me, so I’m hoping it forces me to keep practicing.

Well, it’s been a month since my last update and I still like practicing. Is that crazy or what?

Just today, I got upset at my beau and went in the room to play piano. Evidently, it still serves as an outlet for frustrating events during the day. I don’t know why, but it probably has something to do with relaxing so you can read the music, plus the repetition of sounds…

Anyway, I’m playing simple songs with both hands now and I love it. There is some French melody in my book that I love to play over and over. But, we don’t move our hands around yet – what is that called? Arpeggio or some such?

I’ve been thinking about returning the keyboard to my friend and investing in a full-size one. But, we’ll see how it goes at the end of the semester…

I had my first “test” in class yesterday. It was very easy, almost too easy. So easy that I think I should’ve started out in Piano 2 or something…

All we had to do was go from C to F to G in triads. Then play Au Claire de la Lune in C and G. We of course had to study more than that, but that is all she tested us on.

I’ve been practicing every day too. Mostly because with all the work that I have to do, playing the piano is just that – playing. It makes me feel like I’m fooling around with a hobby, giving me a break from everything else.

If I get bored with the repetitive tasks our prof gives us, I try and play beginner songs from my keyboard’s songbook. It’s fun when I figure it out on my own. Like Take Me Out to the Ballgame? Memorized. Oh yeah, that’s right.

(Actually, it’s bad to end up memorizing because I can play it better without reading the music. Heh.)

I can’t wait until I start learning to play with both hands; right now, I just play the same notes with both instead of them complimenting each other…

This goal is back on my list as I found a class this semester that fit into my schedule. It’s going VERY slow right now, but I figure that’s better than going too fast.

I can play Hot Cross Buns, and soon, Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Plus, the teacher explained the keys and their notes in a way that made it click with me. I don’t know why I never looked at it from that perspective, but I’m glad she mentioned it.

Although, it’s somewhat confusing the way she explains for us to do things. The first day of class, I was reprimanded for skipping black keys, and I have never been reprimanded in a class (yeah, I’m a schoolgirl) so it was quite shocking. Frankly, I didn’t skip any keys because I followed what she gave as an example on the board, but apparently doing that is a bad idea.

All logic is out the window with her explanations, so when I came to learn that, I was fine. It’s hard to explain, but you know when you assume using logic is the way to go and then you realize the person you’re following doesn’t use logic, so you have to figure it out on your own? Yeah, it’s like that.

Anyway, make way for Mur-zart.

But not right now. It’s just not high enough on the priority list.

Recently, I forced myself to play a very simple song by just reading the notes and no lighted keys.

It was invigorating.

But, my friend asked me the other day if she could borrow my keyboard because she’s actually taking piano lessons for a course at her college. So, this goal will evidently be on hiatus – at least for me…

A while ago, I borrowed a (lighted) keyboard from a friend. Nowadays, I follow the lights very well.

I suppose I should turn the lights off and try to play while reading the music. I’ve done that before with cello, but I’m the type of person who wants results.

I want to hear myself play Fur Elise without having to play Jingle Bells a thousand times.

That’s not good, is it?