Friends,
My student is a computer specialist. I sent him some questions and he kindly answered.
1.
Why are you taking lessons?
I’ve
always wanted to do something that could give me a sense of
accomplishment. I’ve tried numerous times to learn a new skill or take
on a new challenge and have always come up short.
I still have that feeling but I finally figured out that if I’m going
to achieve this goal I needed help. So far having an instructor has
allowed me to stick with the keyboard much longer than past attempts and
I have a high degree of confidence that, this
time, I’m going to get where I want to go.
2. What was the biggest challenge you faced during lessons?
Patience and discipline.
Having the discipline to stick with my lessons day after day and the patience to improve at my rate.
I’ve always felt that people prioritize their time by doing things they
a) Must do b) Should do c) Would like to do.
It’s easy to put practice time in category C but in order to achieve
the level of proficiency I need, I have to treat it as category A. That
can sometimes be hard but keeping the payoff in mind helps to keep me
focused over the long haul.
3. Why did you purchase a keyboard instead of an acoustic piano?
Several reasons.
Obviously the price difference is a big reason. However, the key thing
for me is the quality
and flexibility of a keyboard. The keyboards I’ve heard sound just as
good as an acoustic piano to me. I’m no expert but I’ve been listening
to music every day for my entire life so if it didn’t sound good, I’d
know it. Also, the technology allows me to change
to different instrument sounds with the touch of a button as well as
provide band accompaniment when I play. That’s just kind of fun right
now but I expect will become very important to me once I get to a decent
level of playing ability.
4. What have you learned from your keyboard?
I’ve
learned a few things. First, there is no magic formula to learning to
play. Unless you’re a savant, it always comes back to hard work, time,
and dedication. I’ve also learned that
my hands are stupid. I had a notion that before I started that my path
might be a little easier because I can touch type. Wrong. Playing at the
level I’m after requires the hands to work independently. There’s a
lifetime of working in concert that has to be
overcome when it comes to operating your hands.
It gives me confidence. I’ll always know that no matter what happens from here on out I tried to do something most people won’t or can’t. That confidence sticks with me at home, at work, wherever. That sense of pride from having accomplished something that many people consider too hard can carry over into almost every waking moment.
