Learning and Focus

I missed last week's lesson while we were at the Cal game in Reno, then did not practice while I was at the 5 day F2F session for my doctoral program.  Paul and I talked about some things that I could have done, even without a piano, and I am determined to do them when I have to go to the next F2F. My 100% streak is broken, but I am still enthusiastic about practicing and learning.

My friend, Marji, who lives with us and has seen me practicing, made a comment that I have been thinking about.  She says that I seem less stressed after I practice.  I think that she is seeing something that is really happening, and that might be one reason I am enjoying learning so much.  Life is definitely hectic these days, and I am still figuring out how to juggle everything.  But when I practice the piano, I really have to give it my complete focus.  I am not thinking about other things while I am practicing.  Where my fingers, hands and wrists are, note names, note values, musicality, words to the song take ALL my attention.  So, during the time I am practicing, my mind is at rest about other responsibilities.  That doesn't happen very often for me.  In class we have briefly talked about Novice/Expert differences; I think an expert pianist would have extra attention that could be placed elsewhere, but for now, I definitely need all my attention for playing.

My teacher, Carol Kuzdenyi, has talked a bit about some of the reasons why she has beginners learn the way she does.  One of the things that she does, that is different than many teachers, is to have the students playing little pieces where their fingers are not always glued to middle C.  One of the reasons that she does this is because she has seen many students who learn the other way that then have difficulty when it does come time to leave the middle C "home".  Another thing that she has shared is that one of the reasons that she has people sing note names while playing is because it helps them learn the notes more quickly, and also because the more senses used while learning, the deeper the learning will be.

Paul and I played our simple duet for Carol. (Paul was playing the teacher's part.)  It felt really great to be doing it together.  I really appreciate his support in this goal I have decided to pursue.  Our learn something project is supposed to be a partnership, and I feel that we are working together on this. A little more practice, and I'll record us playing together.

Quiet Practice

Last night when we got home from Reno it was after 10:00pm, but I hadn't practiced that day.  So far, I'm still at 100% for practicing every day, so I wanted to practice, but the piano is the other side of the wall of Marji's bedroom wall, and she had already gone to bed.  So, I decided to do a quiet practice. I uncovered the keys, put up my music, and practiced the songs without pressing the keys down.  I went through the different pieces several times, sometimes with singing the timing counts, sometimes singing the notes, and if the song had words, a few run-throughs singing the words.  It was interesting to me that I could hear the notes in my head even if I wasn't pressing the keys.  I think it is because the pieces that I was practicing were ones that I have played many times before.  One time I accidently pressed the key and the sound that played matched the note in my head.  That felt cool!  It definitely felt like I was playing, even though the keys weren't sounding. I'm counting it as practice, so my streak is alive!

My First Song

First Lessons

I am a beginning doctoral student in Pepperdine's Learning Technology program.  One of our multi-term projects is the "Learn Something" project.  The guidelines are that it should be something that is new to us, not for work, something we have a passion about, and should be done with a significant other.  My choice of subject to learn is playing the piano.  I have had some lessons in the past, as an adult, but I am definitely still in the category of beginner.  The lessons that I had were about 15 years ago, and I have not done anything since then.  My husband, Paul, is an advanced piano player.  Originally I thought I would take lessons from him, but he is sponsoring me (thanks Paul) to take lessons from his piano teacher, Carol Kuzdenyi.  So, although it may not fit exactly what they had in mind for learning together, my learning the piano is definitely a team project for my husband and me.   Carol has already given us a duet to work on, where Paul will play the teacher's part.

Carol has taken me back to the very beginning, making sure that I understand note names and values and time signatures.  Even though these things are familiar to me, I am glad to begin at the beginning.  So far I have had two half-hour lessons, and am really enjoying it. So far I am 100% on practicing every day! Playing piano is a combination of many skills.  There is the hand strength and position, and the mental challenge of thinking about notes, keys, time values, dynamics and musicality.  Carol has me singing the notes, alternating names and counts, on different play throughs.  That extra task seems to make the mental challenge more difficult, but I like that I am making my mind work.

I'll be writing about my challenges and achievements as I learn to play the piano.  Let the adventure begin...