A piano question. Opinions strongly welcomed.

silverneccho · 12-11-2012, 06:54 PM

I am interested in hearing a opinion involving the learning curve for me on the piano.

I had piano lessons for a few years, between age 8 and 12. I believe I was in the 2nd grade learning level. I never excelled at learning the piano at the time because I was not interested.

I also learned how to play the trumpet. I was okay but could have been much better for reasons I expressed in my last paragraph.

Now singing is my forte, no doubt there. As a kid in a traditional church, I used to sing my heart out. The congregation was extremely into the music as well with everyone in the church singing to their max. It was something I loved doing all the time. I would often get compliments from our minister after certain rare upbeat hymns. When I was 13 my mother got the family into voice lessons. She wanted to rid her voice of the nasal quality while she also wanted to teach my utterly tone-deaf step-father to sing. I only got better with lessons, most of what she taught, me and my mother instinctively already knew. I had a powerful voice and I used it.

As a child I messed around with many instruments. I played my mothers psaltery, not much talent there. I also had a guitar, harmonica and penny whistle. I enjoyed playing music but the learning curve discouraged me.

My mother on the other hand is a prodigy. She is an expert at many different instruments. She can sing, play flute, play saxophone, play trombone, could easily learn trumpet. She can also play piano, harp, and the violin.

I want to take on piano again. I was taught to read music but I also wish I could play by ear. I have a feeling that piano at this point may be harder for me than it was before because of how I left in my training.

Do you believe that my musical history, of playing and of being around the music of my mother is harmful or beneficial to learning today?

12-11-2012, 06:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
silverneccho Groupie Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2	A piano question. Opinions strongly welcomed. I am interested in hearing a opinion involving the learning curve for me on the piano. I had piano lessons for a few years, between age 8 and 12. I believe I was in the 2nd grade learning level. I never excelled at learning the piano at the time because I was not interested. I also learned how to play the trumpet. I was okay but could have been much better for reasons I expressed in my last paragraph. Now singing is my forte, no doubt there. As a kid in a traditional church, I used to sing my heart out. The congregation was extremely into the music as well with everyone in the church singing to their max. It was something I loved doing all the time. I would often get compliments from our minister after certain rare upbeat hymns. When I was 13 my mother got the family into voice lessons. She wanted to rid her voice of the nasal quality while she also wanted to teach my utterly tone-deaf step-father to sing. I only got better with lessons, most of what she taught, me and my mother instinctively already knew. I had a powerful voice and I used it. As a child I messed around with many instruments. I played my mothers psaltery, not much talent there. I also had a guitar, harmonica and penny whistle. I enjoyed playing music but the learning curve discouraged me. My mother on the other hand is a prodigy. She is an expert at many different instruments. She can sing, play flute, play saxophone, play trombone, could easily learn trumpet. She can also play piano, harp, and the violin. I want to take on piano again. I was taught to read music but I also wish I could play by ear. I have a feeling that piano at this point may be harder for me than it was before because of how I left in my training. Do you believe that my musical history, of playing and of being around the music of my mother is harmful or beneficial to learning today?