Learning more than one instrument...?

Müsic · 01-16-2013, 05:15 PM

Hi guys

So, i've been learning to play the piano for some years now...
And recently i started classical guitar lessons AND cello lessons lol
The problem is that i havent felt THAT much improvement on the guitar and cello... So i've wondered if i should stop playing the piano for a while and give more time to the other instruments? Like not play the piano 1 or 2 or 3 months ?
Also... kinda like a stupid question but, do you think i'll lose some skill at the piano for not playing at all in that time?

Thanks for the responses...

ZeyerGTR · 01-16-2013, 05:20 PM

If you've been playing piano a long time, I don't see why you'd lose much from taking a break for a little while. If you take a break for a couple years, yeah, it might be some ramp up to get back where you were, but if you stop for a few months you should be okay. In the grand scheme, let's say you've been playing piano 10 years - that's 120 months. What's 3 months off?

I don't want to imply you wouldn't lose anything, but if you've acquired some level of skill at piano it shouldn't be too much work to get back to where you were.

Just my opinion based on experience, I don't have any data to back it up.

Müsic · 01-22-2013, 06:55 PM

yeah, i guess you're right
something that is learnt well is not that easy to lose or forget

AwakeningsOfAWiseMan · 01-24-2013, 05:34 AM

I am self taught on the piano/keyboards, rhythm guitar, and bass guitar.

I've actually started taking lessons to improve my skills on rhythm and lead guitar (can't play lead, but want to), and bass guitar. I am 30. It is never too late to learn, or get better. I started playing guitar at age 15, and same for piano, so I've been playing music for about 15 years.

ToastedAndButter · 03-16-2013, 10:09 PM

its like riding a bi friend like riding a big ol' bicycle lol

Afro Blue · 03-18-2013, 11:03 PM

I think music is the same independent of the instrument, if your thinking about the chords your playing and how the melody moves on top.

you could play what you play on the piano on other instruments, and you should be able to do a note to note transposition once you get trough things like the individual technique of each instrument.

if by loosing piano skills you mean that you will learn new patterns for your motor skills to go after i bealive its good, unless you make a living out of it, where there isn't really much space for creative freedom until you get your pay check.

Other than that, less is more in getting trough the basics of producing sounds out of new instruments, you have technology that allows you to shape your ideas and visualize how you want things to sound.

it might be strange to some, but its well known that if you learn to visualize what you are playing you can practice without an instrument, that's why its great to really know the names of the notes you are playing and how they relate to others at any given moment.

it woks great if you allow yourself to understand progressions and then do an improvised melody on top, if you can really hear what you play then you should be enjoying each individual note and time and practice will shape this free time with a mastery of a flow of notes individual and unique to who you are.

01-16-2013, 05:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Müsic Groupie Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 2	Learning more than one instrument...? Hi guys So, i've been learning to play the piano for some years now... And recently i started classical guitar lessons AND cello lessons lol The problem is that i havent felt THAT much improvement on the guitar and cello... So i've wondered if i should stop playing the piano for a while and give more time to the other instruments? Like not play the piano 1 or 2 or 3 months ? Also... kinda like a stupid question but, do you think i'll lose some skill at the piano for not playing at all in that time? Thanks for the responses...

03-16-2013, 10:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
ToastedAndButter Groupie Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 16	its like riding a bi friend like riding a big ol' bicycle lol __________________ Link removed by moderator Please read our rules

01-16-2013, 05:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
ZeyerGTR Groupie Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Orlando, FL USA Posts: 32	If you've been playing piano a long time, I don't see why you'd lose much from taking a break for a little while. If you take a break for a couple years, yeah, it might be some ramp up to get back where you were, but if you stop for a few months you should be okay. In the grand scheme, let's say you've been playing piano 10 years - that's 120 months. What's 3 months off? I don't want to imply you wouldn't lose anything, but if you've acquired some level of skill at piano it shouldn't be too much work to get back to where you were. Just my opinion based on experience, I don't have any data to back it up.

01-22-2013, 06:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Müsic Groupie Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 2	yeah, i guess you're right something that is learnt well is not that easy to lose or forget

01-24-2013, 05:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
AwakeningsOfAWiseMan Groupie Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 5	I am self taught on the piano/keyboards, rhythm guitar, and bass guitar. I've actually started taking lessons to improve my skills on rhythm and lead guitar (can't play lead, but want to), and bass guitar. I am 30. It is never too late to learn, or get better. I started playing guitar at age 15, and same for piano, so I've been playing music for about 15 years.

03-18-2013, 11:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
Afro Blue Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: in a wave Posts: 54	I think music is the same independent of the instrument, if your thinking about the chords your playing and how the melody moves on top. you could play what you play on the piano on other instruments, and you should be able to do a note to note transposition once you get trough things like the individual technique of each instrument. if by loosing piano skills you mean that you will learn new patterns for your motor skills to go after i bealive its good, unless you make a living out of it, where there isn't really much space for creative freedom until you get your pay check. Other than that, less is more in getting trough the basics of producing sounds out of new instruments, you have technology that allows you to shape your ideas and visualize how you want things to sound. it might be strange to some, but its well known that if you learn to visualize what you are playing you can practice without an instrument, that's why its great to really know the names of the notes you are playing and how they relate to others at any given moment. it woks great if you allow yourself to understand progressions and then do an improvised melody on top, if you can really hear what you play then you should be enjoying each individual note and time and practice will shape this free time with a mastery of a flow of notes individual and unique to who you are.