Learn to love the Challenge I am always pushing myself toward more and more advanced music and sometimes I feel so clumsy with my fingers when trying to learn something beyond my normal capability. So, what I have done is learn to enjoy the process.. I love the challenge of a new song and if I can learn a few measures at a time, I am very proud of myself, and then I learn a few more until I have the song learned. Sometimes it takes many weeks, and months for me to learn something that is far beyond my ability. The funny thing is this... once it is learned, I get bored with it and miss the challenge of learning it. Then I go and look for something new to learn! ~smile~ So, even Continue Reading
“Today I know more than yesterday and tomorrow I will know even more.”
I understand it can be overwhelming, especially in the beginning when you are limited to little songs that mean nothing. However, before you give up, tell yourself with every little step, no matter how little: "Today I know more than yesterday and tomorrow I will know even more." This will keep you going, and it reminds you that no matter what you are learning throughout your life... it is a step by step process and if you just take those little steps and be happy for the little bit you learned, you will achieve more things from your life than if you give up too early. Little steps are better than big steps. ~smile~ Continue Reading
I can’t hear the audio clips.
If you can't hear the audio clips in any of the paid or free memberships, you may need to download a simple player to listen to them. I recommend using the free quicktime player. Downloading the free quicktime player from: http://www.apple.com/quicktime is the easiest download, for both PC users and Mac users. Continue Reading
How to Practice More Challenging Songs
When songs start becoming more challenging, I recommend the following: First, make sure your practice sessions are at least 10 minutes. Second, focus only on a small portion of a song during a practice session. For example, measures 1-4 of the right hand, measures 5-8 of the right hand, or the last 4 measures, or you can group them in any other way you would like to. Master each grouping with each hand separately , then master each grouping with hands together. Never play the song from top to bottom until this process is over. However, make sure your timing is connected between the groupings so you song does not sound like separate groups of 4 measures. You can group your groupings Continue Reading
How do I know you are going to send my product?
That is an interesting question, and I can understand this concern if you are from a different country, or you have never ordered online. This question was more common about 10 years ago when the internet was new, and it was scary to send money to someone you never met. However, today, ordering online is a common practice and the odds of running into someone who is being dishonest with their business is low. The best way I can answer that question for me, is that I am a professional, and have been online since 1997, and will continue to be online for years to come. If you send money, and I don't deliver your product, I would not only be hurting you, but I would be hurting myself, my Continue Reading
Piano Lessons and the Recession
Why piano lessons are the last thing you should give up if you're worried about the economy. In news reports about consumer confidence and spending trends during the recession, we're hearing about how people are planning to change their spending habits this year, if they haven't already. If you're feeling tempted to drop your piano lessons in an effort to save a few dollars, here are five reasons to reconsider: 1. Music represents beauty, and you need beauty even more during ugly times. In an entry about the benefits of music, Wikipedia states: "It is often thought that music has the ability to affect our emotions, intellect, and our psychology; lyrics can assuage our loneliness Continue Reading