Am I making good progress on the piano?

[dcpsoguy]

In little over three weeks, I can play Greensleeves, Minuet, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, StarSpangled Bannner, and others, which are easier than the ones I just listed.

Am I making good progress on the piano?

 

[GigaCluster]

If you're using more than one finger to play those, then yes.

 

[dcpsoguy]

What do you mean?

Aren't you supposed to be playing with more than 1 finger?
Because I am playing with all of my fingers

FYI, I am self taught. No piano lessons, yet

 

[dcpsoguy]

????????

 

[dman]

Regardless, you are making progress, so, feel good about that. Music instruments are sometimes easy to play, but, they are tough to learn and play well. It's the small things that make all the difference, but, you have to learn the big things first. So, I say, Congratulations!

 

[clarkse]

Oh, I thought you (from your title) meant the movie, The Piano. That took me a while to watch as well. Weird

 

[dcpsoguy]

Good!

I am making progress!

Anybody else:

Am I making good progress? Faster than other people? When can I be expected to play the really hard songs?

 

[Pepsi90919]

<< Am I making good progress? Faster than other people? When can I be expected to play the really hard songs? >>



1. I've never heard you so I can't say.
2. I've never heard you so I can't say.
3. I've never heard you so I can't say.

 

[markjrubin]

I think self taught is a bad idea for the piano. You should get at least two or three months of formal training. It will help prevent injuries in the future and will make you learn faster.

Mark

 

[GigaCluster]

<< What do you mean?

Aren't you supposed to be playing with more than 1 finger? >>



You must've misread my sentence.
I said, "If you're using more than one finger to play those, then yes."
So, if you're playing with all fingers, excellent.

 

[zippy]

I've wanted to learn to play the piano...not when I was younger...but in the last year or so...perhaps when I'm older and have my own home. At the moment I am trying to find time for sleep between homework, school, and other shtuff.

 

[bandXtrb]

excellent. I remember your post a while ago asking about piano books.

Some versions of Star spangled banner are hard, are you playing a three chord version?

I would agree about getting a piano teacher, because unless your book is really good, it doesn't show you the fingerings and how to which fingers to use to make leaps on the keyboard. If you use the wrong fingers, you are "inefficient" in your playing, you can hurt yourself, and be prone to making more mistakes.

 

[dcpsoguy]

I am doing a non-harmony version of Star Spangled Banner

Yes, The book is called Piano for Dummies, and it tells you which fingers you should use for everything.

Great book, but I am probably going to get lessons.

Parents are going to pay for it

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Sounds promising Are you using both hands, and reading from bass and treble clef? Having each hand working from its own music seems very challenging to me.

 

[dman]

I agree with others, lessons are invaluable early because if you teach yourself and do it wrong, it'll be much harder, later, to go back and fix those problems (bad habits).

 

[Mangos]

Lessons are grealtly needed. Your technique will influence your performance, you may want to get a teacher so you can learn proper technique. Also, there could be things that you're overlooking.

Your progress seems decent. It's nice to see that you have ambition.

You may want to get some books for technique such as Hanon or Schmitt. I strongly suggest getting a teacher for a few months.

*by the way, i've been playing for 10 years.

 

[dcpsoguy]

I am reading from both clefs, and doing lots of chords.

Damn, my left hand!

I'll convince them to get me lessons, now.

 

[Descartes]

<< Am I making good progress? Faster than other people? When can I be expected to play the really hard songs? >>



Sounds to me like you just want quick results, and don't *really* want to learn music, or the piano. Who cares if you're learning it faster than other people? Who cares what songs you can play? If you've been playing for a few weeks, expect a few years (at least) to be able to play any half way difficult pieces properly. Learning to play the piano, understand and read music, etc., is not something you get from a simple "for dummies" book.



<< I am reading from both clefs, and doing lots of chords. Damn, my left hand! >>



If you're not using your left hand, you're not reading both clefs.

 

[dcpsoguy]

Oh, I was just curious what my progress was.

I am enjoying the piano very much. I was just wondering.

I am using the treble and bass clefs fully. Both my left and right hand.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Sounds like nice progress! I think motivation is as important as instruction, when you have both you'll really scream along

 

[gopunk]

really hard songs? that would be a while... be patient.

<-- 9 year veteran

 

[bleeb]

YES GET LESSONS!... Your beginning finger technique, finger and body posture, etc will greatly effect your abilities later on. Also, they can making doing difficult pieces even more difficult if you do not learn them correctly. Trust me. Try learning Chopin's Nocturne in B Major (Opus 9, Number 3), I think this a really cool piece.