Rain off and on all day with more promised for tomorrow. I guess we need it, but as a recovering sicky the last thing I need is to be out running around in the rain. Missed my walk today, but it never got warmer than 44º and that's just a tad chilly for me.So I stayed indoors. Played piano. Cannot tell you how happy it makes me to be able to sit down at the piano, open a piece of music and play it. When I started teaching myself to play around 6 years ago I didn't know how it would turn out. Would I ever get past little nursery rhymes and songs? Well I have. According to the music I play I am an advanced intermediate to early advanced. I'm proud of me. Do I play everything correctly, no, do I sit up straight and strong, no, is my interpretation of the music always correct, no. But oh it sounds so good and it flows, I don't have to look at my hands, they know where they're going long before the rest of me knows. In fact the best way to slow me down is to have me look at my hands.
Could I have had a teacher, yes, taken lessons, yes, learned to make it all correct, yes. But that's not me, the journey is the best part. I play music I use to struggle with and I play it well.
My favorite music, and it surprises me as much as it does Mac, is 17th and 18th century music. Who knew, we thought I'd learn to play rock and play duets with him.
Can I play anything by heart, no. I envy Mac that. He picks up his guitar and with no music off he goes. I have to have the music. That's ok though, my head is stuffed with enough other stuff without putting a bunch of music in there. Actually the music is there, I hear it and know what's to come, it's just the individual notes that aren't there. They're in my music books safe and sound.
I envy people who can just pick up an instrument and play. I sometimes wish I'd learned guitar ages ago.
ReplyDeleteI love piano music. I have several cassettes and at night I put on the head phones and fall asleep to wonderful classical piano.
ReplyDeleteHow cool you taught yourself...I'm impressed.
There are musicians who play by ear and those who play by sheet music. Both are great as far as I'm concerned!
ReplyDelete17th and 18th century keyboard music would for me be the most satisfying to play (I can play just a little but never had a chance to pursue it). There's an appealing logic to it.
Congrats on pursuing it and making such great progress!
I find it interesting about your taking up the piano. I am a musician and taught music for many years in schools. Piano is my instrument and I used to play for hours, practising really difficult stuff up to performance level (Schubert Impromptu and Bach Suites for example) vut now, as I get older, I never seem to find the time to play. I keep telling myself to sit at the piano again, but there seems to be so much more to do. Good luck with your studies.
ReplyDeleteWe always had piano music playing in our house when I was a child because my uncles and aunts played constantly at a very high level both classical and light music. I wish I'd kept up my piano playing too. I'm sure it's not only satisfying to have taught yourself, but also relaxing.
ReplyDeleteI'm one who needs the 'dots' too. I don't think I can play any piece by heart but I'll have a go at the 'dots' that are in front of me. I would love to be able to hear a piece of music and then play it, or even be able to play a piece by heart. I'm afraid I rely on sight reading and only a little practice.
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I think it is great that you taught yourself and that you play what you like in the way that you like! It is more important to play and enjoy it than to worry about perfect perfection every time! xx
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