Last week I told my piano teacher that I had a confession to make. I’d – shock – been to the local library and found some sheet music: easy classical pieces rearranged for children. (‘Punk classics for beginners’ does, unfortunately, not yet exist…) Even more shocking – I’d been trying to play some of them! He took a look at one of the pieces (a minuet by Bach), played it, laughed and said that it was just fine. He thought it was great practice for my level and wants to hear me play it at my next lesson. Eek! ;D
I don’t know why I felt like I had gone behind his back. I started learning piano in September but feel that, as I’m not a ‘proper’ pianist (whatever that is…), I shouldn’t go off playing on my own. That I should stick to playing the music from my books Vi spiller klaver 1 and Vi spiller klaver 2. Which is, of course, completely nuts. After all, if I was learning a new language or at an art class, then any extra work I did on my own wouldn’t be cheating. Now would it?
But I guess it’s because I’ve still got that scared feeling. (If you remember, learning to play piano was a previous Scaredy Cat Challenge). The fear of doing the wrong thing. Playing the wrong note. Head spinning with Danish and Italian musical terms (dur, mol, fis, tonika, legato, ritartando…). The fear of getting out of my depth. Which I know, of course, is also nuts. Because I’m doing this in babysteps and loving the process. So much so that I practice for over an hour every day. I actually have to set my Flylady timer in order to limit my time. Luckily my teacher says it’s all paying off – he thinks I’m very methodical and can tell that I’m putting in a lot of effort! ;D
So maybe this particular Scaredy Cat Challenge isn’t quite over yet? I’m going down a new path, playing music that isn’t in my textbooks. Hmmm, all I can say is run for the hills and cover your ears. And if you happen to find a copy of ‘Punk classics for beginners’, let me know!
Have a terrific Tuesday! 🙂
If practicing outside of the textbook is motivating you to practice more, then I say GO FOR IT! I'd save the Punk Classics music for when you start guitar lessons – just think, you'd only have to learn 3 chords & you'd be good to go 😀
Yeah what Candace said 🙂
Half the fun of learning an instrument is being able to go off "on your own." I remember a phase when I was obsessed with learning the flute pieces to Disney movie songs 😉
Candace: you are so right! I just need to learn to play the guitar! (Adds it to Scaredy Cat Challenge list…)
Lee: how about a musical soirée – me on the old joanna, you on the flute, Candace behind the bar? 😀