How many play the piano? If you say, “Yes, I play the piano.”; I am jealous. If you play Blues piano, I am beside myself. I have always wanted to play the Blues piano. If I live to be age 100, then I have frittered away over three quarters of my life, and I still cannot play the piano.
What frustrates me is that for some, there are several ways to learn to play the piano, yet nothing seems to work for me.
Piano Learning Methods:
(1) LEARN TO PLAY PIANO by slogging through endless lessons and practicing your brains out for years.
(2) LEARN TO PLAY PIANO BY EAR. Only the gifted play by ear, and obviously, I am not gifted.
(3) LEARN TO PLAY PIANO BY FOOT. Playing the piano by foot is a brand new learning method from Italy. Check it out on my LINK: Playing Piano By Foot.
(4) LEARN TO PLAY PIANO BY BACK. Playing by ear is a familiar concept, but how many of us have ever heard of playing piano by back? The Piano Guys show us how it is done. Check it out on my LINK: The Piano Guys Playing By Back.
(5) LEARN TO PLAY PIANO BY ARM. Check out my LINK: The Piano Guys Playing By Arm. If you patiently watch the short video, you will be rewarded towards the end by seeing for yourself some innovative playing piano by arm.
My granddaughter played violin on stage with the Piano Guys, and I have her autograph. Maybe that is as close as I am going to get.
Joseph,
Your piano article struck a chord with me. My mother took me kicking and screaming to lessons in the first grade. I always put off practicing until the afternoon of my lesson. Fortunately it was not a life-long problem, although I still hate practicing, I do enjoy playing for myself and Peg. Sometimes my fingers don’t work as well as they used to, but I just tell myself I’m playing jazz.
Very nice article. I got a good laugh our of reading and looking at Alfred . . .
Don
OMG…your piano story brought back so many memories! I, too, have always wanted to play the piano. As a child, we were too poor to afford a piano, let alone the accompanying lessons. I had little friends who had pianos and were forced to take lessons and practice. I was oh so jealous!
Then, in the 5th grade, while at Southgate Elementary, there was an amazing teacher. She seemed ancient to me and frail. This patient and caring woman saw how I almost drooled each time she played the piano while holding a music class.
She offered to teach me. I was beyond thrilled. So, the next day, after school, with permission to stay after, we began. She allowed me to stay after school each day…2 days for lessons, 3 days to practice. I was in heaven. I even made a paper key board so I could pretend practice at home!
Then, suddenly one day she wasn’t in class. We were told she retired but I’m pretty sure she passed away. Her replacement didn’t play the piano and no longer did I.
To this day, I still envy those who can play. I bought an electric keyboard once, thinking I could still learn, but it just wasn’t the same.
Maybe Heaven offers lessons and we can play a duet, Joe!
I feel your pain as I too have tried piano, guitar and if given the chance I’d have tried drums. It’s said everyone is good at something but at 85 I’ve just about given up on finding my music talent. I’m just happy and thankful that I have been able to have music around me all of my life and it’s still my greatest joy and relaxation.
Joe – I also play piano by foot. I have a older player piano.
No problem with playing the right notes or practicing.
One only needs to have good leg muscles and a smile on your face.