2 replies to this topic

[top tier hippo]

Hiiii!

 

So...where to start? Okay. Uh, I've been interested in classical music for a year or two now, probably. I listen to my favorite pieces a lot, and it's kinda hard because most people in my family call me pretentious or think it's boring (...How could they...? Ma hart, ma sole) xD.

 

I've been interested in piano (or violin) for years now, but piano would be a better option because we have a keyboard already, and for some other reasons. Also, I prefer the sound of piano. Anyway, I've tried learning at home, and I made some progress, but the problem with me is that I have a cycle when it comes to hobbies. Discover something/revisit it. Obsess. Then slowly (or quickly) lose interest. Take a break and do nothing (during which time I tend to get kinda depressed). Piano is no different. I practiced it diligently for a while, then dropped it. Revisited, and so on. I never had a teacher, and right now, there are two many factors working against me to get a teacher. I really wish I could get one because then I would have much more motivation to be consistent and keep going with it. 
 

Anyway, I've tried learning to read music and to play piano at home, with the books my sister used when she had a teacher a couple years ago (He retired, so neither of my sisters take music lessons). I made some progress, but I dropped it again. 

 

Do you guys have any tips on how to stay motivated without a teacher?

 

And this one is a bit unrelated, but what is the best way to learn to read music? Test yourself on it? Just sightread until the piece becomes muscle memory, and by that time, you'll know what all the notes are and what they mean instinctively. Keep doing that until you become really good at it?

[ajuniceu~]

Honestly now during covid, I've been having the same problem with piano, flute, guitar...just about everything I play.

 

One thing that has kept me interested though is playing songs I love. I feel this will help you look forward to playing, and make it more fun than rather a chore. When I used to take piano classes, I had to play all these boring studies, etudes, scales, all the works but now that I don't take lessons anymore I choose my music, which is awesome! I love using musescore.com and finding songs I like and printing them

 

For learning music, I learned it through (UGHHH) theory books. I did worksheets a lot...It wasn't fun and I know this won't help but DONT do it that way lol

 

Have you asked your sister for any tips on playing? Maybe she could help!

 

If anything, PM me with voice recordings of your playing, and maybe I could give some tips+pointers! I'm level 9 RCM so I know the ropes

 

Hope this helped~

[mlel~]

I'm not sure if this will work for you but the way I stay motivated to learn new pieces and practice more is going on YouTube and hearing people play the pieces really well and that kind of makes me want to finish it as soon as possible to reach that level. Having a friend who also plays the piano is definitely motivating. You can also learn duets to play with that friend. Also, it's really fun to take turns to play and hear your friend's pieces.

For me, I sightread occasionally so it's sort of instinctive, like your mind will automatically recognise the notes faster.

I hope this helps