Next step?

[GEJ702]

Hello all!

I've been trying to learn how to play the board now for a few years but I seriously can't find the right help. I didn't really get serious with it and start taking a few lessons until 2011 but had to quit due to family matters. I basically taught myself all the 12 major and minor scales and I can pretty much pick out the key to any song given. Although I can pick out the key, I'm not really sure what to focus on in particular? It's really killing me because my passion is slowly dying and I think it will die for good soon if I don't take action.

Help would be greatly appreciated!

[kelistromas]

Here are some tips for practice

 Reality: Taking two or three guilt-free days off from practicing each week will help you progress faster than if you practiced everyday! Think body building. People who work out or who lift weights are always
told to rest the day after a workout. Why? Because the workout tears down the muscle tissue and the
day off is when it is rejuvenated and built up stronger than before. Our brains are similar to this. The
rest periods are when your brain assimilates your effort. Also, the reason it must be guilt-free is so that
you get the complete benefit of the day of rest. If you intend to practice seven days a week and you
miss a day, you will be inclined to be stressed about it during the inadvertent day off. So instead of relaxing from the piano on that day, you are more stressed. In fact, with this more typical approach,
you may be inclined to practice more the next day with the hopes of “making up” for the missed day.
This approach never works. You can’t cram the piano. All you will get is more and more errors and
more and more frustrated because your poor brain is never given a rest it desperately needs. For best
results, just practice only 4 days a week. This allows you to plan-in 3 days a week of guilt-free rest.
(These days do not have to be in a row.) This is realistic and supportive because things often come up for us in our busy lives anyway. By making 4 days a week 100% of the requirement, if you do more,
you feel great.

[berbie]

I learned that, In my case, advances came in sudden bursts sometimes.  I would practice on something for a good period of time and seem to be making little or no progress, even to the point of almost giving up.  Then I would get up one morning an sit at the keyboard and I could do it, seemingly out of the clear blue sky.  I learned to never give up.  So I say, never give up.

Hard work and time are necessary to succeed in learning the piano.  Listen to a lot of music, and try to play it.  Play with more advanced players when possible.  Develop a plan and follow it fully, whether it is with a good teacher, or a carefully selected cd/DVD study course. 

It is not easy to learn to play a keyboard well.  However, it is very possible to do so.  It is according to the desire and determination of the individual as to how far he/she will go.

[GEJ702]

I'm actually already taking a few days off here and there but lately it's just been terrible. What I'm really trying to do right now is play under someone but it's seems near impossible to find someone.

[Mysteryman]

It would be good if we all could get back on the yahoo chat conferences.

[lorettac]

This isn't really an "old" thread, but I revived it because I'm in the same situation.
I find that watching others on youtube and reading through the thousands of posts here, is a great inspiration. Even if you don't feel like watching a "tutorial" on Youtube, just listening to piano music helps inspire. Also, look for any kind of free sheet music you can find, there are some classical pieces that really are basic; Fur Elise is an example. Just try playing whatever music you can get your hands on. When it seems like your practice is getting stale, instead of the rigorous "training" with scales and chords, try just picking up melodies to any song that comes to your head. Keep a notebook by your piano and write down the melodies, so you can go back later when you feel up to it, and chord them and jazz them up a little.

Just my 2 cents worth.