What does it mean to you to be able to play the piano ?

[Karli]

And, I don't just mean emotionally, though I suppose if you feel inclined you could add those thoughts.  I more mean though what "playing" actually is to you, and especially, I am curious about what you are aiming to learn by taking lessons ?

If your aim in taking lessons is "to learn how to play the piano," that's where I ask you what that means to you.  What does it mean to play ?  What does it look like, what does it sound like... these things.

Thanks.

[ryanyee]

to make everything sound beautiful, to learn all sorts of pieces, to be master of ur instrument.

[dan101]

For me, piano and composing are means of releasing my emotions and inner thoughts. Piano playing is also a wonderful way of relaxing.

[healdie]

For me it is a way of saying what i want without using words, i completly agree with what Beethoven said, when he said "all i do is what a poet does with words, except i use sounds" music is an art form an i think alot of people especially in the pop music world forget this.

[photowriters]

I have several goals for learning the piano. One is to play music that I like. Second is to help me learn more about music work. Third is to develop my keyboard skills so that I can compose music more easily.

[ahinton]

It seems rather surprising that this thread has generated so few responses so far on what is after all a piano forum; any thoughts, anyone?...

Best,

Alistair

[general disarray]

To vibrate on the same frequency -- if only temporarily -- as my "betters," e.g. Beethoven, Bach, Haydn. Mendelssohn, Brahms, Chopin, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Ravel, Debussy, Rachmaninov, Sorabji, Hinton, etc., etc.

Playing this stuff gives me access to their world and the better I play it, the more deeply I inhabit their rarefed realm.  Reaching for the stars, transcending this earth through the instrument.  Alas. 

(Sigh . . . )

[Petter]

I aim to be able to play arpeggios really fast without breaking my neck.

[general disarray]

I aim to be able to play arpeggios really fast without breaking my neck.

Make sure you master the thumb over technique.  You'll play them like greased lightning.

[oscarr111111]

I aim to be able to play arpeggios really fast without breaking my neck.

Maybe you should switch genre and instrument and become a metal guitarist, then you could make an entire career out of it 

[shortyshort]

I do not have any great ambitions. 

I'm happy plodding along at my own pace. 

I would like to be able to learn a little faster, but I'm sure that will come in time. 

I would also like to be satisfied with my own playing. 

I feel lucky that I have the tiny bit of talent that I have, and enjoy the challenge of trying to learn pieces.

But all in all, it is a release from all the day to day drudgery that I have to live through on a daily basis, and when I do play something and it sounds good, (to me), I get a huge buzz. 

[Petter]

Make sure you master the thumb over technique.  You'll play them like greased lightning.

I never agreed on using my body when I started this stint, I want refunds.

Seriously though, I want to learn to improvise better and find out how to without unnecessary tension, improve my left hand and the interaction beetwen the hands. And work on my hearing, pitch, ear, whatever it´s called.