Questions on Studying, Learning and Teaching

[db05]

I look around and I see in PSF the most talented and intelligent men who've ever been online. I see all this potential... and I see it squandered. But that is only a statement, not a question.

Going to topic: I am posting this in Anything But because I am asking these questions in a general sense, not only piano/ music. One could say that we are all students (and that we'll never stop studying and learning)... of piano, music, love and life. But there are also experts and teachers. People that can actually say, "I've been there." Been where exactly? People who are learned, whose studying has finally paid off.

We study to learn. When we learn enough, we can teach. That's what I'm thinking, in a nutshell. How do we study so that we can learn? Some say that practice makes perfect. (But nobody's perfect, so why practice?) So how should we practice/ study? Some say that it depends on the individual. True. But I'm thinking there are the conventions we must meet, there is the reality we are in, and then there MAY be the universal laws of everything. Wow, that's a lot!

Unless you're a self-taught hermit, there will always be somebody to listen to your music and criticize it. Consciously or not, you have to meet someone's demands. Some things need to be done, and in a certain period of time. And to do this, you have to learn how to do it. Supposing that studies are underway, how do you know that it is enough, that you have learned this?

I think there's the personal/ individual realm, and the general/ societal realm that we must consider. We may be lifelong learners deep in our hearts, but outside there is such a thing as expertise or mastery. But how would we know when we are a master of something, or when we could teach?

It might seem like a useless thread, that I am thinking when I should be doing. And that the topic has manifested itself in pieces and in different ways already. But I am highly personal, and almost deaf to the demands of others. Such is that people usually think that I am a perfectionist, that I am a lazy person, that I am an arrogant person, or that I am a jerk. I do not know what I am capable of in the real world. I may think, I can do this, when I cannot, or vice-versa. Maybe it also happens to other people, in different levels.

[go12_3]

I appreicate you remarks, db,  and you have brought up some good thoughts here in your post.  Indeed, most of the members in the forum are in several categories:
1.  The just beginning to learn to play piano on their own
2.  The ones that are taking lessons now and are in the wonderment of the learning process of play piano
3.  The ones that are seasoned students that have taken lessons most of their lives and are still studying and struggling
3.  The ones that have taken lessons for several years and become teachers
4.  The ones that become professional pianists and give concerts and that has paid off
5.  The ones who are amatuers and stuggling to find a way to learn to play piano at a later age, like in their 40s and beyond
6.  The ones who are not taking lessons, but love playing piano and striving to learn the pieces on their own
7.  The ones who records their pieces in the Audtition and Improvisation boards and we, the novice students, marvel at their playing
8.  Lastly, we are all students, irregardless of age and experience in which makes us continually question ourselves to grow whether in our life experiences and how we progress with our music we are learning whether we are a hermit, imperfectionist, lazy, arrogant or a jerk. (And by the way, db, you are a talented and wonderful person ).

Best regards,

go12_3

[thalbergmad]

I look around and I see in PSF the most talented and intelligent men who've ever been online. 

AWWWW shucks, I am really chuffed to bits.

Thal

[ahinton]

I appreicate you remarks, db,  and you have brought up some good thoughts here in your post.  Indeed, most of the members in the forum are in several categories:
1.  The just beginning to learn to play piano on their own
2.  The ones that are taking lessons now and are in the wonderment of the learning process of play piano
3.  The ones that are seasoned students that have taken lessons most of their lives and are still studying and struggling
3.  The ones that have taken lessons for several years and become teachers
4.  The ones that become professional pianists and give concerts and that has paid off
5.  The ones who are amatuers and stuggling to find a way to learn to play piano at a later age, like in their 40s and beyond
6.  The ones who are not taking lessons, but love playing piano and striving to learn the pieces on their own
7.  The ones who records their pieces in the Audtition and Improvisation boards and we, the novice students, marvel at their playing

And then there's also those whose pianistic activities extend no farther than writing for the instrument as distinct from playing it...

Best,

Alistair

[db05]

And then there's also those whose pianistic activities extend no farther than writing for the instrument as distinct from playing it...

Awww, don't feel bad. You are one of the most intelligent people too!

AWWWW shucks, I am really chuffed to bits.

You're welcome.

(And by the way, db, you are a talented and wonderful person ).

Believe me, in the real world, it is a lot different. But here I am even called awesome by morningstar. It is because the internet is a space between the personal and the general, a haven for those who find it hard to live only on the two realms.

[ahinton]

Awww, don't feel bad.

I don't! I would if I did attempt to play the piano, though - as would anyone unfortunate enough to be within earshot...

You are one of the most intelligent people too!

One tries one's best...

Best,

Alistair

[general disarray]

It is because the internet is a space between the personal and the general

Did someone mention "the general?"  "space?"  "personal?"



DeeBeeOhFive, no need to leave personal space between your dear self and the general!



                                                     

[db05]

DeeBeeOhFive, no need to leave personal space between your dear self and the general!



                                                     

I'm afraid it is not just space between myself and the general, but SOLID ROCK.

Care for a cup of coffee? 

[general disarray]

I'm afraid it is not just space between myself and the general, but SOLID ROCK.

Care for a cup of coffee? 

Were it solid rock and I a climber, I'd hasten to the summit!

Were it solid rock and a tunneller, I'd blast through the impasse!

Were it solid rock and I the Earth, I'd quake it away!

But, alas, it is only I . . . uh, yeah, actually, I'd like a cup of coffee!  You buying?   

[db05]

Were it solid rock and I a climber, I'd hasten to the summit!

Were it solid rock and a tunneller, I'd blast through the impasse!

Were it solid rock and I the Earth, I'd quake it away!

But, alas, it is only I . . . uh, yeah, actually, I'd like a cup of coffee!  You buying?   

General, sir? Why would you want to cross the space and rock? For what purpose? The coffee is available in stores, and even if I bought for you, i wouldn't know how to bring it to the other side... 

[db05]

*db05 leans on the rock, waiting for answers to her questions*

[javacisnotrecognized]

*db05 leans on the rock, waiting for answers to her questions*

You have already learned many things (Such has how to type, how to post on pianostreet, etc)

How did you learn to do these so well? Is it possible to apply this process to any arbitrary task ?

Also, will you find your answers by waiting, or will you have to go out there and search for them (Possibly finding other things on the way). You could say that any time that isn't spent searching is spent waiting, so you better be sure that what you're waiting for is going to happen on it's own..

[db05]

You have already learned many things (Such has how to type, how to post on pianostreet, etc) How did you learn to do these so well? Is it possible to apply this process to any arbitrary task ?

I take it as a compliment, but I don't think I learned anything "well" really. Learned well is when I can will myself to do something anytime, for any amount of time. Most everything I've ever done is on a whim or forced to, and is non-sustaining. I am already applying this process, that is waiting for the spur or push of the moment.

Even if I go search, the search itself would be over too soon. Not because something was found, but something was lost.