Can't seem to improve!

[whymatt]

For around 3 years I had piano lessons, but now at uni I've had to stop them. I've noticed that other people can play amazing tunes without too much apparent effort, yet I can still only make a semi decent but simple noise, reading from my sheets. I've never sat any exams, but was working on the grade 4 book when I stopped. Does anyone have any exercises I could try? Thx!

[perelea]

well 3 years is not that long, so don't worry about your skills. Some people are just faster/more natural learners but in the end it doesn't matter, enough practice and motivation will do it.

It's hard to recomend something just like that. What was the last piece you have played ?

[whymatt]

The last thing I really played properly was a simplified (I think) version of send in the clowns in Eb. I have tried a few modern songs with chords in the right hand, but can't seem to get any sort of speed or smooth changes.

[keyofc]

Buy The Four-Way Keyboard System by Alan Swain if you can.
It will teach you step by step
There are 4 books
I'm going through them right now and they have helped a lot in the last 3 weeks

[shadowzerg]

For the exercise thats simple: attempt to make more music. Don't pick pieces based on what you think you might need in them but for what you think you mightlike in them. Pick pieces based on the love for music with little to no regard for difficulty. Looking for exercises will cause possible boredom and a loss for musicality.

[proftom]

I dont know how many times i say this, but you're improving every time you practice.


Proftom 

[shadowzerg]

I dont know how many times i say this, but you're improving every time you practice.


Proftom 

Not if you practice wrong. The brain learns whatever you input so if you input mistakes wouldn't that be detrimental instead?

[keyofc]

whymatt,

I thought you wrote improvising - the book I suggested was for improvising.

For classical - what kind of exercizes are you looking for?

[whymatt]

Thanks, I will keep trying some songs.
I'm not looking for any particular exercises, just something that may give me a bit more fluidity and ease of movement when playing chords with the right hand, rather than just single notes.
Thx!