'Fun' piano lessons. 'It's never too late to learn'

[opium_64]

Does this annoy you when you read it? You look for a serious teacher on the Web, and you see the word 'fun' and want to puke. And being over 20 and reading those crippling words 'it's never too late to learn', the first thing you think is '...unless you want to be a concert pianist'. haha

[nyiregyhazi]

Does this annoy you when you read it? You look for a serious teacher on the Web, and you see the word 'fun' and want to puke. And being over 20 and reading those crippling words 'it's never too late to learn', the first thing you think is '...unless you want to be a concert pianist'. haha

No, fun does not want to make me puke. Admittedly, it does probably turn up more in the descriptions of crap teachers (who offer fun as a replacement for depth of knowledge). However, there's no reason why good teachers should be sterile and boring. Also, how many people think they can be a concert pianist when starting in their twenties? Okay, there have been a couple of cranks on here who really do, but it's absolutely right to say that it's never too late to learn to a decent enough standard.

[opium_64]

No, fun does not want to make me puke. Admittedly, it does probably turn up more in the descriptions of crap teachers (who offer fun as a replacement for depth of knowledge). However, there's no reason why good teachers should be sterile and boring. Also, how many people think they can be a concert pianist when starting in their twenties? Okay, there have been a couple of cranks on here who really do, but it's absolutely right to say that it's never too late to learn to a decent enough standard.

Are you calling me a crank? Don't you dare call me a crank. You haven't heard me play. Graham Caskie told me I'm gifted. Now I'm being called a crank by some jealous amateur who doesn't know anything about me. Idiot

[Derek]

Why do you want to be a concert pianist? It seems to me that a negative attitude will almost certainly snuff out even the remotest possibility of your achieving that goal. If you don't get help for that soon, you can basically kiss that dream good bye.

Perhaps you should try to replace your negative attitude with an internal joy in playing piano. If you can get to a point where negative thoughts rarely cross your mind while playing or practicing, you just might grow your abilities to the point where being a concert pianist is possible. But I'm pretty darn sure negative thoughts will get you nowhere fast.

What's wrong with "fun" by the way? I thought that was the whole point. It seems like "fun" should be able to exist alongside "sweepingly deep feelings of musical flight in the innermost parts of your soul." Are those mutually exclusive?

[opium_64]

Why do you want to be a concert pianist? It seems to me that a negative attitude will almost certainly snuff out even the remotest possibility of your achieving that goal. If you don't get help for that soon, you can basically kiss that dream good bye.

Perhaps you should try to replace your negative attitude with an internal joy in playing piano. If you can get to a point where negative thoughts rarely cross your mind while playing or practicing, you just might grow your abilities to the point where being a concert pianist is possible. But I'm pretty darn sure negative thoughts will get you nowhere fast.

What's wrong with "fun" by the way? I thought that was the whole point. It seems like "fun" should be able to exist alongside "sweepingly deep feelings of musical flight in the innermost parts of your soul." Are those mutually exclusive?

The internet has destroyed my life. Amen.

[Derek]

If the internet destroyed your life, I recommend that you stop paying for internet service, and get a shrink. Or talk to a close friend or family member...that could be better depending...

[nyiregyhazi]

Are you calling me a crank? Don't you dare call me a crank. You haven't heard me play. Graham Caskie told me I'm gifted. Now I'm being called a crank by some jealous amateur who doesn't know anything about me. Idiot

So you are saying that you started in your twenties and hope to be a concert pianist? Despite having just ridiculed that notion? Did you read what I wrote, before assuming it applied to you? I wasn't calling you a crank, but based on your response I think you really do need some urgent help.

[opium_64]

So you are saying that you started in your twenties and hope to be a concert pianist? Despite having just ridiculed that notion? Did you read what I wrote, before assuming it applied to you? I wasn't calling you a crank, but based on your response I think you really do need some urgent help.

I don't need any help. Don't call anyone with a gift a crank.

[Derek]

You certainly don't need any help making life unnecessarily hard for yourself as you've described it, that much is true. You're in that infinite regression of thinking that you'll only be worthy of something if you make it hard for yourself and beat yourself up mentally until you're a bloody pulp in your mind. I've fallen into this trap a little too often and I think it did some damage to me. I'm not really sure how I got over it, perhaps it is just part of growing up, perhaps it was the love of family and friends. If you're lacking in these things maybe you need new friends, or a totally new situation, or if there's something bad for you on the internet (like piano sites that irritate teh crap out of you), get parental control software. May sound preposterous but I personally believe it to be a totally appropriate thing to change one's environment if there's something negative in it. Well, good luck.

[nyiregyhazi]

I don't need any help. Don't call anyone with a gift a crank.

There have been many previous threads about this. I'm even wondering if you're the same guy as from before (who also boasted "I have a gift"). If you're only in it to become a concert pianist at this stage, you'd be better off seeing a psychiatrist. I say that not as a flippant remark, but quite sincerely. Start by getting yourself to diploma standard- for no other reason than because you WANT to play well. If you get there, you'll be in a position to then seriously ask if you might be up to a concert career.

[opium_64]

You certainly don't need any help making life unnecessarily hard for yourself as you've described it, that much is true. You're in that infinite regression of thinking that you'll only be worthy of something if you make it hard for yourself and beat yourself up mentally until you're a bloody pulp in your mind. I've fallen into this trap a little too often and I think it did some damage to me. I'm not really sure how I got over it, perhaps it is just part of growing up, perhaps it was the love of family and friends. If you're lacking in these things maybe you need new friends, or a totally new situation, or if there's something bad for you on the internet (like piano sites that irritate teh crap out of you), get parental control software. May sound preposterous but I personally believe it to be a totally appropriate thing to change one's environment if there's something negative in it. Well, good luck.

Good advice.

[opium_64]

There have been many previous threads about this. I'm even wondering if you're the same guy as from before (who also boasted "I have a gift"). If you're only in it to become a concert pianist at this stage, you'd be better off seeing a psychiatrist. I say that not as a flippant remark, but quite sincerely. Start by getting yourself to diploma standard- for no other reason than because you WANT to play well. If you get there, you'll be in a position to then seriously ask if you might be up to a concert career.

I don't need a pschyiatrist. I need to behave myself on Piano STREET (stupid name)