Am self-taught and not getting any better

[frank1]

Hi all,
Am self-taught and around level 3 and not seeming to get any better.  Have some songbooks (sheet music) that say on the cover "piano, vocal, chord".  These have 3 parts.  I think the top part is for guitars and the other 2 parts are for piano. ??  I can play the melody part that I think is for guitars.  I just use my right hand only on my piano and keyboards to play this and is fairly easy.  But the bottom two parts are too hard for me.  I have even taken to taping over the middle part and playing  the top and bottom parts.  Pretty drastic, huh?  I also have probably fifty piano books that are titled Easy Piano.  I can play a lot of these, however, not very well.  I seem to be playing the same songs over and over and I don't seem to be getting any better ?  Lessons are $70 a month for 4 30 min sessions.  Seems a fair price. ??I so desperately want to get better.  The guy at our local music store told me that one month of lessons you will learn more than a whole year of teaching yourself. ??  I also have hand tremours and my doc can't figure our what is causing them.  Of course that plays hell with trying to play with my hands shaking - but that is another story.  Any advice on me trying to get better?  I love this web site.  Thanks you in advance.
Frank (in Georgia)

[ajspiano]

I seem to be playing the same songs over and over and I don't seem to be getting any better ? 

You are likely practicing with a technically flaw that inhibits you're progress.

Lessons are $70 a month for 4 30 min sessions.

Seems cheap to me, but I live in a different country to you.

The guy at our local music store told me that one month of lessons you will learn more than a whole year of teaching yourself.

Depends on the teacher, but yes this is quite likely, particularly since you are struggling to progress at the moment..

I also have hand tremours and my doc can't figure our what is causing them.  Of course that plays hell with trying to play with my hands shaking - but that is another story.

Can't possible comment on this without seeing you play, however, does it hurt or feel at all strained when you play, if so, where exactly? Does the tremour happen at the piano only or elsewhere as well?

[idreamofpiano]

when do you have the hand tremours? They did not happen to me when I was younger, but now since I am a little older, there are more things on my mind, and anything the least little exciting, my nerves kick in. Needless to say, I feel your pain! I had a friend in high school whose leg would have these tremours, and boy could you tell from the audience.  Try at your very best to have nothing on your mind while you are practicing, take a deep breath before playing.
Also, as for taking lessons, it may not be that you need to take lessons forever, just take a few to get you over the hurdle. And lastly, lessons books are like shoes. The size depends on the brand. All lesson books aren't titled properly.
 I have found some higher levels of books to be easier than the lower levels. Go through your books that you have at home and pick the easiest ones. put them back. Take one from the harder stack and just work on that book. don't compare yourself to other pianists, everyone has difficulty with something. Take a section or measure at a time with one song at a time. Do not try to learn so many songs at once.  Good  luck and Merry Christmas! =))

[frank1]

Much obliged to all who replied to my recent post.  My hands shake all the time, not just when playing the piano (some days are better than others).

[megadodd]

I think if you can afford lessons, it would be a great investment. You seem passionate about playing the piano.
It's hard to have a general perspective over your development when you are in the middle of it, I have experienced many musicians can get a little worse period wise when focus ends up on small things instead of the whole picture. But it is important to focus on details to develop your skills and understanding. Perhaps you don't think you focus alot on details, but I'm sure there is some sort of thing holding you back. But have you become a better musician than some time ago? I'm sure you have! But today you see things in your own musicianship that you wish to improve and/or change and the old truth  "the more you learn the more you realize how little you know" applies when you feel like you hit a wall. Today you can see faults in yourself that you didn't know existed 1 year, 6 months ago or whenever you felt like it was going good.

To be a musician is a lifelong study, and for some maybe most, to learn how to handle the feeling of not being good enough.
I'm sure, that you will get where you want to go if you keep working.

Also, are you playing something you really want to play? Will it give you a GREAT satisfaction when you are done, will you be proud of it?
If not, go get something to work on that you will enjoy more than anything else. (Within reason ofcourse, wouldn't want you to damage your hands or develop poor technique).
If you get the teacher, ask her/him for repertoir suggestions, write a list of things you would want to play, and don't feel down if s/he tells you it has to wait, it's only a matter of determination and time.

[frank1]

thx megadodd and may u have a merry christmas.

[Bob]

Lessons probably wouldn't hurt.  I don't quite buy one years of working on your own equalling a month with a teacher -- it depends on the student.  I'd go with some lessons.

Weekly if you're at the level I'm thinking, but there are other ways.  You could do every other week.  Or just take for a few months and then work on your own.