Depressed over my skills.

[gleeok]

I have been practicing a piece over and over, making it sound better and better. I'm doing exercises even with the Metronome, which I used to hate a lot (but now love : P). The piece itself DO sound better the more I practice it, although I'm being lazy and delaying practice for the ending which has some more or less complicated chords for me.

Today I recorded a video of myself playing to get some external feedback, and although I feel the piece is in the right way when talking about musicality and technicality (parts which used to be hard for me but now sound smooth). But I am highly unsatisfied with global gesture and overall finger smoothness.

Right after I started to practice again, a few months ago I said to myself "This will get better with time, its a matter of practice." But now I feel there is something definitely wrong with me. I didn't notice many changes between how stiff my fingers look since the last video I recorded, which already has considerable time, and I can't see how this will improve anymore.

The DO look stiff, whats wrong with me? Maybe I need a teacher after all, practicing arpeggios with the right fingerings should have at least made this a little bit better : (

Watching a few videos I notice many pianists have an amazing, calming gesture, I wish I could do something near that.

For example:

I know, he does a little mistakes here and there (he is 13 .-. and plays great), but talking about his fingers, they look very smooth, definitely unlike mines, which are horrible stiff, specially the right hand's 5th.

Any ideas on how to improve this? Should I get a teacher to improve my technique?

[danhuyle]

The time is not the issue and in fact it could be working against you.

Is that you playing or someone else?

Everyone on these forums recommend getting a teacher.

Piano teachers say EVERYTHING is difficult. I've been in your situation before and I know what it feels like.

It's simple, get a piece of music, write in the fingering and play. That's it. 

[chopin2015]

definitely see a teacher, at least for a little bit. First ,you could try imitating how relaxed the people you are watching. Just copy the gestures and the way they hold their arms and how they move.

[outin]

Today I recorded a video of myself playing to get some external feedback, and although I feel the piece is in the right way when talking about musicality and technicality (parts which used to be hard for me but now sound smooth). But I am highly unsatisfied with global gesture and overall finger smoothness.



The DO look stiff, whats wrong with me? Maybe I need a teacher after all, practicing arpeggios with the right fingerings should have at least made this a little bit better : (


Any ideas on how to improve this? Should I get a teacher to improve my technique?

Don't get too depressed! You might start thinking of quitting

It must be an individual thing...For me relaxation (in the right parts) has been the biggest challenge of all. I just don't feel when I am or not, especially the wrists. I have had many moments of desperation and frustration.

A good teacher would help I am sure, but time and patience are also important. The teacher would help you see what needs changing, but you need to figure out how.

It took me over a year to get to a point where I start believing I might be able to learn eventually. A lot of time experimenting, finding something and losing it again.

It just doesn't come so naturally to some of us, but when it finally will, I am sure it will be worth all the suffering

[gleeok]

Is that you playing or someone else?

Its someone else, I was just blown over by how smooth he looks even thought he is young (13), he should have started playing when he was 5 or something, thats what passes trough my mind.

[gleeok]

It just doesn't come so naturally to some of us, but when it finally will, I am sure it will be worth all the suffering

I agree, but I also think its a question of what comes naturally. I doesn't take much for me to get the rhythm and overall connection to the piece (IF I like it), or even overcome parts which seemed difficult at first, but the relaxation thing...the relaxation, I just can't do it. I guess its a reflex of how I feel, maybe? Always worried about stuff and responsibility, personal things.

Maybe I should work that out to make piano playing that moment where I am purely "off" my regular worries and bad feelings, I play it for relaxation, but still can't achieve the physical part it seems.

[outin]

I agree, but I also think its a question of what comes naturally. I doesn't take much for me to get the rhythm and overall connection to the piece (IF I like it), or even overcome parts which seemed difficult at first, but the relaxation thing...the relaxation, I just can't do it. I guess its a reflex of how I feel, maybe? Always worried about stuff and responsibility, personal things.

You shouldn't overdo the relaxation either, the fingers I mean. I think In the beginning you do need more strength to cover for the missing technichal skill, otherwise your playing will become "mushy" (can't think of a better word) and sloppy. I have come to the conclusion that only with time and enourmous amount of practice most of us can make playing look like it's the easiest thing on the world. We just see so many amazing and experienced pianists in the internet these days that we start demanding too much from ourselves. My hands feel a lot more relaxed now than they did a few months ago. But there's still a long way to go to playing like I would like to.

[jayeckz]

If you can afford a teacher and have access to a QUALIFIED teacher, lessons will help you significantly.

The hard part is finding a qualified teacher...

I went through about 7 teachers before finding one suitable for me.  3 of the 7 teachers claimed to teach "all levels" but shouldn't have been teaching in the first place (not even beginners!).  2 of the teachers didn't play very well although they knew how to teach.  The other 2 teachers just didn't suit my learning style (they focus a bit too much on music and offer no practical advice on learning the pieces).

It's really tricky for a beginner because you don't know what to watch out for.  I would suggest you double check a potential teacher's credentials if you can't get a referral or a second opinion.

[gleeok]

If you can afford a teacher and have access to a QUALIFIED teacher, lessons will help you significantly.

The hard part is finding a qualified teacher...

I went through about 7 teachers before finding one suitable for me.  3 of the 7 teachers claimed to teach "all levels" but shouldn't have been teaching in the first place (not even beginners!).  2 of the teachers didn't play very well although they knew how to teach.  The other 2 teachers just didn't suit my learning style (they focus a bit too much on music and offer no practical advice on learning the pieces).

It's really tricky for a beginner because you don't know what to watch out for.  I would suggest you double check a potential teacher's credentials if you can't get a referral or a second opinion.

Thanks for the tips, I will take this into account if I start looking for a teacher, I already have a person in mind which is a friend of my mother's lawyer, he is also a lawyer but plays in his off-time at restaurants/hotels, that kind of stuff, so I guess he knows how to play well.

Taking in consideration where he plays, that probably puts some jazz style into the table, right? If that happens, it would be perfect for me, not that I wouldn't like a teacher more into classic stuff, but a teacher who is into jazz and classic would be more flexible towards the stuff I want to get experience to play.

[roseamelia]

All I can say is... Keep practicing and working on your fingers. You can do it!

[ajspiano]

If you can afford a teacher and have access to a QUALIFIED teacher, lessons will help you significantly.

The hard part is finding a qualified teacher...

I went through about 7 teachers before finding one suitable for me.  3 of the 7 teachers claimed to teach "all levels" but shouldn't have been teaching in the first place (not even beginners!).  2 of the teachers didn't play very well although they knew how to teach.  The other 2 teachers just didn't suit my learning style (they focus a bit too much on music and offer no practical advice on learning the pieces).

It's really tricky for a beginner because you don't know what to watch out for.  I would suggest you double check a potential teacher's credentials if you can't get a referral or a second opinion.

I would perhaps add to that..

..meaning that the word "qualified" in this particular field hardly means "has an on paper qualification" - unless its a teaching qualification, in combination with a music performance qualification...  and even then its imperative that they have an ongoing interest to further their skills and understanding. There's so much more to know that what a university or the AMEB/ABRSM can provide. You can't go on the paperwork, you have to personally assess them.

A lot of teachers stick their Amus or Lmus (or equivalent, though the L is certainly a much more promising indicator) at the end of their name and naive students/parents think that makes them a good teacher, and that just isn't the case. Frankly I find it disturbing how parents/students can be so trusting of my skills just because I've stuck my name out as a teacher. Imagine if school teachers didnt have to have a teaching qualification, the mess we'd have with incompetent teachers would be phenominal.

Piano teaching is an unregulated field - You have to personally assess what benefits you are getting from the lessons.

Its worth it, a good teacher will accellerate you're progress like you couldn't possibly imagine. Good in person advice is unbeatable.

[costicina]

Finding a teacher like AJ would be an immense struck of luck....I whish I had that luck in my youth 

[atinm]

Totally worth it to get a teacher - especially when he tells you stuff like "you learn to do it that way when the scary Russian teacher tells you to do it that way - *sink* into the keybed!" like my teacher who just graduated with a masters in piano performance told me when I was asking him why his arm/fingers moved so much more smoothly than mine with so many more gradations!

[ajspiano]

Finding a teacher like AJ would be an immense struck of luck

You are a little too generous with your comments regarding me/my skills

[perprocrastinate]

Finding a teacher like AJ would be an immense struck of luck....I whish I had that luck in my youth 

Sorry AJ, but I have to second that, despite the fact that I have never met you in person (and probably never will). 

[ajspiano]

I'm hardly think I'm a great teacher, I merely have the desire to be one.

Edit:
Not that I don't appreciate your comments...

It's like I said above though, as a teacher - I (and my advice/lessons) should be subject to scrutiny regularly regardless of anyones preconceived opinion about the value of my advice. The student must pay attention and judge the quality of the information. This is so important because when a student just takes the teachers advice without serious questioning its far to easy for the teacher to think the student understood when really they didn't.

Questioning leads to understanding. While you may be able to do some things without really understanding why or how, a sense of overall learning doesn't really happen without understanding.

This is particularly evident to me because I just don't have the experience to nail an explanation first time every time. It requires such a high level of experience to be able to do that. You have to be able to judge the students learning style, capabilities, rate of progress, demonstrate the task, explain the task, observe the students attempts, mentally note the students problems, formulate explainations to fix the problems..  often all at the same time, and then convey information without overwhelming the student (and since you're observing so much about whats going on its easy to give a student too much)

^these are all teaching skills that have to come on top of the relatively simple ability to physically/mentally play the piano. Teaching is easy, great teaching - in the context of advanced music, is totally amazing.

[gleeok]

You are a little too generous with your comments regarding me/my skills

Well, taking in consideration the way you are so attentive to me/people in the forum and I'm not even one of your students, I just can't imagine how you wouldn't be the perfect kind of teacher for any of us xD, and you always explain stuff with an amazing clarity.

I'm with what they said about having you as a teacher, hahaha.

[ajspiano]

*hides face.


..I have some spots on tuesday's if anyone wants to fly to australia.

[outin]

..I have some spots on tuesday's if anyone wants to fly to australia.

How about a summer camp for us Pianostreeters...I've never been to Australia

[roseamelia]

I'll go to Australia with you AJ! No no i'm just kidding!!

[thesixthsensemusic]

Its someone else, I was just blown over by how smooth he looks even thought he is young (13), he should have started playing when he was 5 or something, thats what passes trough my mind.

13 is not that young for a pianist, he might have been playing for 5 years, that is enough time to reach a very high skill level with sufficient practice. Eventually you will get there too, if you manage to force yourself to practice enough. And don't forget children learn much quicker than adults. But, skills can be learned. The basis of everything is a good technique, even though building one might be extremely boring, as it involves playing many scales, arpeggiated chords, and practice pieces that are as musically interesting as a Nicki Minaj song - e.g. not at all.

To sum things up: you should not be intimidated by those chords at the end of your piece but take them on like a bull fighter takes a steer by the horns. Believe in yourself, and if you have trouble motivating yourself just take some lessons from a respected teacher, professional piano teachers are also schooled in motivational skills and chances are, that a well-respected teacher is a very good motivator.

[gleeok]

13 is not that young for a pianist, he might have been playing for 5 years, that is enough time to reach a very high skill level with sufficient practice. Eventually you will get there too, if you manage to force yourself to practice enough. And don't forget children learn much quicker than adults. But, skills can be learned. The basis of everything is a good technique, even though building one might be extremely boring, as it involves playing many scales, arpeggiated chords, and practice pieces that are as musically interesting as a Nicki Minaj song - e.g. not at all.

To sum things up: you should not be intimidated by those chords at the end of your piece but take them on like a bull fighter takes a steer by the horns. Believe in yourself, and if you have trouble motivating yourself just take some lessons from a respected teacher, professional piano teachers are also schooled in motivational skills and chances are, that a well-respected teacher is a very good motivator.

Thanks for the encouraging words! I was done with the chords a while ago, now I'm just polishing that piece I mentioned in the post, and my gesture looks much better than before, I feel I'm improving!

Definitely, depressing times come once in a while, but the results of hard work are always a great remedy for that. If you want to see my first video of that piece, which is Lee Galloway's arrangement of Canon in D, it is in the audition room. Please be aware that was the 1st one, and is not as good as I am playing right now, but its worth looking I guarantee! Specially when comparing my recording to Oborin's Canon in D, in which my fingers look much less smooth.

[kylenelson]

I think if you really love this you will definitely succeed just keep on practice. Don't forget any form of art writing, music or anything else is the objectification of feeling. It is an experience and it takes time.

[drflash5080]

what is he playing

[roseamelia]

Try one hand at a time maybe that would work,  Then after you have mastered your left(or right hand)hand then go to the next.

[tranquille]

*hides face.


..I have some spots on tuesday's if anyone wants to fly to australia.

Definitely flying out over the weekend - I'm looking for a teacher!