Frustrated Beginner

[Sasquatch101]

Im 17 years old and I started playing piano about 8 months ago( never to late to start ). The past 3-4 months I've had a teacher I meet once a week. I'm learning out of a large book called "The Piano Handbook" found here:

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0879307277/qid=1113355974/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-3478091-2072854?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

I've also been learning a few pieces on the side, probably nothing you guys would know. Someone told me whenever you get frustrated at a piece just take it one hand at a time and one note at a time. I think Yo-Yo Ma said "one measure a day" or something like that. Although I'm completly in love with music I get bored of what I'm working on because I've been playing it so much trying to learn it.

I'm working on a piece right now that I've been trying to learn for 2-3 months, in the beginning I LOVED playing it because it was so beautiful but now it sounds so boring; even though Im 3/4 the way done with the piece I dont really feel like doing any more lately. It's like I'm not really listining to the piece anymore, just playing it. Anyone else feel this?

Anyways I was wondering if you guys have any tips that I could use to motivate myself or something. I was thinking maybe I should just keep playing those easy pieces I can sight read and work my way up so the material is always new; not always interesting but new.

What do you guys/girls/women/men think?

[xvimbi]

There are probably endless possibilities to overcome this problem. I'll start with two:

1. Learn several pieces at the same time. Generally, break up your routine by interspersing things that are not directly related to the piece, such as learning scales, triads, etc.

2. Try to improve your practice routine such that you don't need that much time or that many repetitions to master a section. This will come with time, but you can already start by intelligently analyzing your playing. This often leads to faster improvements than repeating the same thing over and over again.

[musik_man]

It's also quite possible that the piece you worked on was too hard.  It's much more rewarding and effective to learn 3 or 4 easier pieces in the same time it would've taken you to learn one hard one.

[asyncopated]

Here's a secret that I've learnt --

Play ONLY the parts you don't know.  You might be getting board because you are playing the parts that you do know over and over again.  I used to do that.  So start from some where in the middle, on a part that you don't know and play that.  Only play the piece through once in a while. 

I find in general, if I start at the start and try to get to the end I get board easily.  Try this instead.  When you are learning a piece, start by identifying sections -- one at the start, one at the end and one in the middle.  Play each section separately, as if it were a new piece until you are used to it.  After that identify new sections and start practicing those.  You might also what to try to play the harder sections first.  With this, you should not actually be playing the whole piece through at any point.  Only when there are enough sections in tact do you start putting the piece together.   I find this a good strategy for pieces that you find challenging.  It is probably not the best method for easy pieces. 

al.

[Sasquatch101]

Thanks for the info guys. I should try breaking them up into pieces, that way it has way less of a chance to get boring. Thats the best idea I've heard all day THANKYOU!!!

[toxico]

I bought the Piano Handbook just over a month ago.  I'm using it as my primary guide, until I hook up with a teacher.  I'm more of a beginner than you, having only played since the new year - at first from about half of Alfred's Basic Adult book 1 (which I still intend to finish). 

Which song # are you working on?  I'm getting ready to tackle song 10, the short version of Greensleeves.  I've found that numerous listenings to the included cd of the songs has helped.  Both just to hear/feel, and while scanning the sheet music visually.  Actually that cd and this box set: https://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?dest=9999999997&product_id=2360930&sourceid=0100000030660805402498  have been in my players pretty much uncontested since.

[Triton LE 76]

Hey Sasquatch101!
I think you should break it up into small pieces also..And think of how fun it will be to perform the music you are playing!  
 
 

[Sasquatch101]

Im on track 16 right now. Its the small mozart minuet. The book is a great learing guide but I highly suggest you get a teacher as well. I never realized how bad my rhythm was until I got a teacher. But the big piece I'm working on is a recompisition of a song I always liked in classical piano form. looks like this...





Those are just the 2 pages I know how to play, only a page and half left

[sonatainfsharp]

You shouldn't be spending 3-4 months on one piece unless you are a late intermediate student.

If you have only been playing for 8 months, you shoudln't be spending more than a few weeks at MOST on a single piece--in other words, you are trying music that it too hard too soon.

Then you get to be advanced and can spend YEARS or DECADES on one piece.

[Sasquatch101]

While I appreciate your opinion, I respectfully dissagree. I think its perfectly fine to keep steady increase in begginner sonds, while working on something hard to keep an equal balance and still have a "show-offy" piece. It gets me to read music and work on more advanced technique. As far as piano goes I'm all about balance.

[asyncopated]

Hi Sasquatch,

The piece you are doing does look difficult.  Maybe I should say challenging.  I think it's great that you're trying a piece like that!  There is a whole lot of technique involved!

I just wanted to point out a few more things that I consider extremely valuable that I've learn from my teacher and from this site and hopefully it'll help you as much as he helps me.

The first thing is to listen.  I find that it is difficult to listen to my own playing and alot of the time my mind just wonders.

The second thing is simply to relax.  The best piano playing should feel easy and graceful.  The problem with dealing with difficult pieces (pieces above your technical level, which I always like to do), is that you start developing bad technique.  These include inefficient and ungraceful (jerky) movements and a tense back, shoulder, arm and hand. 

Technique is about finding a natural movment for the sound that you want.  Remember that above all, it's not the notes on the page, it's the SOUND you're after!

Whatever the case, I find exploring many different movements very helpful.  The general philosophy I use now is to try to play with moving bigger muscle groups first.  E.g. you Back and trunk positions your sholder, your sholder positions your arm and forearm, your arm positions your wrist, and all you have to do with your fingers is to keep is firm and relaxed.  I still have a long way to go.

Good luck with your piece!

al.