Piano Progress: Expectations vs. Reality

[@harrok38]

I am a very late beginner… into my second month of learning AND being 86 years old, lol…but I am having fun, slowly, step by step!

[@donaldgallagher9880]

To me, it is like building a house. You clear the land, pour the foundation, put up the frame, and enclose it with bricks or wood. Obvious great progress here. Now you go inside and pick out colors and patterns, types of fixtures, and so on, more progress but not as drastic as going from a bare lot to a house standing on that lot. I absolutely love your videosI I have learned so much from them! When ever I talk with friends about KZbin and learning piano, yours is the only one I recommend. You have an easy going, calm way of teaching that makes it easy to grasp the material presented. THANK YOU!

[@Hollycb12]

5:09 this is so true what she says about taking practice notes and recording yourself often! I do this and love seeing my improvement over time! I've been practicing for 7 months at an average of 4 hours a day (I don't have kids) and I have seen drastic improvements since I began!

[@MYPIANOMOMENTS]

I started a year ago and was initially very motivated because I saw many videos from other beginners showing how quickly they had progressed. But at some point you realize that it takes a lot of training. One day you realize that you are missing the theory and start learning here too.... I also recorded my progress in a video, but you can't see the time I invested this year. I wish all beginners lasting motivation and perseverance. It is one of the most beautiful hobbies you can imagine.

[@rayseibert]

“…the more you know you don’t know.” Boy ain’t that the truth. Got smacked by the valley of despair (Dunning-Kruger effect) after starting piano lessons again in my early 50s. My instructor heard my attempt at Liszt’s Consolations #3 and rated me at late intermediate. Not horrible. But then he took be back to Haydn sonatas to “solidify the basics”. And it felt like I was learning how to play all over again. After about a year, I was able to graduate to some Beethoven sonata movements and now I’m back to Chopin’s Nocturnes. It’s definitely a journey but now I have realistic expectations that I can achieve early advanced in my lifetime. And that’s good enough.

[@Eddy-Bit]

My complements to you! How true and realistic. Been playing for years. Still working on a lot of things. The rewards are when I get the chance to play in a church band. What a great blessing it is when that happens. Hours of practice and mistakes happen when playing live.

[@armandodeguzman8894]

I enrolled in an on-line piano course during the first few months of the pandemic. At that time, I played in church and I can play simple melodies as intro and can accompany singers using chords. However, I felt like I needed to move to a higher level by knowing more about music theory, being able to read both the staff in G-cleff and bass cleff, and have access to more music scores. I never regretted the decision! I made rapid progress in the beginning but as you explained- my progress has slowed down but I continue to make increments in my skills through daily practice. I would rank myself as an intermediate player as if today. Thank you for your very clear explanations!😊😊

[@embrown23]

Awesome wisdom! Thank you!

[@krasko78]

Excellent video, Susan! I don't watch any videos like "My progress within 100 days". If that progress is real, kudos to the person but it is not the best way to show off. And when they put in the exact number of hours spent along the way I always laugh - really, who cares about that? You are absolutely right about measuring the progress by regularly recording yourself. I have a few videos on my channel already and every time I watch them I am sure I can play those pieces better now, I just know/feel it and can clearly see my progress in the later videos! :)

[@luisbalderas-ariza2644]

Thank you gor your encouraging words.

[@Xplicit36]

I started learning to play the piano 1 month ago. Since the beginning I told myself I was in for a long ride. I normally tell to myself "Hey wouldn't it be cool to be able to properly play this song in 5 years from now?" Even though I have plenty of songs that'd I'd like to tackle right now, I tell myself "maybe it's too soon" and most likely by trying to learn way more difficult songs I'd be learning bad habits as well. In the end I choose to learn to play the piano because it's fun, it's always fun to learn something new, but it also helps me to soothe my mood. I feel that music and playing an instrument in general is more about trying to convey a feeling or a concept rather than just being able to "play it" and to be able to convey those feelings and concepts I need to take my time to understand all the different nuances to playing the piano. But that's just my personal approach to learning to play this beautiful instrument.

[@PianoRoadmap]

Yes!

[@embrown23]

I’m the same way. I play stuff at my level and just above. I’m taking the 5 year view too 😊

[@DerekGreenwood-z1i]

Love your attitude and helpfulness and reality. Well done❤

[@PianoRoadmap]

😊

[@hollyavillella554]

Insightful and encouraging! Thanks so much! Very helpful! 🎹🎶❤️

[@dinobucz]

I ❤️ your videos. Your lessons, your presention, and editing are all awesome. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. I am a totally realistic and pragmatic student. I guess I’m too old and wise to get worked up about not progressing “fast enough.” I trust my piano teacher to guide me and give my canoe a push off the shore, but I know it’s up to me to paddle! 🤩

[@marcs6928]

I really enjoy hearing your perspectives- there’s nothing more useful and helpful to making progress than listening to objective, honest and constructive perspective. I couldn’t agree with you more, there are truly a myriad of reasons that factor into our progress…

[@marcs6928]

… I personally struggle with finding the time and energy you consistently practice after a very full workday. Even when I do sit and practice, I’m not as focused and it’s often mindless- bottom line, only the weekends and early in the day do I feel I’ve really worked towards progressing!

[@MusicDive-ex7mi]

Thank you! However I admit those social folks are annoying in sense when I see "my progress in 100 days" and I feel myself like running in water to the chest. I push and push and I moved millimeter I scream to myself "how on earth they do it" 🙂

[@PianoRoadmap]

100%!

[@WaynePower-jf6gj]

Love this advice , thanks so much for this.

[@denisehill7769]

I am a self-sabotager and find discipline really hard (and I did when I had weekly lessons too!) I also have a tendency to "sit" with the same pieces and need to push my way forward. Finding a routine that works is key, I think; while not letting it get boring I do think it needs to be something you do every day, like cleaning your teeth. You're progressing even though you may not think you are.

[@PianoRoadmap]

Absolutely!

[@Wootwootwooton]

I have a quote from horse trainer Tom Dorrance taped to my keyboard: "You've got more than you started with, and that's good."

[@joesauvage1165]

This is so very helpful Susan and deeply appreciated. It’s very easy to fall prey to the ‘I still suck’ thought. 🙏🏻✨✨✨

[@PianoRoadmap]

That mindset happens to all of us. Find at least 1 TRUE compliment you can give yourself today and every day about your playing/progress/musicality/effort!

[@joesauvage1165]

@@PianoRoadmap Again, deepest thanks for your insights and guidance

[@Rubiegarden]

Your words are so meaningful! I consider myself as a late-beginner (although my teacher gives me pieces that are, in my opinion, way above my level, for example Claude Debussy's Clair de lune; I think he is an optimist ;)) but once I realized perfection was not the goal (it took me a long time to understand that), I started telling myself that progression was more important in my piano journey, so that is my motto when I practice: progression not perfection :)

[@PianoRoadmap]

That's a wonderful motto!

[@brendamengeling4653]

I’ve been playing piano for two years now. I had quite a bit of musical experience (violin and voice), going in. I also know that learning occurs with plateaus, as you mentioned in the video-you don’t realize that you are making progress. I wasn’t prepared for how difficult I find memorizing music when there aren’t any lyrics! I also didn’t realize how difficult I would find increasing the tempo. I’ve had to cut myself some slack on both of those things and strategize ways I can improve. I am learning a lot of short early intermediate (grades 3-4) pieces written for piano students in addition to learning and memorizing one “real” piece of repertoire-currently Bach’s Little Prelude in C-major. It’s really JS Bach, but only 16 measures long with a repeating chord sequence. I realized that I have to look at the keys to memorize. I’m hopeful, and I do enjoy playing and practicing.

[@PianoRoadmap]

Our brains are amazing. I learned a silly song in high school with all the capitals of South America. I can still sing it to this day simply because it had lyrics! Sometimes I add lyrics to my piano pieces, especially in sections where I'm having trouble memorizing.

[@bh5606]

Reminds me of my golf game.

[@kjwong4730]

@@bh5606 lol

[@autolocksmithspecialistsin2802]

Thank you for this video And helping to put this in perspective

[@Christina6552]

This is the same process I've experienced with learning how to day trading! Glad I can now relate it to piano

[@PianoRoadmap]

There are many crossover techniques and processes when it comes to learning any skill or achieving a goal!

[@2011watchman]

Thank you so much for these wise & helpful comments. Isn't it fun when you visit a restaurant you've never dined at before and it turns into a surprisingly enjoyable experience. I find that that holds true for my playing sometimes. After a year and a half of leisure but steady time at the keys, I find that I am able to learn that new piece a little more quickly(always starting slowly, of course) than I ever imagined I could. Often, at least to me, it sounds like it should. That is truly rewarding.😊

[@PianoRoadmap]

100%!

[@israelsatata146]

I’m 102 years old and started playing yesterday my now not present wife has always been very supportive

[@PianoRoadmap]

❤️ Hope you enjoy!

[@jennybui2443]

I started taking piano lessons a year and a half ago. At the beginning I felt I was making so much progress with Faber Book1. I’m on Faber Book 2 and I felt my progression has slowed down significantly. It felt like I have plateau. I made so many mistakes when I go to my lesson; yet, I played so much better at home which is frustrating. Not sure how to overcome this. I do tell myself often to enjoy the journey.

[@Louise-xr5ok]

I have this exact same problem, I have started to record myself to take to the lesson, when we listen to it I find I am more relaxed and confident in the lesson after this.

[@moosemousse]

I think it’s important to set ourselves up for success and choose level appropriate pieces and also there’s nothing wrong with finding easier arrangements of pieces like Turkish march or moonlight sonata. Not that we should aim low or not want to challenge ourselves but to recognise as an adult learner that having the dedication to learn the piano amidst all our other responsibilities in this current economy is already an amazing achievement.

[@PianoRoadmap]

Totally agree.

[@kjwong4730]

I been playing for 3 yrs, self taught from absolute zero music experience and background. So my expectations were very low. After 3 yrs I would say I’m still a beginner for sure, but that’s ok, because I’m better than I was when I started… don’t have false expectations and you don’t be discouraged or disappointed

[@dagmarintreble]

I wonder how long it takes until you don't need 2 months of daily intensive practise to get a piece to an ok level and still can't play it securely without minor or even major glitches. And then after 3 weeks not having played it can start almost from scratch again. 😢 I would like to get to the point where playing is just fun. Where practise is not "getting the notes finally after 4 weeks practise at half tempo" but more about "I can play this fairly easy, so let's spend 2 weeks on a really lovely interpretation and tone". I've been playing for 5 years now, and I can't just sit and accompany a violin friend who is also a beginner, but can play all the easy stuff from sheet. Because even the easiest accompaniments feel like they need practise. And yes, I've been practising sight reading extra and 10-15 minutes daily for almost 2 years now...😢

[@katttttt]

Is there any "easy" piece you like which is below your level? Because they usually won't take that long then and you can quicker enjoy them

[@dagmarintreble]

@@katttttt I participate in the 40 pieces challenge, so I play lots of pieces 3 grades under my level. Still after 3 weeks I couldn't play them anymore without further practice. And I still need to practice them for a week at least. Also I have some long term repertoire pieces that still glitch at random spots, although I've practiced them to death. I know every passage, every note, every transition. And still can't rely that I might play them without errors. But the errors happen at random spots, so there is no "troublespot " to practice anymore because I know all parts very well.... sigh..