Piano lessons make my brain hurt.

[Critters2]

There's the counting, and the curling your fingers just so, and the key signature (damned sharps!!!). And on top of all that, you're supposed to hit the right keys!!!

It's worse than reading Hebrew, I tells ya!!

[BeachBaby]

1. Bleck.

I started taking lessons at 4 years of age, and the hell continued until I was 18 years old. I feel your pain.

[Critters2]

2. I really want to learn to play the damn thing.

And, as God is my witness, I will not be defeated!!! When I return, as I want to, to rural ministry, it'll come in handy in places where accompanists are few and far between. In fact, my Association Minister said that piano lessons meet my continuing ed requirement.

[Symarip]

3. G flat

Has seven flats.

This concludes Symarip's daily music theory lesson.

[Critters2]

4. I haven't had to play that scale yet. But I'm sure I will. nt

[BeachBaby]

8. I was never taught to play for enjoyment.

It started when I was four years old. My babysitter had a piano, and I apparently knew the fingering to do a scale. I do not remember that - I just remember her looking at me and saying "Who taught you how to do that?" and then calling my mother and telling her to get me into piano lessons.

By 7th grade, my piano teacher told my parents that I was better than her - and that I needed a professional trainer. By that point, I was constantly being volunteered to play solos during the church service's offertory. These big, elaborate pieces. Once my parents were referred to a professional trainer - who told my parents that I was "naturally gifted" - on came the competitions. Dozens of them. In the classical composition category. Bleck. Bleck bleck bleck. Not fun for a teenager who wants to jam to Journey tunes.

By the time I got to my senior year of high school, I was burned out. I continued to play because I had no choice....but soon after my 2nd year of college, I walked away from it. I've more or less been on sabbatical ever since.

[CreekDog]

5. I have PTSD from a Piano class I took in college (and in which failed the final)

where the teacher told me: "you failed, you failed everything!"

i can laugh about it now, but then :scared: it was a long train ride home for Christmas. actually it was a long ride anyway! trains are slow! :wtf:

:rofl:

[BeachBaby]

6. You and I DEFINITELY need to talk about this when you visit.

Holy shit.

[Critters2]

7. Wow. That must have been horrible.

The thing about starting lessons as an adult, I think, is that the teacher tends to go easier on you. She knows I can quit any time, that there's no parent making me go, as with most of her students. So, she gives me credit for even trying.

But she was irritated with my lack of counting out loud today. She said I'm at the 8th grade level in finding notes on the keyboard, but not yet in kindergarten in counting and rhythm. I grasped on to the "8th grade" part as a compliment. I think.

Sorry for your experience. :hug:

[bbernardini]

9. I've seriously considered taking lessons again.

I haven't had any lessons since I graduated college, and you can only improve your chops so much playing "Brown Eyed Girl" at weddings. :)