April 10th, 2009 by Lisa | 185 Comments »
Advice From Your Fellow Students
Below you are going to find some very valuable advice from your fellow students, lots of words of encouragement, and to let you know we all face the same feelings and challenges as we all learn our brand new skill of playing the piano. ~smile~
1. To learn a new song, don’t rush, but practice through it carefully, building on previous success.
2. While learning a new song, first there is the feeling of frustration at wanting to do better faster, but then about halfway into the new song, it starts becoming familiar and more recognizable, almost as though it’s not only getting stuck in my head, but also my fingers. Finally, after I’ve masted a new song, I want to play it for everyone that will take a few minutes to listen. I feel like my whole body is smiling and I start getting confident that the next one is going to be just as easy (because I forget that I was frustrated at first since I have so much joy at what I’ve accomplished).
3. To overcome my most frustrating moments, I go back to a song I know well and play it. I often go try another creative avenue (I do lots of crafts) and then come back with a fresh viewpoint. I remember Lisa’s gentle encouragement that comes through each email I’ve received. I trust and believe that I can do it, just as others have.
It was difficult for me because I got 7 kids and every time that I want to practice I got to help them with the homework ( besides of having two works) and also they were to exited by the time that I was practicing that it was impossible to keep on going .
The good news is that when they were on vacations I have a little extra time to my self and even when I have time without practice I find my self in shape in not downtime at all…
Thank you for make the piano lessons soo easy to follow.
1) Practising makes perfect goal.
2) progress is abit slow due to wrong fingering and to learn new chords.Graduately feels progressing is picking up by doing more practising and listen to the video/audio. Lastly , feel satisfaction and proud of myself for achieving the goal.
3) By switching to play the songs to the begining when I had just started. example “You are my sunshine”
To be able to sit quietly, and slowly work through your lessons, has been a joy. I am very proud of myself, at my age, learning a new skill, even though it is a slow process.
When learning a new song, I have the following method which I learned from a book:
1. practise hand seperate first until you can play the song with each hand at a speed higher than that required, then pracise it hand together, because it is easier to learn new technique without forming bad habit by doing it hand seperate.
2. try a very short section each time, such as one or two bars so that you can quickly practise it for many many time at a high speed. Doing it this way is far better than practising the entire song at the low speed and do it again and again. It saves time and the way the hand and finger move at a low speed is usually different from that at a high speed.
3. gain some big picture of the song you are trying to learn first, by identifying the different sections and the difficulty of them.
4. practise the difficult part first then the easier ones;
5. when you are in a frustrating moment, try to practise what you were practising slowly one more time and then end the practising session. Since there is something called post practice improvement (PPI). You brain is still working while your hands are not. So when you come back next time you will find yourself having some improvement. To handle the frustrating moment, practise it hand seperate first and practise it in short section as I mentioned in 1 and 2 are also important.
about the three stages:
1.In the first stage, I tried to get some big picture about the structure of the music and difficult and easy section of it and listen to some record of the song.
2. In the second the stage, I tries by a short section at a time and eventually I will be able to play the entire piece with reasonable speed. and I usually memorize the song also.
3. In the third stage, I try to try to improvement performance and expression and play it more musically.
I really enjoyed your piano lessons and I would to continue and not stop here . I thank you very for all these interesting lessons.
1. What is the best advice you can give your fellow students about learning a new song?
My answer is Patience. Patience is the key to learning any new program. We need to understand that we have to be patient with ourselves and our ability to learn a new skill. We also need to remember that some people will learn quickly, while others not so quickly. It really doesn’t matter. It’s not a race. It’s a skill that you and I will learn and carry with us through out our lives. Don’t worry about the end results. Just enjoy the journey. So, be patient. You’re new found piano skills will develop at your own given pace.
2. Describe your progress and feelings while learning a new song… in three stages. The three stages would be, when you first start a new song, when you are about halfway into a new song, and finally when you have mastered a new song.
My first feeling when learning a new song is anticipation. I’m looking forward to learning something new. When beginning with a new song, I already know the song in my mind and I’m trying to translate it through my fingers to the keyboard. It’s not hard trying to transfer the song that I can sing and hum, but it is a different feeling when you try to recreate it on the keyboard. I actually consider it a challenge, because now I am learning a new way of conveying the music. Now I can convey my interpretation of the song by actually playing it on the piano as well.
My second feeling has to be when I’m making progress with a song. Each practice, I re-read the notes, play the music and actually start to see progress with each try. It may not be perfect, but it’s starting to come together with each new practice. Hearing my progress seems to spur me on to learn the song in its entirety and to perfect the piece as much as I can.
My third feeling is a feeling of accomplishment and enjoyment in knowing I have just learned a new piece of music in its entirety. Each new accomplishment (i.e. learning a new note, music piece, etc.) inspires me to continue learning the piano.
3. Finally, how did you overcome your most frustrating moments?
I really haven’t had any frustrating moments learning the piano. It was a skill that I new I wanted to learn, so I was patient with myself and my ability to learn the piano. If I was working on a piece of music and it wasn’t coming together, I would get up and take a break and come back later to work on it. Taking a break gives your mind time to process the skills you are trying to learn. Also, I broke the music piece down in to individual measures and practiced each one individually when needed. It helped to increase my learning speed and my progress.
For learning a new song on piano/keyboard, one should have patience, concentration and determination.Lisa’s way of teaching is so good and easy to understand. I do my practice everyday atleast for 20 minutes to 30 minutes. I feel so refreshed after the practice. Tank you Teacher Lisa.
when learning a new song be patient,have courage and concentration. You can make it.
I like your way of teaching. Step by step and taking note of what is giving you a problem. practice regularly.
i take a walk ,reflect on what i have done trying and figure out my mistake and how to over come it. then come back and try to improve.
Keep up the good work Lisa. God bless
the key is to practice, practice and practice….no matter what instument u r learning!!
and i dont get frustrated cos i love it!!!
1. What is the best advise you can give your fellow students about learning a new new song?
DON”T GIVE UP!! Even if it feels like you’ll never get it. I have a hard time with the left hand but I just keep trying!
2. Describe your progress and feelings while learning a new song… in three stages. The three stages would be, when you first start a new song, when you are about halfway into a new song, and finally when you have mastered a new song.
I start each song with hope. I try to learn the right hand first and then add the left. I have found that if there are notes I don’t know it helps to label the sheet music. I have yet to master a song but I’m getting close on Morning has broken and it feels really good to be able to play as well as I have!
3. And finally, how did you overcome your most frustrating moments?
I get up and do something else. If I get frustrated it makes my playing worse. I wait until I feel like trying again. It may take a few minutes to a few days but I go back and try again.
The best advice I would give is- Practice with patience and full concentration.Also don’t practice in a bad mood.
When I first see a new song my feelings are a mixture of excitement and doubtfulness(of wether or not I have heard the song before). When I am halfway through a song I feel confident and try to concentrate on the song even more.When I have mastered the song I feel very Happy…
When I get frustated I put my hands down from the piano for a while and stare into space for a couple of minutes and start afresh again. If I get very frustrated then I leave it and finish learning it later.
Dear Lisa,
This fresh song brings exactly the same picture in my mind and inspires me to play it. Thanks a lot.
Best advice for fellow students-First listen to that song again and again and start saving it in ur mind which will help to catch keys quickly while playing.
1-Firstly I start with the easiest measures of the song and achieve almost half of the song this way
2-Now when I am halfway I imagine the whole song as a painting frame and focus on the measures at the 4 corners until I could play it smoothly.
Finally challenging part of the song comes here which really needs more attention.At this difficult stage I still remain enthusiastic
3- Finally after completing a song I feel as if I have discovered a real gem.
Frustrating moments -
I do something relaxing like reading books,newspapers,watching plants,cuddling the kitten and come back after a enough break to go further.
pl visit my performance which was done according to above method at:
http://www.imeem.com/people/82z5hWm/music/3_u-yVUw/teacher-lisa-morning-has-broken-mp3-shan/
1.Step by Step and feel free hand and finger.
2.Listen the song many time and practice right & left
3.Open mind and smile
Very good song and very simple to learn
Thank you Lisa
Dear Lisa,
This is song is really great! I’ve listen first to the songs and start to love it. I looked it up on youtube and see how people play it which give me an idea. You are really an excellent teacher. I hope there’s more modern teachers like you!
I’ve learn it very fast and time to time I try to find a time when I can play, been busy with college etc…but I do enjoy this playing on piano.
Thanks Lisa!
To Lisa
This beautiful piano song has brought such an inspiration to me and I absolutely enjoyed going through the process of learning it. But the one thing I would advice anybody when learning this song and ANY song is to Practice…Practice and practice. Because practice does make you perfect and also most importantly have FUN with it. It’s a simple song but you can add your own style of rhythm to it to make it your style of song. Overall, it is an absolutely beautiful song and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!!
Thank You!!!
My advice for students it is also do not forget count each beat loud keeping the eyes on the music and feel the melody.
Starting I had little progress y did not now the melody, halfway I was feeling enthusiasm ,very calm and able to play all the song at the end I was happy and enjoying this song with my family.
I thought that for me there was not frustrating moments because the method and the melody were finally easy and the free lessons also help me, perhaps the more difficult it is count at the same time that play every note or chord.
hi all students great song by the way.i practice this song every day and still make mistakes.i find it very hard to play all the way through with out making a mistake.i like to know if this is normal.if not how long should it take or dont it matter.find it relaxing but hard to play through without a mistake.keep going hey.ps great piano lessons.
I find the best way to learn a new song is (a) Listen to a recording of it so you an learn the style (b) Practice each hand separately (c) Practice the song VERY SLOWLY. Practicing it slowly gets the fingers used to playing the chords, and it helps the music to stick in your mind. When you play the piece up to tempo it should come a lot easier.
Virginia says:
The best advice I can give fellow students in learning a new song is first of all, be rested before you begin. Take a look at all of the music. There are much repetitious measures in most music. Take a pencil or highlighter and mark the places that are repetitious. After you learn the first one, the ones you have marked will be ones you have already played.
Progress and feelings when starting a new song:
1) I am usually overwhelmed thinking, “can I do this?” My progress is rather slow because I have learned not to tackle the whole song at first…like my brain wants me to. I try to follow the above statement about marking my music, then spend no more than 20 minutes on the first 4-5 measures. I try to find a stopping place and practice that portion for a few days before going on. I had to learn to do this. It is called discipline.
Progress and feelings when halfway through a new song:
2) I find that in about every piece, there is a little twist to the music that is harder to play. This is usually about halfway through the song and it’s then that my feeling is to give up. But no, that is not the answer. The answer is to work on that particular section for the next few days and don’t beat yourself up because it does not come as you want it to.
Progress and feelings when new song is mastered:
3) Naturally, when a new song is finally mastered, you want everyone in your household to hear you play it. Nothing wrong with that. My feelings are that of achievement and a desire to continue playing the piano. After mastering a piece of music, I am grateful that I learned to discipline myself enough to practice a little each day.
Overcoming the most frustrating moments:
4) When I get the “give up” feeling, (and we all get frustrated sooner or later) I put this music away and pick up some pieces that I enjoy, and play them. You will get the harder piece and progress will come. The key word in achieving any goal is discipline and that is not always easy. I believe if we learn discipline, we can achieve our goals.
1. The learning gets smooth pace normally after frustration; just try to bear with it then you will see how it turns to a more comfortable status.
2.
(a) when I first start a new song:
Like discovering a new land
(b) when I am about halfway into a new song
Excited and starting to enjoy the melody although it might sound terrible for other listeners!! lol
(c) when I have mastered a new song Feel light and melodic! Want to taste the harmony ..feel it when it permeates my whole spirit. It is a wonderful feeling.
3. I remind myself that no body has been perfect when they started. The key to success is perseverance.
April 22nd 2009 at 10.10pm
Dear Lisa
What the best dvise you you give fellow student about learning a new song?
I think what i can suggest that when you are learning new note,tune make your self easy consider on the focus.Make it into steps and keep practice and practice.
Firstly,when i start leaning new song.I had dertermintion to learn Keybord.some one say every one has ability to learn anything. some geteariler some later. but your intrest is the main thing.don’tworry about the end results.
2ndly,Be patience slow study win the race.again i say you interest is your first step.continue your practice.every day you will see new change in your fingers.
3rdly,I wouldsay hardwork is the of sucess.make your shoudle because this is also part of daily lasiure.Keep practice every minimum 30 mints.
Finay,after when i overcome on note.i felt so refreshed.I know it was dificult task.But the main guidence role is my teacher Lisa .I must say thanks very much .God bless Lisa and her family .
yours sincerly student
p.hans
1. trust in yourself and let your hope bloom into the thing that you do
2. Have Faith in god
3.Dont give up keep trying
and one more thing smile while you play.
also its a wonderful song
1. Remember, practice makes perfect. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. If you have a problem with something, read it over again till you finally got it. Always have fun while you’re learning. You’ll be amazed with the progress that you make. I know I did! Just by learning a few notes you can learn your first song!
2. 1st stage – Well when I first layed my fingers on the piano, I felt very nervous, honestly speaking. There seemed to be so many piano keys and I said to myself “Oh dear, where should I start from?! How am I going to learn my first song?!” But then, I breathed deeply and I knew if I focused and just have fun with it, it won’t be difficult as how I think it is.
2nd stage – I felt so excited and happy. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing it! Even though I was only half way through my song, I had so much fun playing what I already knew. My heart would be free as I played the keys with rhythm. I couldn’t wait to finish the rest of it.
3rd stage – Finally, this was it. I had finished my first song, and that too, in such a short amount of time. I can’t believe it but, at that moment, I felt like that was the happiest moment of my life. I played my first song for atleast…40 times… I hope that everyone has a great experience learning the piano, just how I did.
3. Well, I must say, I did have a lot of frustrating moments. I kept on telling myself that I can’t do it. I needed to get that out of my head. So I listened to some artists playing the piano. They made it seem so easy the way how their fingers danced so harmoniously on the piano keys. So I said to myself that they too were once beginners and they had to learn it from step-to-step, so if they were able to do it, then why not me? That was when my confidence was boosted and I wouldn’t let anything back me down. Now, I play the piano and I still continue to. So don’t let anything back you down. Have faith in God…and yourself
1.Approach the piano with joy and excitement. This is my decision to learn to play no one is forcing me.
2. Believe in myself and what I can accomplish. I don’t call myself names just give myself complements on my patience and ability to stay with it.
3. Depending on the time of day or the length of time I have been practicing I either stop for a few minutes, walk around, drink some water or play a song I know I do well and my frustration vanishes and my heart sings.
This is the most amazing way to learn the piano. I love it.
1. As a new student, I learn very simple song. I always try to recognize the song. It will make me enthusiastic if I recognize the song. So, Fellow, you may follow my way. Try to recognize the song with playing melody. Play some measures (not full song) and enjoy the melody. Play it step by step until the end of the song.
2. The first time I learn a new song, I eager to know what kind of song it is. If I know it, I will enjoy learning the song. And it will flow easily. Halfway into a new song can be more interesting or frustrating. If the song is easy to learn, it will make me interested. That’s very nice. But, if the song is difficult for me, it can make me frustrated. The only way to continue learning that song is stop for a while. I close my eyes and think as if I can play that song beautifully. After that, try to continue learning that song. When I have mastered a new song, I feel like jump to the sky. I can’t believe to myself that I can play piano even though I play very simple song. With a big smile, I play that song again and again (may be 20 times).
3. If I lived in US, I would come to Miss Lisa’s house and play together. ~smile~ No, I come to my friend that can play piano and we play together. Usually, I play the old song I’ve mastered before, and feel like a winner. If I can’t go to my friend’s house, I listened to the music. It will be very good if I have recorded my piano playing before. So, I feel frustrated I can hear it again. Hearing it can motivate me to play piano again.
As a Chinese, I really appreciate our teacher Lisa. Both my son and I learn to play this song together. I am so pride that my son can play whole song continuely by himself.
it is great!
I’m 53, don’t have a lot of free time or money. I’ve always wanted to learn piano. Lisa’s program is perfect, I can just keep picking away at it and learn litltle by little.
Thanks,
Lou
Lisa:
For many days I have been Practicing the Classical
piece Meditation for Edward Grieg This is the composer for this piece. When I start to practice
this beautiful piece I started to Play the Melody first
This is Piece is very challenging because You to
Play the Melody and the Chords at the same time
I felt frustrated because one chord dont allowing
me to complete the song, But with practice and Perseverance, Patience and not give up, Now
I can mastered it. . I reach my goal .
Brunilda Davila
Lisa:
Topic: The Internet
I read your comment about that the internet was for
a long time a cold place where, no communication
But Today the technology go in advance and you
have the opportunity to communicate with people
Make friends, Thanks to this technology, I have a
Privilege to have a piano teacher online, Mentor
and the Best friend thats you Lisa.
I Love you so much
Your Student
Brunilda Davila
My most frustrating moments are when i have a hard time getting my left hand to do what i want it to do. I am fine with just chords but when i need to use one finger or two fingers at a time it is most frustrating. I am still working on it hope to get it down one day soon.
It is all wonderful advices. I thank all the students for them.