Should I give up now? Options

[Steven Carr]

I am 54 and have been practising keyboard for 3 months.

I have certain problems.

I can't play with metronome-like timekeeping. I know. I have a metronome to tell me that I can't play in time.

My 5th fingers are basically pieces of spaghetti. I can't tell the difference between my 3rd and 4th fingers.

I don't know much about music. Even the simplest pieces have a musical structure, which would help me know which chord is coming up next, if I knew about such things.

I can only play very slowly, which is a drawback when playing 'Stars and Stripes.'

I also can't remember music. I try to play pieces without looking at the keyboard or the music, but often forget which note comes next.

That's a big list of problems. Will they ever get sorted out?

[Tassimo]

Hi Steven (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.gif)

No, certainly don't give up. 3 months is nothing really - honestly. Lots of us have problems playing in time with the metronome and my fourth finger (I play the violin) is like spaghetti too, so you are not alone.

Keep going. Report back in two years time and I bet you will feel very differently.

Good luck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Alicia Ocean]

Do you have a teacher? or are you trying to teach yourself? Which course book are you using?

[Steven Carr]

Do you have a teacher? or are you trying to teach yourself? Which course book are you using?

I'm having a bash (sometimes literally, if you hear me play) at Alfred's All-in-One Course Level 1 by Palmer Manus and Lethco.

I am also looking at 'You can play piano' by Amy Appleby. I'm up to 'Danny Boy' in that book.

It's all good fun at present. I try not to look at harder pieces, as they seem extraordinarily difficult. One step at a time, I think.

[Alicia Ocean]

I like the Alfred book. I've taught a few hundred adults from it. Occasionally I'm approached by someone who's "self-taught" and so far I haven't had a single success with one of those. You'll find progress much faster with a teacher. You'll probably find some things you do are not too bad, and there'll be other mistakes you hadn't noticed.

[icklechick]

No - don't give up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

But....get a teacher! Seriously...

There'll be ways you're holding your hands, your fingers that will be making a huge difference to how you play and a teacher would spot that and sort it out pretty quickly.

[tonedeafmum]

Hello! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/howDoYouDo.gif)
Don't give up! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)
Do get a teacher - even if you only have time and money for a fortnightly or monthly lesson. I'm learning the flute (very very slowly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) ) and originally thought I could go it alone but it's much harder and slower going. 30 minutes with a good teacher is worth innumerable hours of private practice.

[Mad Tom]

I am 54 and have been practising keyboard for 3 months.

I have certain problems.

... <snip> <snip>

That's a big list of problems. Will they ever get sorted out?

3 months is nothing. Just stick at it. Regular practice sustained over long periods transforms your capabilities far beyond their present limits.

[maggiemay]

Three months is really no time at all - so it is very early days. (ed - I see Tom beat me to that!)

But as others have suggested, do get a teacher. A good one will find ways around the things that you at the moment are finding difficult.

[Floss]

I agree with Tom (edit: and maggie!) - keep at it, keep plugging away and don't lose heart. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[A.U.K]

Rome wasn't built in a day..No of course you shouldn't give up but as the others have said get a teacher if you don't already have one..A teacher will give you a structured work program which will help you develop. Your fingers are being asked to do something they have not done before and it takes awhile to develop the necessary muscles and memory muscles to do the job..naturally children develop faster their muscle and memory muscle but as adults we have to face facts it will take time..I would urge you to ditch the metronome for now, it's plainly causing you problems which given that you have only been playing three months is hardly surprising..you are trying to learn a lot of things at the same time, the placement of the keys, the music itself and the rhythm plus its two lines of music (Piano/Keyboard) so its not a small ask.

Give yourself a year get a teacher and get practising daily even if you can only manage 15 minutes somedays..

You will improve I assure you and you will look back at this post and have a chuckle to yourself wondering why you were worried..

Andrew

[Steven Carr]

I am 54 and have been practising keyboard for 3 months.

I have certain problems.

... <snip> <snip>

That's a big list of problems. Will they ever get sorted out?

3 months is nothing. Just stick at it. Regular practice sustained over long periods transforms your capabilities far beyond their present limits.

I have made a lot of progress in 3 months. Things which seemed impossible at first, are at least attemptable by me now.

But there is a huge list ahead of things which seem impossible at present.

I try to do 3 hours practice a day, chipping away at things.

[anacrusis]

If you're willing to put in as much as three hours daily at this stage, then the advice to get tuition is all the more important: if nothing else so that someone can show you how to make the best of the time you use. The fingers which are currently refusing to assume individual identities for you can be persuaded gradually to become less interdependent, but you need to be doing the right things to encourge them, and in the right way. Doing the wrong thing repeatedly would make matters worse, doing the right thing, the right way, might well get you more flexible more quickly than you expected.

You are already showing a sound level of commitment - I'd also say, keep going (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

[elephant]

I agree with all of the other posters, i.e.:

- don't give up,
- try to get tuition,

and, as you're putting in an awful lot of practice time, I'd suggest you have a look at the thread that's running currently in the "General" forum on how to practice better (I think that's the name, if not it's something similar). The article cited in the first post is definitely worth a read....

Keep on, and best of luck !!!

[Scratchet]

i'll repeat what everyone has said, just to try and convince you more. Get a teacher! I only have 1 hour a fortnight, and there are many longer breaks for half term and end of term etc. So the cost isn't too bad, cheaper than cable tv and much better value for money!

Also, I recommend this book, "The perfect wrong note" by William Westney. It has a whole chapter on adult learners.

By the way, 3 hours seems a lot, I only practice for 40mins, ish. I think there is something to be said for short sessions of 100% focus and concentration than 3-4 hours at 50% (not that I'm suggesting thats what you are doing, but it may be something to think about.)