I can relate to this so much. Trying to learn piano by ear and YouTube videos, I am definitely not good at being a beginner. The things that would probably help me the most seem sooo tedious.I don't want to practice scales; I want to play a song. And not Mary Had A Little Lamb.I want to learn something intricate and beautiful and impressive. I started learning I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi. It felt like my brain was melting. I had to concentrate so hard on the mechanics that I wasn't hearing what I was playing, really. Once muscle memory kicked in, it got easier to pay attention to technique and those aha moments kicked in. Suddenly I realized a LOT of things I wasn't catching. Very humbling. But I keep going back, keep trying, and I'm learning so much. I think we'll both learn our songs and play them beautifully someday, and we'll be so glad we didn't give up!
Kudos to you for picking up a new instrument! We all need to bend our gray cells to keep them limber.
There’s something very rewarding in being consistent, doing the work and celebrating the results no matter how subtle they are. This year I’m focusing on being in this moment of where I am in my learning process instead of always thinking ahead and feeling like I should be improving more quickly. That’s where I get my feet all tangled up and frustration sets in. It’s far more peaceful and pleasant this way.
Keep at it. You’re doing great! And I think Edgar is a much better name than Edward. Lol
Ps I don’t think I’ll ever do eyelashes, but who knows!
I'm a beginner too. A couple of weeks ago I decided I was going to teach myself Gregg Shorthand. What? Why, at 63, am I trying to learn a dead language? For me it's the meditation of repetition and focus. In the daily process of learning new brief forms, refining the fluidity and accuracy of my lines, and learning to read shorthand dictation, I am clearing my mind of clutter.
The benefit I receive isn't that I'll someday be able to apply this skill in some office setting, or taking notes in school. I believe the benefit is in the process of learning; it is it's own reward. So, I continue to plow through my Gregg Shorthand Simplified, a couple of chapters a night. And you know what? It's actually making sense. I can feel the incremental "Aha!" moments when I discover that I'm reading this stuff faster and faster; or when my hand seemingly, without input from my brain, writes a word or a brief form all by itself. That is cool!
I only wish I had taken more than a semester of shorthand in high school. But it's never too late to teach an old dog how to tie its shoelaces . . . or something to that effect.
Oh Amy, just love your reflections on playing music. I’m only dealing with 4 strings and what a challenge. If we both keep practicing TAB notes we’ll be ready for TAPS Across America 2024! https://youtu.be/oeT1ffPcRLY For a person who has played guitar since their youth, I swear their fingers bend differently to make bar chords! So hard for them to understand that we simply cannot do it as older adults. But, in the end, picking up an instrument and being able to make some music and sing...what JOY we can bring into our lives. Carry on and have fun!
Took me a minute to figure out what CMP stands for. Got if!
But more importantly, congratulations on starting to learn something new. I’m going to write soon about touch typing – so important – and using the Dvorak keyboard. It didn’t quite work out the way that I anticipated.
Anything that requires your brain to carve new neural pathways is good for your health and your creativity.
Loved this post, Amy. Not being good at being a beginner- I can totally relate. But I’m also trying to be more aware of this so that I choose to enjoy (or be open-minded to) things that I haven’t tried extensively before. For me this year it’s ice skating- I’m learning to figure skate (taking an adult class) at the same time the kids in my kids are taking a learn-to-skate class. It’s cool to learn all the techniques even though I’m sometimes wobbly! I also have to override my natural reaction to wonder where this hobby will lead- and just enjoy it in the beginner stages (even if it never leads to something more than a few just-for-fun Saturday sessions for a few weeks, months, or years.)
As for guitar ... I’ve had less practice than you’ve described and agree some of it feels backwards (compared to piano). Maybe I’ll pick it up again in the future and try to learn using that “just be a beginner” mindset.
I can relate to this so much. Trying to learn piano by ear and YouTube videos, I am definitely not good at being a beginner. The things that would probably help me the most seem sooo tedious.I don't want to practice scales; I want to play a song. And not Mary Had A Little Lamb.I want to learn something intricate and beautiful and impressive. I started learning I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi. It felt like my brain was melting. I had to concentrate so hard on the mechanics that I wasn't hearing what I was playing, really. Once muscle memory kicked in, it got easier to pay attention to technique and those aha moments kicked in. Suddenly I realized a LOT of things I wasn't catching. Very humbling. But I keep going back, keep trying, and I'm learning so much. I think we'll both learn our songs and play them beautifully someday, and we'll be so glad we didn't give up!
Kudos to you for picking up a new instrument! We all need to bend our gray cells to keep them limber.
There’s something very rewarding in being consistent, doing the work and celebrating the results no matter how subtle they are. This year I’m focusing on being in this moment of where I am in my learning process instead of always thinking ahead and feeling like I should be improving more quickly. That’s where I get my feet all tangled up and frustration sets in. It’s far more peaceful and pleasant this way.
Keep at it. You’re doing great! And I think Edgar is a much better name than Edward. Lol
Ps I don’t think I’ll ever do eyelashes, but who knows!
I'm a beginner too. A couple of weeks ago I decided I was going to teach myself Gregg Shorthand. What? Why, at 63, am I trying to learn a dead language? For me it's the meditation of repetition and focus. In the daily process of learning new brief forms, refining the fluidity and accuracy of my lines, and learning to read shorthand dictation, I am clearing my mind of clutter.
The benefit I receive isn't that I'll someday be able to apply this skill in some office setting, or taking notes in school. I believe the benefit is in the process of learning; it is it's own reward. So, I continue to plow through my Gregg Shorthand Simplified, a couple of chapters a night. And you know what? It's actually making sense. I can feel the incremental "Aha!" moments when I discover that I'm reading this stuff faster and faster; or when my hand seemingly, without input from my brain, writes a word or a brief form all by itself. That is cool!
I only wish I had taken more than a semester of shorthand in high school. But it's never too late to teach an old dog how to tie its shoelaces . . . or something to that effect.
Oh Amy, just love your reflections on playing music. I’m only dealing with 4 strings and what a challenge. If we both keep practicing TAB notes we’ll be ready for TAPS Across America 2024! https://youtu.be/oeT1ffPcRLY For a person who has played guitar since their youth, I swear their fingers bend differently to make bar chords! So hard for them to understand that we simply cannot do it as older adults. But, in the end, picking up an instrument and being able to make some music and sing...what JOY we can bring into our lives. Carry on and have fun!
Took me a minute to figure out what CMP stands for. Got if!
But more importantly, congratulations on starting to learn something new. I’m going to write soon about touch typing – so important – and using the Dvorak keyboard. It didn’t quite work out the way that I anticipated.
Anything that requires your brain to carve new neural pathways is good for your health and your creativity.
Loved this post, Amy. Not being good at being a beginner- I can totally relate. But I’m also trying to be more aware of this so that I choose to enjoy (or be open-minded to) things that I haven’t tried extensively before. For me this year it’s ice skating- I’m learning to figure skate (taking an adult class) at the same time the kids in my kids are taking a learn-to-skate class. It’s cool to learn all the techniques even though I’m sometimes wobbly! I also have to override my natural reaction to wonder where this hobby will lead- and just enjoy it in the beginner stages (even if it never leads to something more than a few just-for-fun Saturday sessions for a few weeks, months, or years.)
As for guitar ... I’ve had less practice than you’ve described and agree some of it feels backwards (compared to piano). Maybe I’ll pick it up again in the future and try to learn using that “just be a beginner” mindset.