I get a lot of new students asking me how long it takes to get “good.”
Assuming “good” means being able to play something comparable to a popular piece by Chopin, my answer is, “It depends on how much you practice well.” So, in a way, you choose how long it takes to play well (within reason).
This depends on three things: (1) your inclination and desire to practice; (2) knowing how to practice effectively; and, (3) the amount you actually practice effectively.
– Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
We can spend this time talking about what Mozart meant on an emotional level, but I’m going to get a little scientific with you. After doing some research, I have found that scientists are making incredible discoveries about a type of material in the brain called myelin. Neurologists are discovering that the amount of myelin in our brains is in direct correlation with our talent and greatness or lack thereof. The good news is that you can “grow” myelin.
If I had to choose one word for how to begin playing the piano, it would be “slowly.” In our fast paced daily lifestyles, we tend to forget about our roots. We weren’t made to be switching from task to task each time we blink. We were made to enjoy the present moment, completely focused on the task or activity on hand.
One of the greatest benefits of piano lessons is that they force us to focus. By focusing, we end up clearing our mind of nagging voices, and building the muscle that allows us to be present.
Over ten years of lessons and I still couldn’t read fluently from a level one book. It was RIDICULOUS. How was this possible?
Can you relate? Do you feel like your sight-reading is improving at a snail’s pace, if at all? Maybe you have focus problems like ADD that you feel gets in the way. Maybe you never thought it was important to read a piece of paper, but were actually intimidated by how difficult it seemed. Maybe you’ve been playing for years and still feel like reading music is the piece of the puzzle that will always remain unresolved.