Piano 

Bob Vollmer

Piano Buddy

  
Notes on Lessons
 

 


When you make the decision that you really want to learn to play, the next thing you have to decide is how to go about it. There are lots of books available to help you learn to play. There is also plenty of material right here on the Internet. In short, there is plenty of material for you to start learning on you own.

But at some point you will start thinking that you are probably missing out on something. I wanted to find somebody that would keep me on track. Somebody who would help me play better in less time. So I took lessons from several teachers. And by taking those lessons, I learned a lot about myself and about teachers and oh yeah, I also learned a bit about playing piano.

One thing I learned was that it was good to have a short term goal each week. It really helped to have something to work for and show to myself and to someone else, that I was making progress. It was also great to get out and talk to somebody about what I was working on. But it wasn’t enough to just talk to a teacher. I wanted to talk to other students and share beginner stuff that was really interesting to me but not to anyone else.

I think that’s where group lessons, properly run, can make a big contribution to a player’s progress. It’s a night out. It’s a social event. Here’s a chance to share that stuff with people who are really interested in the same thing. Furthermore, it can be lots of fun. It’s tricky though, because you have to find a bunch of people at close to the same playing and knowledge level. Otherwise, some will be bored and others will be stressed and if they are, they just won’t continue.

That’s where the Alfred’s method book can be very helpful. Beginners have a lot in common. We all have to learn the same stuff. We have to learn the same theory, and keyboard skills and the funny songs we should be able to play before we play what we really want to play.

We follow this book together as we progress from beginner to intermediate level. The process is broken into four parts: Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Intermediate and Advanced. You can do it in a year or two. When we finish, we know quite a bit of theory and we can play. And then, if we are so inclined, we are ready for private lessons.

 

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Note Names & Frequencies

09/09/11