Hello,

I took a years worth of lessons as a child (age 10-11). As a teenager I taught myself some pieces like the maple leaf rag, etc. Basically I've loved piano for most of my life. Now at age 29 I want to take it up again but there are a couple of factors that might impede my ability to play. First, I've been doing Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo for the past 6 years and they've taken a toll on my fingers. Should I discontinue either sport if I want to play again?

Also, I picked up a lot of bad habits as I tried to teach myself. Should I start at the very beggining?

Thanks

Hi mikeffd, I am no expert piano player or teacher but I have taken martial arts since I was 11 years old and Ikido and Judo what I like the best and I have no problems with playing.
Does it hurt your fingers when you play the piano? Aloha.

Chris

Starting at the beginning is a good idea because most likely you've lost some basic theory. If you already know the material you can move forward quickly and "catch up" to where you are in your level now. Music theory builds on each other, so you've got to know those basics first.

In my view, the activities of
jiujitsu and piano are incompatible.
Do you want to be a thug or a
pianist? Furthermore, what is
the reason for taking jiujitsu?
The chances of using it in a real
life situation are zero, unless you go
looking for trouble in bars, and
then if you do use it in a brawl,
that could easily be assault
and battery on your part, which
could put you behind bars. You
know more than enough "self-
defense" already for the almost
non-existent situation where you'd
have to actually employ it.

Judo is maybe okay, because it is a
sport, not thuggery, and the exercise
can be good. But you don't really
need this either, unless you're
a competitive judo person.

People play the piano after losing
an arm, or blind, and so the
bumps and bruises you got from
judo and jiujitsu are of no
consequence.

You cannot develop bad habits when
you teach yourself piano, because
when you teach yourself, you
will naturally learn in a way
that best suits your individual
physiology and psychology. It
is when you take formal lessons
that you pick up real bad habits,
because when you take lessons, you
will have to play the teacher's
way, which suits him individually,
not you. And when you try to
do something in someone else's
way, instead of your own, that's the
worst possible kind of bad habit
you can have.

mikeffd,

If you're interested in developing skills, making progress and achieving successful results, "advice" such as this is worth considerably less than you paid for it.

I don't claim to know anything about martial arts, so, unfortunately, I can't really address your original question.

Steven

DO YOU know if they have pianos on jail?
Why would you have to do it the teacher's way? Wouldn't that depend on how rigid the teacher was?
jk

Hey mikeffd. If you do decide to hire a teacher, make sure you tell him/her upfront that you know jiu jitsu and judo. And if you develop any bad habits, they're gonna get whats coming to them.

I really don't see a problem with this, unless you have had many broken fingers which weren't set correctly. Even then, you could learn to work around it. You do your best with what you've been given, I always say!

I highly recommend getting a teacher. You will have to start from the beginning, but I'm sure you will progress quickly with your previous experience. Starting from the beginning should not be frustrating, but enlightening, allowing you to progress farther than you would with improper habits from self-teaching.

While one year of piano as a child really does not do much as far as help you develop good practicing habits and technique (if you are lucky enough to even remember any of it), it is good that you've at least opened that window at that time in your life.

Just remember to enjoy the process as much as you enjoy the product!

IMO it'd be a good idea to be able to specify what it is about your martial arts training which has caused the injuries. Something's wrong, there.

Welcome to the forum, Mikeffd.

What are your goals for piano? If you're playing primarily for pleasure and personal enjoyment, a teacher will help you make progress faster than self-teaching (and you'll avoid developing bad technique), but I don't think a teacher is necessary. Many of us here on AB forum are self-teaching and happy with our progress.

If you want to pursue piano seriously, particularly if you're interested in mastering the standard classical repertoire, then getting a good teacher would be even more important.

Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo and even weight lifting do a number on your fingers. Naturally, the rates of injury and stiffness vary quite a bit. That said just go to your local judo or bjj school and you'll see many guys with fingers tapped.

I've been in love with piano music from an early age, and I'd like to cultivate that connection. I'll probably start some lessons in the new year once i'm finished my paramedic course.

Once again, one regular poster here is showing himself up as a master in expending a lot of 'hot-air' about something he knows little about.
Jujitsu is a martial art which means 'art of softness' and therefore (like judo) it would not be a thug's cup of tea as he, true to form - incorrectly claims.

Secondly, the best way to develop bad habits is by not having a piano teacher. Send out a poll/survey to 1000 music-experts and let the results speak for themselves.

Lastly, confirming his troll-like behaviour, he's confusing piano style and technique. Teachers will provide you the latter, but the individual must develop the former.

Mikeffd - I tend to agree with Lenee that it may be wise to start at the beginning; you know the basics, and with a teacher in no time at all you will be rapidly back on par.
Good luck!

Another thing, Mikeffd,
you might look at judo and
jiujitsu as rough and tough,
more physically demanding
activities, as compared to the more
artistic and refined activity
of piano--even a young
child can press a key on the
piano, nothing compared to grapping
the lapel of an opponent in judo.

But piano is actually the much
more physically demanding activity.
Anyone can get a black belt in judo,
but only a handful can ever play
a big concerto. This seems puzzling,
because the amount of force needed
to press a piano key is small,
and even in a concerto, the total
force necessary to press the keys for the
thousands of notes is within the
capacity of a child. But playing
the piano can make even a grown
man cry uncle. The demands
of playing will test the limits
of your physical capacity and
fortitude, more than judo or
jiujitsu could ever do.

If you find piano playing to be exhausting, that's evidence that you're doing it incorrectly.

It also demonstrates that your theory that you can have "no bad habits" because you play "in a way that best suits your individual physiology and psychology" is fanciful nonsense.

Steven