Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Play or not play-there is no "practice"

+1. I couldn't agree more, especially about the exploration part when one seems to have reached a plateau.

There's more than one way around a problem and sometimes the circuitous route is best. Not only can it offer the best scenery but more chances that one will see something important along the way one would miss just following a straight line from point A to point B. But even if one doesn't, it's often exhilarating for its own sake, which gives you more energy for the climb off that plateau. Thanks for your post!

....Jazzwee, I loved your post. It was very interesting to hear about your journey and process. It just hasn't been mine, nor do I see it as being mine in what's left of this lifetime. But I admire your tenacity and dedication and am grateful for your support of my comparatively meager efforts. You seemed to have found your vocation late--two vocations actually, performing and being an "inspiration" to those who also want to perform professionally.

Thanks for all the kind comments. BeccaBb, Rocket88, ClsscLib, Starr Keys.

Starr Keys -- you do have it right. It's not just about me wanting to perform. I didn't intend to do that originally but it just was a result of where I got to. But really the vocation of giving an inspiration to adult beginners to prove that comments about "plasticity" of the brain, and other physical limitations based on age are has truly been an important part of this process.

So yes, I'm happy to be an inspiration for other adult beginners to reach their desired goal. I also want to make sure that people understand that I'm not making a claim of being some great pianist. I'm not. All I can claim is that I'm progressing just as well as any kid. And I'm still getting better.

BTW - I'm probably somewhere near 6000-6500 hours now. So somewhere near 3500-4000 to go of "Practice".

Jazzwee, you are my hero. In fact I'm more or less doing the same experiment about "is that 10000 hours rule right or wrong?" and "how far can I get with focused practice?". From your long excellent post above I can learn again some useful things for me so at least in my case you are already inspiring me. Thanks a lot for your very open-minded posts! Karel