tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433137284640866905.post1469348142934941998..comments2023-10-01T10:54:15.723-05:00Comments on Always Wanted to Play Piano: Hot Air Ballons, Weight Loss, and PianoAlways Wanted to Play Pianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00152210048318735359noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433137284640866905.post-54929751065885202092010-08-07T12:19:21.640-05:002010-08-07T12:19:21.640-05:00I just attended the Stanford Jazz Workshop Residen...I just attended the Stanford Jazz Workshop Residency program -- a week of total immersion with fellow music students (all ages, all skill levels).<br /><br />One of the big points the teachers made in the piano master classes is that progress in music is <i>gradual</i>. Don't expect to learn something new or make a big jump overnight.<br /><br />One example: in practice, incorporate an exercise where you play each and every note with total clarity. If you can't manage it, slow down until you can do it every time. Then, set a long goal (say, 2 months) of increasing the tempo, but each day or each week increase the tempo only a little bit. Use a metronome! After 2 months, you will have more than doubled the tempo.<br /><br />It was a fantastic experience -- a little bit of terror (I had to perform on a big stage with a combo) but I learned a huge amount, including a years-long list of new things to learn.ralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778008023520090626noreply@blogger.com