Thread: Wish me luck! I'm starting from scratch!!!

As you all probably know I am very passionate about music. This passion was developed relatively later in life; probably about eight years ago. I am now 30. I know NOTHING about music theory and practice. I have decided that's going to change! I ultimately would like to take piano lessons.

However, I want to make the most out of them once I get there. So I am starting from square one. My husband and I sat down for half an hour tonight, with him helping me learn how to read the notes on a staff, and playing the notes on a keyboard app so I can hear the sound of the different notes. Should be an interesting journey, here's to hoping I keep up the inclination and practice to actually achieve my goal! Wish me luck

Good luck, Sonata! I hope all goes well.

But pray tell me, why ultimately the piano? Why not the orchestral contrabass sarrusophone? We need more of them in the world!

Good luck! You have a head start on me. I always had guitars and basses around, but never got really serious about learning theory until I was in my mid-40's. I'm 52 now and delving into double bass.

CoAG: The reason I am going for piano because it is my favorite instrument. I've always loved the sound. I'll be sure to make the orchestral contrabass sarrusaphone my next instrument

Was that tongue in cheek, or did autocorrect ruin the word saxophone by the way?

Originally Posted by Sonata

CoAG: The reason I am going for piano because it is my favorite instrument. I've always loved the sound. I'll be sure to make the orchestral contrabass sarrusophone my next instrument

Was that tongue in cheek, or did autocorrect ruin the word saxophone by the way?

Silly me I spelled it wrong.

Saxophone is a pretty cool instrument actually.

This is nice: my husband was talking to a friend about my wanting to learn music. Apparently this guy is quite musically inclined, primarily with guitar. He has a keyboard that he's not been using lately and loaned it to us. It will be fun to play around on...if my toddler actually let's me get near it! I see music lessons in his future in a few years.

Originally Posted by Sonata

Saxophone is a pretty cool instrument actually.

This is nice: my husband was talking to a friend about my wanting to learn music. Apparently this guy is quite musically inclined, primarily with guitar. He has a keyboard that he's not been using lately and loaned it to us. It will be fun to play around on...if my toddler actually let's me get near it! I see music lessons in his future in a few years.

That's great news! But I meant sarrusophone.

I don't believe I've ever heard such an instrument.

Originally Posted by Sonata

I don't believe I've ever heard such an instrument.

It's like a saxophone but with a double reed.

very cool, I am reading up on it as we speak. I'll have to check out some youtube samples!

Just thought I'd post some updates periodically. So far, I've been working on things quite a bit last night and today. By quite a bit I mean for a side project, not obviously, compared to any of you professional/student/or even serious amateur musicians on this board. But more serious learning in music than I'VE ever done before

Last night I studied up on the musical staff, the note placement and the bass and treble cleff (yes I really am THAT much of a beginner!) I think I may draw them up a few times to help me memorize them, I am far from having it memorized. And that's even one note at a time....it will be along time before I can truly read the music and convert in my mind what needs to be played.

I then noodled around with chords on the keyboard. Not obviously in musical notation, but with the keyboard he loaned us a chord fingering chart. So I practiced the basic major chords A through G. No sharps. I did a couple of chord progressions.

So those two items are my big focus right now. I know that I shouldn't do TOO much on the keyboard if I want to continue onto piano lessons (bad habit development and all). But I've been having alot of fun, and it's nice at least being able to understand a couple of basic things.

A nice note: I'm not even thinking to far ahead ie "Oh I'm so anxious to learn Chopin this or Rachmaninoff that" While that would be awesome, I'm just really absorbed in each individual step I'm working on. I don't know how far I will get, I don't even really worry about that right now. Just neat to start the journey.

Sonata congratulations on your decision to learn the piano!I am 36 years old and I decided to learn the flute last year.One step at a time is the best thing to do as you have already written in your last post.If you really do that you will be amazed how soon you will play sopen..
In the beginning I was trying hard to learn quickly because of my desire to play my favourite piece of music.the result was that I had no progress.As soon as I became patient everything became more clear and the small,realistic goals brought the progress that I've been searching.
So good luck and relish every step of yoyr music journey!

Soundlover and Ron: Good luck on your own endeavors! It's good to know there are others that are starting later in life, it's encouraging! Feel free to let me know how you both progess.

Originally Posted by Sonata

Last night I studied up on the musical staff, the note placement and the bass and treble cleff (yes I really am THAT much of a beginner!) I think I may draw them up a few times to help me memorize them, I am far from having it memorized. And that's even one note at a time....it will be along time before I can truly read the music and convert in my mind what needs to be played.

Try the note identification exercise here. You can customise it to suit as you make progress.

Good luck with your musical journey Sonata!