Saturday, August 9, 2014

Calista's Diary Entry - When It Clicks

Dear Diary,

When I began my keyboard lessons, Jay told me that "the most important thing to remember is that Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge".  I was confused and asked him what boys and fudge have to do with playing a musical instrument?  Well his mnemonic devices helped me learn the lines and spaces of the treble and base clefs quickly and easily.  The hard part was recognizing the notes quickly and getting my fingers to do exactly what I wanted them to do, when I wanted them to do it.  There's a lot going on at the same time!  Recognize the note on the sheet music, find the right note on the keyboard, hold it for the correct length of time, do or do not use the damper pedal...  Okay, this is hard!

During the first month, I spent so much time just leaning the proper techniques, practicing scales, and playing simple songs such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Mary Had a Little Lamb (and why would anyone want to sing about being Down in the Valley anyway).  I kept asking Jay when we would get to the fun part.  He kept telling me to just keep practicing, and he promised it would pay off.  So I did.  I practiced 2 hours a day like he told me to, and sometimes more.  It became easier to play the scales and to play the notes from sheet music.  I got to play songs that were a little bit more complicated, but they were still songs that people sang like 100 years ago.

Jay asked me if I wanted to learn how to play by ear, as well as read music.  I said that I thought that was something that only musical geniuses could do.  He told me that some people are naturally gifted and can pick that up right away, but he said that some people can be taught.  He told me that I had a good ear and that he could teach me.  I told him yes, I wanted to learn to play by ear.  He told me that there would be a lot more work.  I was ready for it.  I learned the 12 major chords and I learned about chord progressions.  Jay gave me charts and diagrams and there was a lot of memorization.  One day, Jay gave me the assignment of picking out a popular song that's a favorite of mine, listening to the chorus, playing the melody of the chorus on the keyboard, and writing the notes down on a piece of paper.  He told me to make sure that I had a recording of the song at our next lesson.  I did as he instructed.  It was pretty easy to listen to the melody and play it.

At my next lesson, Jay told me to look at the notes that I had written and to tell me what key the song was in.  I didn't answer right way, but then I recognized that there were no sharps or flats, so I said "Is it C?"  Then Jay told me to play the melody with my right hand, and to try the common chord progressions for the key of C with my left.  I hummed the song as I played, and I found a progression that fit!  I was actually playing the song, and it actually SOUNDED LIKE THE SONG!  "OMG!  I'm playing my favorite song!"  Jay was excited, too.  He told me that this is his favorite part of teaching, when all of the hard work pays off and it all clicks, and the fun part begins.  He told me that of course, I still had a lot to learn and a lot of practicing to do.  He told me that he would teach me some embellishments that would really make the song sound good.  

Jay instructed me that for my next lesson, I should write down the notes of the melody for the rest of my song, and below those notes to write the chords, and to practice my song (but don't forget to practice my scales and practice my sheet music songs).  Well, playing my favorite song will not be work at all for me.  I am so excited!

Jay told me that I have a nice singing voice and that I should try out for the performing choir when school starts.  Really?  Me?  That's not something that I had considered before.  I guess I sort of frowned because then he said that he thinks it will be a good fit for me, since I like to perform and I love music.  He told me that many of their musical numbers include choreographed moves, and he told me I would be really good at that part.  He told me that they also read sheet music, and that I would learn some music theory.  I told him that I would consider it.

When school starts, we will continue the lessons, but we will cut back to 1 lesson per week, and I will cut my practice time back to an hour a day, 6 days a week.

8 comments:

  1. I am so proud of Calista! I wish I had had a piano teacher like him. Maybe I would not have quit. I did well with the violin though!
    I have not heard one word about Bob...hmmm He may be sorry he left! LOL

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    1. Thank you The grandmommy! I had piano lessons as a teen, but I was not as disciplined as Calista. :) My mother was quite gifted at playing the piano. She played by ear from when she was a child, and was one of those people who could listen to a song, and then play it. She played the piano for our church for my entire life until she got sick and passed away. I always wanted to play like her, but never got to that point. I could read music and she could not, but it was always a struggle. I've had tutors that taught me to play by ear by using the methods that Calista used here, but that was a struggle for me. And then I got an electronic keyboard, which allowed me to "cheat" by playing entire songs by keying the notes of the chords in the progression. Things started to go downhill from there.

      School is starting soon, so Bob will be back shortly!

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  2. Yay! See what a summer you are having? Yay, Calista! Yay, Jay!

    P.S. I am glad for no Bob mentions, too. Nice guy, but so glad that Calista is doing her own thing and being creative. Glad that the Spirit Squad disappointment is behind her, too.

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    1. Thanks D7ana! Oh, Calista is still a little bitter about the Spirit Squad. LOL She'll get over it eventually. This hasn't been the absolutely best summer for Calista, but she's had moments of fun, and she's happy that she has learned to play a musical instrument.

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  3. Extracurricular activities will help keep Calista's mind off Bob and other things that have been troubling her. She seems to be enjoying Jay's keyboard lessons and suggestions. I like his suggestion for her to join the performance choir. That activity will help eliminate any resentful feelings that might otherwise develop toward old and new spirit team members.

    dbg

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    1. Thanks Debbie! Calista had a lot of difficulty picking an activity that she would enjoy, but she does have a love for music so the lessons have been very beneficial to her. She's made the decision to try out for the performing choir - I hope she makes it!

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  4. Looks like this has been very good for her! Keeping her occupied and not focused on her social troubles. I had always wanted to play the piano and tried to teach myself and gave it up way too quickly. To this day I can only play Bill Bailey and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Although it's been 15 years, so I probably cant play either now, lol.

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    1. Thanks Muff! I think that it has been good for her. Maybe this will be something that she can stick to long-term and enjoy. I can still play the piano somewhat, but I am horribly out of practice. It would probably take me 30 minutes to get through 1 page of sheet music. I could probably fumble around for a while and play a song by ear if it's in the key of C, F, or G. Some songs I have practiced so much over the years that I can sit right down and play them (Heart and Soul, The Way We Were). Other songs I could fumble through and it would sound like the song, but with a lot of bad notes (You Light Up My Life, Amazing Grace).

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