Which brings me to sight reading, or as I like to think of it – what you’d use if you wanted to torture the devil. I despise with fiery eyes the thing they call sight reading. Who came up with this and can we have them executed? There are ways to practice but I don’t want to. I just want to take a pill and be good at it. Playing the piano = fun! Sight reading = NOT FUN.
Also adding to the problem is the fact that my right hand is much, much stronger – and consequently more obedient – than my left hand. If my right hand is the most popular kid in school, president of the senior class, head cheerleader and valedictorian, my left hand is the kid who still eats paste. I’m currently in negotiations with my left hand to get its act together, but the process is much akin to squeezing hemoglobin out of root vegetable.
I’m not sure why I’m telling you this except that I’m about to go downstairs and start practicing again. I will probably take an exam soon and I need to hustle to get ready. I’ll not only be representing myself but I’ll also be representing my piano teacher so I’ve got to do well for the team. He’s the best teacher I could ever have found for me and a really nice guy but I know that he must be at least a little stressed about the
To be fair, if I were him I’d be nervous, too. He has no idea how awesome I can be (maybe). And that I can’t just pass – I have to pass and get to the top level. Basically, I must overachieve. Because I’m like that. And a little bit because most of the people taking the test at this level are about seven years old, so I need to bring my extremely old woman A game. You know how it is when you need to beat little kids at something so you don’t feel you’ve passed through your best years never having accomplished what you could have. What? You don’t know what that’s like? OH.
Anyway, I need to pound out some scales and all that so I can reclaim the glory of my childhood achievements. Wish me luck. And if you have any of those sight reading pills, send me a case. I’m good for it.
9 comments:
You just used the word "exam." And I got the shudders. Because that sounds too much like SCHOOL. Ohhhh, the pressure!
Good for you on the piano lessons! It is such a beautiful instrument, I know you'll be great. Just keep plugging away and that left hand will graduate yet!
Have a blessed day Paige!
Good luck! I know you can do it :)
I suffered through at least 7 years of piano lessons ... and hated every minute of it. I was forced to do recitals that involved playing pieces by memory and I often performed at old age homes (Lord help those poor folks). I begged to quit ... and now, years later, I wish I'd stuck to it. I admire you for doing this as such an "advanced" age!
I picked up the guitar about 4 years ago ... unfortunately, I stopped playing about 2 years ago.
Good luck! And good for you for learning to play the piano!
Sight reading really does stink! I hate it. I think that sight reading should be looking at the music while listening to someone else play the song. That's a great idea.
Good luck!!
Sight reading really does stink! I hate it. I think that sight reading should be looking at the music while listening to someone else play the song. That's a great idea.
Good luck!!
The fact that you can play the piano makes me envious of your musical skills. I do not have a single musical bone in my body. Ask my parents, they'll agree. I want to learn how to play an instrument but I just can't for the life of me get it together. It makes me sad.
Jason, on the other hand, is a musical genius. A tortured one at that since his dad forced him to play for hours when he was growing up. Music and sight reading is like second nature to him. He can probably play in his sleep if he wanted. Unfortunately, he refuses to use his talent these days which makes me want to throw a piano at him for wasting such talent. Maybe I should tell him to send his talents over to you on the day of your test so that you can magically ace it and become a musical genius too :)
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