The Forward Climb

    I just started 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' from Unit 3 - Lesson 3.  It's going to be a fun challenge. Not a lot of notes, It looks to be all about timing and rests and will take a lot of practice.

  I am still working on and getting better at 'Good Morning' and doing better yet on 'Ode to Joy'.  The point is, I am learning songs, and even though the lessons do get harder through the windshield going forward, they do not look so bad in the rear view mirror attained.

   So I keep going forward and learning knowing the mountains ahead are climbable. I may be slow, but I am not one to give up.

To play and what to play, that is the question.

To play and what to play, that is the question. 

 A comparison of three keyboards 

   By comparing and listening to music keyboards and digital pianos on Youtube I am forming opinions about their sounds as well as comparing features.  I want compare how much I am willing to spend to get the sound and features I like.  I have decided I want a Digital Piano rather than a Synthesized Keyboard for a more piano sound and feel.

    After expressing an interest in the Alesis Recital Keyboard($200) and Yamaha P45 Digital Piano($349) to Lisa.  She messaged me with a Youtu.be/E_-RYnhkuVQ comparison.  I do not know if they used the most comparable voices available and they were in two different rooms, but of what heard I must admit I liked the deeper voice used on the Digital Yamaha P45 I listened to since even better.  I have listened to many other videos separately of each piano using headphones for the clearest sound.  Other than the cost, a Yamaha consistently wins for me but an Alesis Recital is definitely the more affordable price.

   I will need to stick to these for cost reasons, it is only a hobby after to keep my brain active after all.  I have the 61 key eMedia Keyboard that works fine for now.  I do not need more than 61 keys quite yet.

    I want to learn to really play Piano including a few Theocratic songs before I invest in a Digital Piano.  But I do like the better sound of Digital Pianos more than the synthesized sound on the keyboard I have.  It has to be bad when my untrained ear can hear the difference by comparing on Youtube.  I look forward to having a better keyb… er… Digital Piano in our living room.  Sales happen, and I have time as I learn.   So I must be patient….. and learn.

Our 61-key eMedia Keyboard

Our 61-key eMedia Keyboard

Our 61 key eMedia KB outside during the summer of 2017 - Can't do that with an upright

After seeing our interest in learning to play, Jay L. brought us over a 61-key eMedia keyboard for us to practice on.  With some work we made a place for it to live inside our small place.   Our 61 key KB with middle C4 in the middle, starts at the C2 octave and goes to the C6 octave above with a last C7 note thrown in.  At my skill level this covers all the music I will be playing for quite some time.  As for the quality of this inexpensive KB, my ears do not know the difference in sound quality yet anyway. Will I ever get a KB longer than 61 keys?    I have chosen not to spend money on a KB.   If I ever get to the point I need more than 61 keys to play the music I learn to or my ear comes attuned enough so that my KB starts sounding off to me, and also, we have the funding THEN we may reconsider it.  As this KB is valued new for sale at $199.00 an upgrade would cost over $200.  I would wish to consider semi-weighted keys which are not really weighted at all just simulated to at least have a certain feel of it.  Compromises.

 

How about an upright?    The other option would be to find a decent used upright that often (at least for non-name brands) seem to really lose their value quickly but are still often in the hundreds.  Like many things I suppose, new players want a new piano that they know has no issues.  I can indeed understand that viewpoint and I would agree with it, if I we were flush with funding and played often enough to consider an upright.  For us though music is just a hobby to pass some time and to share with Friends.  This would also only be considered on the outside chance both Kathy and I started playing rather well.  An upright would take a bit more room than even the longer KB option.

I have played Kathy’s Mother Marion’s Kohler & Campbell upright console piano 1982- 780000  41" Satin Walnut  before while visiting.

Our Keyboard Pictures

  

We updated the set for our RAM Camera Mount for making progress videos on the KB .  The course teacher said she liked the setup and angle. (Left) Note: We since updated and mounted on the wall behind the keyboard, but the long horizontal plane made it very hard to keep tight.  So I attached the RAM mount to an extra music stand, see blog post

	We appreciate our keyboard from deep inside it’s heart. We Thank Jay for adding it to our lives.

Learning

     I love the idea of learning and sharing new things and have many interests and find it limiting that I have had just to choose just a couple interests to explore at a time.

     I would love to program and have tried it but my brain would not allow.  I have to limit myself because my memory, and my learning ability is limited.  It is not fun to have interests in so many things in life only to be hindered by one's own brain, free time available throughout life, and man's currently limited life span as well as finances also hindering a person.

     Our brains were designed to be so special, only to be hindered by imperfection and a world system that does not allow us as individuals the time or resources to explore.  I have tried my hand at many hobby's but music has been a common thread.  I have tried KB before but did not keep at it. I tried flute as I love it too, but could not get the aperture, I like guitar but have a hard time with chords and strumming and it's hard to say to give up on an interest, but it is on the side for now anyway.

    For me and my abilities, I seem to be doing well with piano with the Piano Video Lessons course I have been using, and want to follow through and keep at it.   It is only a hobby for me, but it keeps my mind as active as it is able to do for me.  I have to do the best with the brain I was dealt with, and to learn the best I am able to do.  To do any less with what I HAVE been given would still be a loss.   I will keep trying to learn and continue to be encouraged to move on with piano at whatever pace I am able.

New camera tripod mount

   I frankensteined a new camera tripod setup using RAM mount system parts attached to an extra music stand tripod for a better view for future camera sessions and recordings.  

    The interface RAM mount plate is screwed a 2x6 block with a hole on the bottom to fit the top of the music stand.  

   This will a be much more flexible for future camera sessions and recordings with my teacher to give her a better over the shoulder view of the student.  

   My previous three set-ups were to mount the RAM mount system 

   first to two heavy 2x8 layers sitting on the corner of table in the picture which was awkward to set up, 

    I then mounted it to the keyboard table which worked, but the camera moved as I played, 

   and then I mounted it to on the wall over the keyboard which didn't quite extend far enough from the wall to over the kb, and the long reach made it hard to keep tight enough to stay in place. 

   I feel this new setup will be the best setup yet.  I will have to use for my next video or lesson with the teacher to find out...

PVL Nov bonus Patreon reward

  This month Lisa the Teacher is offering a November Bonus for $10 Patrons! Video Mini-Lesson reward.


   It is a valuable bonus reward in that, normally a $50 dollar monthly Patron gets only a 5 minute recorded video assessment.

  I am set up for my check-up on Sunday Nov 12th at 11-11:15am
  I have been stuck on Unit 3 Lesson 1 - (Free Youtube lesson video) since August 4th trying to learn to play the both the notes at the same time I play the 'chords' to 'Good Morning'. I also practice "Ode to Joy' regularly' with 'Christian Dedication' as an ongoing goal song.

Thumbnail of lesson-1-34-time-dotted-half-notes-33

Sunday Post Lesson Update: The live Mini-Lesson allowed Lisa to give me some immediate and important feedback to me on what I could do give my practice sessions more value to me. While having me keep practicing my current songs 'Ode To Joy' and 'Good Morning' she is also having me move onto the next lesson Unit 3:Lesson 2.

Motivation and patients in learning

  Motivation and perseverance can be a tricky thing.  What motivates a person to persevere?  It can be the desire to do something or learn something that will benefit oneself or others of value to you.  I find motivation greater when the desire is shared and valued by friends, at least to the extent that they cheer you on.  When this does not happen it takes much greater self driven tenacity and motivation to get oneself to persevere, especially if the task is something that requires motivation for the long haul.  

  I have the desire to eventually learn many things, but find that it takes great work to stay motivated for the long that haul.  Especially when I am going it alone.  I am pleased that as I continue to learn music, I have friends that mutually cheer each other on, but even then I find it work to keep at it regular each day.  It is something I really want to learn so I continue to work at it.  I am a slow learner and this does slow me down, but I am a patient person and am patient with myself, but perhaps I need to be even more patient with myself as learning slowly does take a bite out my excitement of learning.  Oh, I'll keep at it, but it does slow me down.  I just need to be patient and happy with each small step I make.

 So my job is to be more motivated and patient with myself and carry on, and stay excited, even about my small progress steps to help me persevere to my goal.  Although I am here referring to music, this attitude work with everything we do and learn in life.

  In my year course, I have been working on Unit 3 lesson 1 for a while now.  I am finding it a more difficult lesson to learn, but I should expect that the songs will get more challenging as I continue.  I will persevere with it one note at a time.  Many notes make a song learned, and confidence bolstered.