Date: 03-10-12

Time Spent: 1 Hour

Total Time: 6 Hours

Action: My lesson today began with learning another relativiely easy song. The song I learned was "Jingle Bells". It's only a four note song, but once you include the bass clef notes it makes the song more complicated to perfect. My instructer also showed me how to hold down one of the pedals so when I strike a note, the sound will get stretched. The tricky part is that you have to remember to step on the pedal each time for a new note or else the notes will get smushed together and it won't sound good.

 

Next Action: My next step is to perfect the "Jingle Bells" song with the bass clef. I also want to practice moving my fingers while pushing the pedal down at the same time. To me it still feels wierd and it is sometimes a challenge for my body to do many things at once. I need to practice this more so I can get more comfortable doing it.

How am I Doing? I am improving little by little. I hve realized that piano is not going to come easy for me  as I am going to have to practice countless hours if I want to get good. I get frustrated sometimes when I can't get the notes I want to play, but I keep on trying until I get it. A thing that piano has helped me with is being able to type with all my fingers rapidly and proficiently. Before I wasn't able to do this.

Date: 03-03-12

Time Spent: 1 Hour

Total Time: 5 Hours

Action: Today I had another piano lesson. My mentor instructed me how to  move my fingers in a proficient matter. He also showed me how to play a slow rock song. I have now managed to play one song at least, " Here comes Thumpkin."

 

Next Action: My next step is to meet up with my mentor again before the week ends. He said he was going to show me how to play with both hands becuase in the past I have only been playing with my right hand .

How am I Doing? I can say that I am doing well for a begginer. I really enjoy playing the piano. It's pretty difficult more than I imagined actually. The most difficult part of playing is making your fingers do what you want. With that said I still have a lot of practicing to do especially improving the movements of every one of my fingers. I also need to know my keys better because I still tend to get them mixed up.

Mentor Log

Date: 03-01-12

Time Spent: 2 Hour

Total Time: 4 Hours

Action: Today I practiced on my own. My mentor sent me instructions online on how to use my left hand when I play the piano. For now I will only play one to two notes with my left hand so I can get the hang of it. The left hand usually plays the Bass Clef  while the right hand plays the Treble Clef. 

 

Next Action: My next step is to play at least three different  notes with my left hand along with the notes of my right hand.

 

How am I Doing? I have noticed that I have been improving significantly. The movement of my fingers especially the pinkie and the one next to it have gotten much better. Now I have to train my left hand to do the same. To me it feels wierd playing notes at the same time with both hands while stepping on the pedal. Maybe this is because I never used my body to do many things at once. Nonetheless this is a part of the learning process and I'm sure that with more practice it will come naturaly for me.

Date: 02-29-12

Time Spent: 1 Hour

Total Time: 2 Hours

Action: Today I had another piano lesson. My mentor instructed me how to  move my fingers in a proficient matter. He also showed me how to play a slow rock song. I have now managed to play one song at least, " Here comes Thumpkin."

 

Next Action: My next step is to meet up with my mentor again before the week ends. He said he was going to show me how to play with both hands becuase in the past I have only been playing with my right hand .

How am I Doing? I can say that I am doing well for a begginer. I really enjoy playing the piano. It's pretty difficult more than I imagined actually. The most difficult part of playing is making your fingers do what you want. With that said I still have a lot of practicing to do especially improving the movements of every one of my fingers. I also need to know my keys better because I still tend to get them mixed up.

Mentor Log

Date: Feb 03 2012

Time Spent: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Action: Today was my first piano lesson with my mentor. Since I knew nothing about the piano we first started off with identifying the keys. He also gave me an introduction on how to read music notes. 

Next Action: My next step is to meet up with my mentor again next Saturday. This time I'm actually going to intend to play the piano, at least a couple of chords just to get my fingers used to the motion.

How am I Doing? I am relieved that I finally got a mentor because I had some issues with finding one. This took a load off of my shoulders and now I feel that I can just let loose and enjoy learning how to play the piano. I have no experience with playing instruments but I hope that this project will help me initiate a passion for music. I know it’s going to be difficult but I am ambitious and determined to succeed.