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for me it's all about nerves and feel

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 5:49 pm
by clif9710
I've been at this now for several months practicing daily and I'm very happy with the results. I am finally getting a feel for where the keys are so that I can play without looking at the keyboard. Things are beginning to feel right to my fingers and I think that's a good sign.

The other factor is nerves. I can play through a passage on my own, independent of PS, but then lose my cool when challenged to follow PS playing exactly the same thing. Nervous in front of people is one thing but being nervous in front of a machine seems goofy to me but it's a fact. I imagine this varies greatly among individuals, so if you are free of it consider yourself lucky!

Curiously, though I have no trouble speaking before an audience, I know playing piano in public is not in my future. Nevertheless, being able to make music with the keyboard if only for myself is very satisfying. Thank goodness PS doesn't have a laugh track that comes on when goofs are made. ;)

Re: for me it's all about nerves and feel

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:10 pm
by sw1tch73ch
I have that too. My right hand begins to shake and I can't hit the notes properly when it happens. Oddly, the left hand is seldom affected by the "performance" nerves.

I record the end results of a lesson or a song sometimes to share on Facebook with the Playground Sessions Community there (https://www.facebook.com/groups/playgroundsessions/). As soon as I turn on the camera, I lose 10 points of talent. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

But it's still fun and with enough practice, I get through, eventually.

Re: for me it's all about nerves and feel

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:00 pm
by Judex
I wonder if working with a teacher makes a difference in the level of performance anxiety? At least it prepares you for dealing with the presence of another human being, although virtual audiences can be a lot rougher than I imagine a teacher who wants to keep a paying student would be.

Re: for me it's all about nerves and feel

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:01 pm
by clif9710
I had a teacher about 12 years ago and found it far slower going than with PS. There was only one session with the teacher each week and I didn't have the computer to prompt me, just the paper score which made it boring without the immediate feedback of PS. Being more of a chore than an encouragement meant I was never as prepared for the week as I should have been. I've progressed with PS far beyond the point I reached with private lessons.

I do feel bad about the teacher tearing all her hair out and having to be committed to psychiatric care due to having me as a student.

Re: for me it's all about nerves and feel

Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 3:08 pm
by Judex
chk9710 - any idea about the difference playing for teacher vs playing for the computer makes for playiing before an audience (real or virtual)?

As for getting a lot more time in, me too. When I was taking (non-piano) lessons in high-school, it didn't go over real big if I wanted to work/fool around more than my 30 allotted minutes.

Re: for me it's all about nerves and feel

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:01 pm
by clif9710
That's a good point. Perhaps some of the slower progress with the teacher was the nervousness. There are two different factors, one is the presence of an audience (of even one person) and the other is the demand to perform to a standard. I suppose if one could get so involved in playing that the audience would be forgotten it would be a good thing. This might be something a pro musician could speak to.