Just this 40-something and a bunch of six-year-olds…
I’ve been taking piano lessons for two and a half years. I’ve posted about it off and on. Although I play guitar, I don’t really “know” music. Piano and reading/playing sheet music is brand new to me. I love it, even though it’s really, really difficult.
I was at an event with my students (I always feel weird saying I’m a teacher in my posts because most of the time my posts relate to teaching). Turns out…I can’t play piano in front of others. I freeze up. I get nauseated. My heart pounds. My fingers stiffen. I get enough adrenaline flowing to put The Hulk into a coma.
For years my piano teacher has been trying to encourage me to perform at the recitals for his students and the other students in the group. I’ve been to the recital once. I went to watch two of my students play. But I never figured I’d be in the recital. That’s NOT why I’m learning piano, plus, who the fuck needs THAT kind of pressure?
Apparently I do. Because I figure that if I really want to learn piano, I need to learn to play in front of others. I love playing guitar and singing songs with my students, and I would some day like to play piano and sing songs with my students.
Hey me too! Well OK I have had one but my second one is coming up in December.
I started taking piano lessons about 6 months ago. My first recital I had to play 2 very, very beginner songs. This one I have to play 3 songs including Music Box Dancer, which I got an easy version of from another doper.
My first recital I was absolutely astonished by how terrified I was. I’ve sung in front of crowds, acted in small plays and I was nervous but I could still function. When it was my turn, I walked to the piano and sat down. When I looked at my hands they were shaking so badly that I didn’t know how I was going to be able to play at all. Fortunately I had practiced so much that my brain just took over.
I really have no memory of playing. It was just suddenly over and I was walking back to my chair.
I felt extremely self-conscious being up there with the little kids. The only thing that made me feel a bit better was that there was one other adult and he had obviously not practiced at all so it made me feel like the focus had been taken off of me. He also sang a super cheesy song while the piano teacher played for him.
What are you going to play and how long does the song take?
WOW! I can SO empathize with you! I took piano lessons from about age 11 to 15 … got as far as “Moonlight Sonata” but, like you, the recitals were terrifying.
My parents also MADE me take voice lessons (from the very nice piano teacher) during this time. This was to help me combat my shyness – their rationale.
One voice lesson day, while I was “singing,” some young children (younger than me – I was an adolescent, then) came by. I was so terrified (AND mortified) that I burst into tears, and RAN AWAY (upstairs, to my teacher’s BEDROOM, and tried to hide in the closet.
My parents relented, and I was allowed to quit the voice lessons.
Fast-forward to now. I’m 63, and till a bit socially awkward, but I’ve “improved” somewhat. My dear (new) spouse has bought me THREE ukuleles – one is a plywood “learner,” two are professional-grade – and I’m taking group lessons.
With his support, and our church choir backing me (AND the congregation joining in), I’ll be making my Uke Debut for the Advent Concert :eek: I’m scared, but fully intend to follow through.
Do let us know how YOUR BIG EVENT goes! I wish you all the best!
“Trumpet Minuet” by Jeremiah Clarke. It’s an ancient song for harpsichord, and takes about 30 seconds to play. It’s the shortest, most basic song I know. I hope some day to play the more complicated stuff!
That’s a good amount of time for your first song. The two that I played for my first were 30 seconds each. The three that I’m playing this time are 1 minute each :eek:
I’m playing Music Box Dancer, Ode to Joy and Minuetto by James Hook.
I’ll keep checking here for how it goes for both of you.
