Even at this age, I'm determined to play like Jerry Lee Lewis. I got my new laptop, and a Broadband connection, so I can finally view Youtube videos without waiting an hour for one to download.

I was inspired by this video (starting at :38)



Hardest thing I ever tried....getting that left hand going like that. After about two weeks it finally started coming together (though I still have a way to go......right now I'm still working on getting a Jerry Lee wig).

But about the same time I discovered a new way of practicing EFFICIENTLY.

I'm sure I mentioned this....that I'm into "power of the mind" principles. That's where the POTM principles come into play.

What I learned was I could practice that left hand run every day for an hour and progress very slowly. Or......I could break up the one hour into bits and pieces. Work on the line for 10 minutes, take a break and come back a half hour later and do another 10 minutes. At the end of the day you've had 5-6 mini-sessions.

I'm not sure why the brain responds the way it does, but.......it DOES! Each time you come back to the keyboard, the mind starts all over again.....fresh. It thinks it's another day's practice session. So at the end of the week you didn't have 7 practice sessions, you had maybe 30-40.

I'm progressing very rapidly this way, though I admit that although I knew this way of doing just about everything (learning a new language, etc), I forgot about it even though the method has been around forever. I was just lucky enough to be so busy, the system came up in my mind and it fit in perfectly. Practice a little, back to the desk for paperwork, practice some more, have a glass of lemonade, practice some more, etc. I'm lucky that I'm near the piano for a lot of my day.

Mark

One of Jerry Lee's best performances. He's always been a musical icon to me ever since he broke onto the scene with this song. I just finished reading his biography. He was a musical prodigy at 5 years old and playing gigs before he hit his teens even. His marriage to his 13 year old cousin, unfortunately finished his career as a rock 'n roll star. He floundered for a while, then, in the early 70's, re-entered the music scene successfully as a country singer. Today, at 80 years old, he does both....he can still rock your sock off doing R&R, but he does Country just as well (though not as well as Don M on an arranger!!!!!).

Mark

You are very kind sir!

Mark
YOur right. Its takes our brains time to assimilate info and sort of file it. Thats why when students do all nighters before a test its not worth it. It really takes about 24hors for that new info to be precessed.
Keep going and go slow, the rhythm and speed wil come. Just don't set the piano on fire.

Love the Killer. Notice my stage name Bill "Lewis" A nod to two favorite "Jerry" entertainers Check out his CD "Last Man Standing" good mix of styles and some great duets.
Is that a Farfisa I hear in the background ?, my first keyboard.

Thanks for adding that additional info to this post, Bill. I was beginning to think I was the only one who experienced this.

That was true, BTW. In his book, he said he sent out for some lighter fluid and mixed it with coke in a bottle and at the end of his performance he threw it inside the piano, and.....lit it right up! That was a really great scene in the "Great Balls of Fire" movie!

Mark

Mmmmmmmm....I just saw this, Bill. Verrrrrrry interesting! I don't know how anybody could NOT like Jerry Lee's playing. It's almost like saying Elvis was a nobody! Now I'm going to seriously think about changing my name to "Jerry Lee Lewis Part 2"

Don.......it's pretty hard to argue with FACT!!!!!! Especially when the word is in "red."