A while back I got chastised for being too negative about musicians I see at the summer concerts. That was the best thing that could have happened to me. He was right. The musicians, in my opinion, ARE subpar, but.....I spend too much time complaining about their “subpar-ness!:

His remarks prompted me to focus and work on becoming a better keyboard player instead of “moaning and groaning” about the world around me.

So, my two choices were.....work on learning the PA3x, or work on improving my piano skills, and then.....work on the PA3x.

So I backed off everything except music in some form.....even neglecting getting my car repaired or sometimes brushing my teeth even. Even the Internet except for studying Youtube keyboard tutorials.

And, at the same time, I called a brilliant pianist/teacher I met a few years ago and started lessons with him. Expensive but worth every penny. Been at it a few months now. My God, the stuff he’s teaching me. How a jazz musician plays, chord substitution, altered chords, extended chords, suspensions, open chords, runs, improvisation, 11ths, 13th’s, etc. It doesn’t stop there. How to practice effectively for maximum results. Practice should be multi-sessions of half dozen short ones daily instead of one long practice session. How to listen to pre-recorded music, note by note, to learn how other instrumentalists “ride” and emulate what they’re doing (I slowed down Santana’s Smooth and figured out he’s only playing variations on scales). and so much more.

I consider myself a good player, but I’m amazed nowadays at how much I DIDN'T know about the in’s and out’s of making music. That was the best thing I ever did.....start piano lessons. I highly recommend it. Not only educational but really rejuvenating learning new chords structures, putting them together.....just plain playing differently for a change! Really refreshing. I wish I did it years ago.

Thanks for sharing Mark. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you, and what section of the US do you live? In my experience, many teachers won't take adults because it's more difficult to make grown-ups unlearn their bad habits, than it is to teach children as novices.

I hear you. I'm a "senior" living in the Northeast.

This is why I never took piano lessons. Couldn't find a competant teacher. My case though was unusual. I was already advanced on the accordion. Teachers didn't know how to teach an advanced accordionist but a beginner pianist. Add to that, most teachers take the easy route....kids. When I met this fellow years ago, he impressed me so much I kept his number all these years. I was so happy to find he's still around. A really fine pianist and a great teacher.

This might help. In the end (back then) I had to teach myself. I bought many books on how to play the piano but nothing clicked until I bought this book and read it repeatedly from front to back.

"How to Play the Piano Despite Years of Lessons"



AMAZON: How to play the piano despite years of lessons

I still have my original book!!!

Here’s another great resource for piano study that I am using

https://m.youtube.com/user/pianocareer

Mark, you have inspired to go back and start piano lessons again, thanks.

You wrote:
My God, the stuff he’s teaching me. How a jazz musician plays, chord substitution, altered chords, extended chords, suspensions, open chords, runs, improvisation, 11ths, 13th’s, etc. It doesn’t stop there. How to practice effectively for maximum results. Practice should be multi-sessions of half dozen short ones daily instead of one long practice session. How to listen to pre-recorded music, note by note, to learn how other instrumentalists “ride” and emulate what they’re doing (I slowed down Santana’s Smooth and figured out he’s only playing variations on scales). and so much more.

Mark, I have tried to bring that subject to SynthZone with no response. You have brought methods of improving one’s ability to play music – and the fantastic story of what can be done with chords.
Mark this is one of the best posts for improving self that I read, thank you.

John C.

yes, piano teachers are invaluable

I startd piano lessons about 5 years ago, because the need to improve my left hand technique..
I made huge improvements, but still haven't cougth up to my right hand by a decade or two..

But indeed the most you learn is by discussing music.. and diving deeper in techniques and theory
Altough there is a huge amount of youtubers on the internet that teach these parts of the playing..

I'm a beginner jazz pianist. Most of my visual training comes from YouTube but sometimes it's really hard to find what you're looking for. I might just get me a real teacher this year.

Well.........Bill Lewis gave my piano lessons the "coup de grace." I might add thankfully!

Yes, piano lessons WERE the best thing I could have done...it really woke me up. But Bill mentioned something that kind of sobered me up. It was something like: "jazz piano with it's substitutions, altered chords, etc will not make you any more money or get you more jobs." I thought how right he was. I stopped my lessons. I was having fun playing around with the notes, but.....there's only so much time. It needs to be spent productively. Studying jazz piano is not productive unless you're looking to be a headliner!

But......fun while it lasted!

What I would give if I could return to my teen years when playing a piano would have been such a treat. Unfortunately, it was not in the cards financially and all of us had to work after my Dad died. After retiring, I was introduced to Arranger Keyboards by a talented friend and my creative juices were re-ignited.

You are 100% correct about the value of experiencing a great Piano teacher. No, I've not had the pleasure... but watching a Jazz or Classical Performer in action... and realizing the complete joy they experience... is so inspiring. Au Contraire... my friend Mark. Studying jazz piano is not a waste of time. It enhances your appreciation of those who go on to excel at improvisational jazz and provide us with such treasures.

Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective.

Mark

I hope my comments didn't dissuade you from pursuing learning more on the piano. I think (hope) my meaning was more to keep you goals simple at first and then expand as you go on. For most of our type of gigs if you play the melody out front, correct harmonies, and even better if you sing well thats what is needed.
I wish I had pursued jazz piano more when I was younger but there were no outlets to work in jazz. Playing Hammond in bands was the way to go back then and it worked well for me. Now when I don't care about all that I wish I could play jazz better but am having fun on my FP90 playing for myself. And IMHO playing jazz piano to a high degree just can't be taught. You can learn all the "tools" but to really put it out there is an inborn talent. I believe it was the actor Dustin Hoffman who before acting pursued jazz piano and gave up because as he said "I didn't have the ear" I listen to someone like Erroll Garner and ask myself where does all that come from ?
Go for what is satisfing to you. Good Luck.

Totally agree on all points Bill.

Some times as the old saying goes..
old horses cant learn new tricks per say
.......& sometimes it,s better to do what you do best and make it better and better each time imo.

Hi Bill.....after I signed off on my post, I was thinking I'll bet you read this the wrong way and don't notice the "thankfully" word. I'm guessing......you DID miss the "thankfully" word!

If not for you, I would have finished out my days learning jazz and going nowhere with it, and......I don't have that many days left.

There's too much to get done in every day life. Time spent on music has to be rationed sensibly. Music goes off in so many directions nowadays you have to make careful decisions on what you focus on. Learning jazz I can't say is not stimulating, but the time has to be designated for other things like learning Gypsy and Musette, learning my PA3x, Windows 10, Spanish language, and you get my drift.

If I was 20 again and high-energy and we weren't living in the complexity we are living in these days, I guess I wouldn't be saying the above.

But, back to what you wrote. I don't remember exactly what it was, but it helped me to back up and look at reality. Reality being I should have taken another musical path that was more practical for me.

BTW....I spent almost a month going from store to store, and house to house (Craigslist), looking at both acoustic pianos and digital pianos. I did get to try the Roland and the Kurzweil, the new Yamahas and the new Casio's. Even the Korg.

THAT was most of the reason I stopped the lessons! I went into acute piano-itis and dropped everything musical for probably a month!

I'll share something with you. I feel the same way and have many regrets about not learning the piano at the same time I started on the accordion when I was 12. Though I always loved it, I came to the piano relatively late in life. I think around the 1980's before I really started playing. Even then it took me 2-3 years to make the transition from accordion (unlearning the accordion and relearning the piano).

But you don't get it all in life. I'm happy I got what I did!

Mark

Mark
Glad my comments were a positive and not a negative. Your right, many directions to go with music and the reality of ones personal situation should be a guide. I'm slowly learning to stress less over things and go with the flow.

Well said, Mark:

Nobody ever promised us anything but the opportunity to try! I'm grateful to be "above ground" and enjoying every day. It is so enjoyable to see and hear the thoughts of so many talented people gathered in this special place. Nigel is a pretty darn good referee, too. For the most part, he only steps in when absolutely necessary.

The beginning of my music store/school started when accordion was popular. After six years the accordion began to fade and the guitar became popular. My closest friend was an accordion player. He traveled form accordion to midi accordion with a sound module. His last step was to a Technics Kn1000.

Most of the accordion players who made the change to playing a keyboard had a great right hand on the keyboard. Full chords, arps, and not looking at their right hand when playing gave them a big advantage.

No disputing that piano playing gives the best advantage – for me it’s #1. The accordion players follow right behind.

John C.