Erin Green
  • Home
  • About Erin
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Erin's inspiration
  • Erin's Tutoring
  • Newsletter, giveaways & enquiries
  • Home
  • About Erin
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Erin's inspiration
  • Erin's Tutoring
  • Newsletter, giveaways & enquiries
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Erin Green Author - blog

16/3/2024 0 Comments

Wish me luck!

PictureGertrude - my piano
​Many, many moons ago, I set myself the challenge of learning to play the piano. I had enquired about attending regular weekly lessons with several music teachers but nothing ever came of it, so I set about teaching myself. I could read the basic notes on a treble stave as I’d been taught at middle school - thank you, Mrs Brown, our music teacher.

My first lesson was to ask the internet ‘where is middle ‘c’ on the piano?’ Google answered without much fuss so I set about matching my knowledge of notes with the corresponding piano keys. A slow job to even play three blind mice but progress is progress, regardless of how slowly it occurs. What mattered was that in just twenty minutes sessions - I was learning to play the piano!
 
I chose a single piece on which to work. It wasn’t a beginner’s piece but I stuck with it plink-plonking my way through each session. Notably, right hand only because my brain could not and would not accommodate the idea of introducing the left hand. At the time, I was amazed how anyone is able to play two-handed, read the music and keep time! But I’m not one to give up, so I continued to practise, session by session.
 
When I had a question – I asked Mr Google. When I needed a demonstration, I asked Mrs YouTube and so it went on week after week, month after month. I’ll even admit … year after year because it has taken me a while. A friend advised me to buy a children's piano book which would assist my understanding and I was delighted when I completed each study book to find a certificate on the final page!

'Again' and 'repeat' are uttered and muttered during each practise session to the point of making myself laugh out loud at how strict I am with myself!
 
My daily sessions with Gertrude (my piano now has a name) have continued culminating in this our most important week, for I will attempt to play my three chosen pieces, numerous scales, arpeggios, sight reading and aural tests to sit my ABRSM grade one piano exam! 
 
I did have an hour-long piano lesson early in January 2024, mainly to ask the piano teacher if I was wasting my time. Thankfully, he said I wasn’t, so I booked and paid for my exam slot. I’m not aiming to achieve the world’s best grade, in fact if the truth be known simply attending, playing to the best of my ability and leaving the venue a happy bunny will be enough for me. Any grade is going to be a bonus for me, Gertrude, Mr Google and Mrs YouTube! 
 
I have no idea how long I need to wait for the actual result but I’ll be honest and share when it comes through. Wish me luck!

UPDATE: my exam was this morning. I played a blinder on two pieces but stumbled to a halt in the middle of one - ironically, the piece I've been playing the longest! How does that happen? Anyway, I restarted from the middle and finished it. What's done is done and there's no changing it so now, I'll wait for the result. Fair play to all those little ones who bound in eager and yet fearless!

UPDATE: 26th March - I secured a pass grade, or so my website log-in states. I'll take that! 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    April 2016
    November 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly