Where Piano Playing Retirees Get Information and Encouragement
I know that this sounds weird coming from me, who writes a blog about how wonderful it is to play the piano. It is true that I think playing the piano is a joy, but there is one aspect that I do not enjoy and it is not practising scales or learning new music. For … Read more
I understand that this might seem a little strange, especially when I so often advocate that practice will equal progress. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe this – I know that this is true but there are circumstances when some things are impossible, or very much close to it. Let me explain. For as … Read more
Why does it really matter to me whether or not people learn to play the piano, particularly retirees and seniors? Well if I really honest, this has not always been my focus. When I was in my twenties, I was very much focused on my music teaching career, both as a private piano teacher and … Read more
There are several reasons why I have always loved playing the piano. I remember when my parents bought a second hand piano so my sister, who was older and taking piano lessons, could practice at home. As soon as it came into our family home, it captured my attention and it started an incredible learning … Read more
Learning is meant to be fun and easy. There is also this perception that if you are finding something hard to learn, then you are not really applying yourself or trying hard enough. I find this thought can be quite common but not necessarily true. Sometimes learning can be confusing or daunting and sometimes it … Read more
I have deliberately held off recounting my own personal of learning to play the piano because I don’t think that my own journey is particularly relatable: My parents anticipated me and my sister being musical because my Mother’s Father had played the piano (he died before I was born) and my Father’s Mother played the … Read more
If you are Australian and over fifty years old, you are likely to remember a lady by the name of Hazel Hawke. She was a well known name only because her husband Bob Hawke, was Prime Minister of Australia during the 1980’s. From what I have read, she was always a very musical person and … Read more