Five-minute free writes, Day 29 - "Practice"

I'm taking a class with my lifelong learning group - Piano 2.  I took Piano 1 last spring, six weeks of basically learning what the notes are, how to hold my hands, refreshing my knowledge of rhythm and beat, etc. We hardly got past the C chord - not even close to the black keys.

So now I'm doing Piano 2.  This class picked up right where the last one left off, and like any kind of skill, the lessons become more complicated and in need of more brain power.  PLUS - a secret ingredient: practice.

I purchased a little electronic keyboard and I always have great intentions. I don't like the touch - it's nowhere near what a real piano feels like. There are no pedals, which is a little disconcerting.  But it's there, it's in a back room where I can practice undisturbed, and it's actually fun.  There's just one problem, which is pretty much what I encounter daily: I have to carve out the time.

So why practice?  In our group, we learn for the joy of it, and there's no homework and certainly no grades.  In the class, we are mostly plugged into headphones, so the teacher cannot tell when we are making mistakes.  And unlike Mrs. Bewley, my piano teacher from about 60 years ago, the current teacher is full of encouragement and never scolds.

So why practice?  I never did for those lessons 60 years ago.  But this time around, I want it to stick.  I want to remember how to read music.  I want to be able to play a little. And I have to admit, it's even kind of fun.  I wish Mrs. Bewley were still alive; I would love to tell her what I'm doing.