Piano Lesson Day!

Thankfully, the head cold I had this last week ran its course without diving into sinus infection territory... since I seem to be nicely recovered. Yay! I definitely didn't want a replay of last month. What all this really means is that I was able to go to my piano lesson today!

For those who don't know the story, about seven or so years ago I decided I wasn't learning piano any faster by not taking lessons... so I talked to a friend who gave lessons and started up. Then we had our car accident and I couldn't play for quite awhile during my recovery... and then I had to have surgery on my shoulder, which took me out of piano playing again (followed by a bit of nerve damage that meant I had to reteach my left hand how to play). And right about the time I started getting caught up again, my piano teacher moved to Germany for three years. That's all just a long way of saying that I'm not anywhere near as far along as I should be, considering how long ago I started.

I am very happy to say, though, that I've managed to catch up to where I left off before my teacher left (considering I really didn't practice much while she was gone) and have even started making progress into new areas. I've added a bunch of new songs, learned new notes and the biggest thing of all, added pedal.

I took this shot right before today's lesson at my piano teacher's house, with the book open to one of the two new songs we started this week (it's the one on the right). Now, I should mention that I could actually kinda sorta play the piano back before I started lessons. I could read the treble clef and plunk things out from it, although I went about it all wrong. It was enough to let me figure out music when I was learning to sing a new song, but that was about it. I also knew quite a bit about musical notations... between singing and playing various woodwind instruments, I'd learned a lot over the years. But one of the things I've absolutely loved about learning to play piano (aside from finally learning the bass clef) is the discovery of notations I'd never seen before. This song has introduced me to something called a mordent... I've now given it a try a few times, but it'll be awhile before I feel comfortable with it. But still, new stuff!!! Fun!!