“I have this desire to learn to play music but am not sure if I have thetime or commitment that it takes.”

Music is a deep desire within humans. Scientists are finding that music is an inherent part of thecells. They can even identify a planet now by the sound that it emits.

What comes from playing music?

1. Enjoyment.2. Fulfillment of a deep desire.3. More brain power.4. Peace.5. Expression of our thoughts and feelings.6. Using other areas of our brain - very important as we age.7. Deep satisfaction.

“I have always wanted to learn to play the piano!”“ This is a life long dream for me.”

“I have always wanted to do this and if I do not start now, when will I?”

These are some of the most heard of statements about the desire to play the piano.

We are all born to music! Judy Stephanie

“Very few of us earn a living playing music, but many of us include music as an important part ofour lives. Ralph Vaughn Williams speaks of a great pyramid of music makers with the virtuosos atthe top, the “general practitioners” in the ranks below and the amateurs” at the foundation of thepyramid, sustaining those above them and at the same time depending upon them for strength andinspiration” Making Music for the Joy of It, by Judy Stephanie

Taking Piano Lessons as an Adult

So how does this work - taking lessons as an adult?

Many adults have always had the dream of playing music and wanted to take lessons. But they neverhad the chance when they were children or they want to continue lessons now as an adult, especiallywhen they become aware that there is a different method of learning.

Yet, when we walk into our piano lessons, we do not walk in alone, our fears andattitudes walk in with us.

Fears like:1. Will I be able to do this?2. Maybe I am too old to start.3. I can’t play in front of others.4. What if I am not good enough?5. What if I don’t have enough time?6. What if I don’t learn fast enought?7. What if I can’t play as well as______________?

Unless we “captain” our own ship and do not give our power to the “pirate” fears, we will literallybe controlled by them. If they do not prevent our dream from happening, they can surely cripple usbadly and make the process of learning piano far less enjoyable. Or, we may have limiting beliefssuch as:

1. I am not a musical person.2. Music is hard.3. I am too old to learn.4. I don’t have any musical talent.

There are videos on this site that give specific techniques for dealing with “pirates”,beliefs and brain development. These are very powerful and help us to overcomechallenges that we may face.

“So how do I develop confidence in my playing?”

When one uses the Cercone Method of learning music thoroughly, one develops a confidence thatcomes from knowing and understanding how music works and from knowing the song on so manylevels in the brain that it flows naturally into the hands.

“The more thoroughly I study a song, the more confident I feel!”

There are many students who have taken traditional lessons for years and their comment is:“I have taken lessons for years and I remember very little. I wish I could learn to play better.”

With the Cercone Music Method, the learning is very deep yet quick. Because of the constant useof the learning modalities, what is learned is remembered. Students are always amazed at howthe memory of something learned a while ago comes back so easily. The learning is also built onitself and it starts to grow exponentially. What was learned in one song will be used again inanother song and each time it becomes easier and easier.

That is most gratifying for me because I know that I am working with people’s dream of being able toplay even when their schedules are quite heavy - it does work!!!

If something is not working, we have a check system (see Check System under Articles) to see what mayhave been missed in the learning process and when that is put in, everything works again.

“I want to play music for myself but I do not want to play for others, I freeze up.”

That is another whole article - Look at the Performance link. There are certain things that one mustdo in order to be able to control the nerves when playing for others, especially if one seldom playsfor others.

So look at what you desire in music and begin. The Cercone Method will help you to accomplishyour dream.

“But how long do I take lessons?”

Until you accomplish your dream! It is not the length of time of taking lessons but rather did youaccomplish what you chose to accomplish. Some choose to go on even when they have accomplishedtheir dream because they are now able to play songs that they thought they would never be able toplay.

One woman had a desire to play the organ in her church. She came to lessons withthat goal in mind. She had taken lessons previously and had also developed somehabits that were preventing her from playing well. We had to change those habits.I kept telling her to stay with it until she had accomplished her dream.

“Don’t quit when you are discouraged, quit when you have accomplished your dream,when you are victorious!”

One day she was so frustrated with music that she was crying. Her husband camehome, saw her crying and asked her why.

When she told him how frustrated she was with music, he told her to quit.

“I can’t! Donna said I can quit music when I feel good about it and accomplish mydream, not when I feel bad about it.”

So she stayed with lessons and broke through. Then the day came when she said:

“I am playing in church, I have accomplished my dream. I am going to quitnow.”

I gave her a hug and congratulated her. She had done what she came to do!

Many adults and parents judge their progress or usually the lack of progress by the number ofyears that they have taken lessons rather than looking at how much time did they put in duringthose years.

“Donna, I have taken lessons for 2 years just like Susan (age 13) and I can not play likeshe does. How come?

“How much time do you put in?

“Oh ---- not very much. Not with my work schedule.”

“Do you put in 1 hour every week?”

“Oh definitely no! I can’t because of my work schedule.”

“How much do you put in each week?

“Maybe a half an hour a week and sometimes none at all.”

“Do you use the complete method?”

“No!”

“So why are you comparing yourself with someone who puts in at least an hour and 1/2a week and uses the complete method? One and 1/2 hours per week equals 6 hours a monthx 12 = 72 hours a year x 2 years = 144 hours and she uses the complete method.

You have put in maybe 1.5 hours a month x 12 = 18 hours a year x 2 years = 36 hoursand you have stated that you do not use the complete method. There is no comparisonhere. Did you not think to congratulate yourself for what you can do with the amount oftime that you have put in, even though you do not use the complete Method?”

Silence. And then “Oh. Never thought of it that way. I guess I do need to congratulatemyself for what I am doing in spite of my work schedule! I better use the method moreand then I will have even greater progress!”

Some stop somewhere in Level II or just at the end of Level I. This is comparableto stopping school after the 3rd grade. We would never dream of having ourchildren stop math, reading or any subject after the 3rd grade, yet it is doneall of the time in music.

I never hear people saying: “My child has had 3 years of math in school already and theycannot do calculus yet. I think I will have them quit! Yet, this is common in music.

Why is it that we realize that math, reading, science, sports and all the subjects need muchtime - in fact all of the way through high school and even into college and yet music needsonly a couple of years?

So if you wish to learn music, begin. And stay with it even through the ups and downs until youhave accomplished your dream and have achieved victory!

Music learning pretty much follows the line below. Keep moving through thelow spots for another high one is on the way!!!

What do I do when I become discouraged, hit a low or my “pirates” are temporarily incharge?

1. Remember your dream.2. Come to this website and read the articles.3. Speak with someone who accomplishes their goal.4. Make the commitment to yourself that you will only quit when you have accomplished yourgoal and completed at least an 8th grade education in music.

5. Realize that the ups and downs are in all the aspects of life. Everyone who has accomplishedanything has gone through them.

6. Read books that inspire you.7. If the “pirates” are in charge, use the techniques that are mentioned in that article.

By the end of Level III you will be playing many wonderful songs (over 40 songs that you like),memorizing easily, improvising and maybe even composing.

I have one adult student who is an attorney and when he first started lessons he stated: “I want to beable to play music and sight read music. When I retire, I want to sit down and enjoy playing.”He has been with us for years and even though he rarely practices at home he continues to come tolessons and learns there. He is now sight reading and playing music and when he does retire, he willbe able to play music and sight read.

This can happen with the Cercone Method because of the manner in which music is taught. There isalways something to teach. Just a few lessons ago, we took a book and practiced sight reading and hesight read 9 songs in that lesson.

With the online classes, you can move at your own pace. What will insure your success is setting atime in your schedule to view the lessons, work the exercises and learn the songs.

“Feeling at ease with music making is, perhaps, the most important thing that an adultbeginner can learn. Feeling at ease has more to do with clearing away self doubt than it has to dowith learning how to sit at the piano. Once you are rid of doubts about your musical self, you clearthe path for progress.” Making Music for the Joy of It. by Judy Stephanie

Feeling at ease with music also has to do with understanding music, knowing what thesong is doing and howmusic works.

The more you study with the Cercone Music Method:1. The deeper is that knowledge.2. The easier you learn the songs.3. The more confidence you develop.4. Brain connections build.5. You are playing music!

The music is in you wanting to be played!You and the instrument begin the dance of creating music!