One Easy Way To Learn Something New
It seems like we are in a never ending cycle of school around here.
Are the lazy days of summer a figment of my imagination?
The “actual” school year ended on May 31, but summer classes picked right back up on June 3, with classes and marching band practice and requirements for Calculus class…(my daughter not me! whew! no not me) or she’d be behind when “actual” school starts again the end of July and make sure she had a book read for AP Language Arts before school starts and today marked the start of marching band practice for the 2019 season.
Run on sentences are my favorite! Can you tell?
Sigh
So she had about 4 weeks off from marching band and decided after she got out of summer class each day she would learn to play the piano.
Because, why not?
And at least she loves to learn.
So each day after class she practiced piano. Well, not everyday, but a lot of days. She pulled out piano books. After finding some that seemed to fit her skill level, she started in.
She committed to practicing just 15 minutes per day.
But the fun thing is, once she sat down and started practicing, 15 minutes easily turned into 45.
I loved hearing her learn to play using both hands. It’s a memory I want to keep forever. And my other favorite memory about her learning to play is hearing her figure out the placement of her fingers on the keys as they related to the progression of the music on the page.
Because you see, her first instrument is clarinet and her second instrument is saxophone. On those two instruments there is only one place for your fingers to go to make each specific sound. (More or less I think!)
Listening to her as she realized the beauty of ten fingers making music on 88 piano keys was fascinating to me.
So this week she’s on the count down to finish summer class projects because 12 hour marching band days start next Monday.
So one easy tip to learn something new:
commit to working on it a little bit each day.
I know…profound, huh? I couldn’t wait to tell you!
You’re welcome!
She’s not a classical pianist in these 4 weeks but she’s way farther along than she would have been otherwise.
Maybe some day I’ll tell you about what I’m learning new. I’ve allowed myself four minutes per day to learn.
I figure you’re never too old. At least I’m not going to claim to be too old.
What are you learning new this summer?
Now you know…
…one easy tip to learn something new:
work on it a little each day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you for your comments. I am honored that you follow along. If you’d like regular updates directly to your inbox, you can subscribe below.
[mc4wp_form id=”1087″]
She has inspired me! Tell her that! I have a new piano book that I want to work on but I think I don’t have time for it. But… 15 minutes a day? Surely I could squeeze that in!
I’ll tell her! Karla. It only takes 15 minutes per day…or 4.
Well she is amazing and has an awesome ability to tackle something new…just like her momma.
It is interesting to see her dive in and tackle a project. Isnt it, Philip?
Once again, thanks for the enjoyable post. I repeat myself with run on sentences too because I love them but just let me say this, as I’ve said before, I like your style. And the little lessons. Because we it is so true. We need to learn a little at a time. And be reminded that we learned that, because we forget. Have a great summer with your daughter. What’s left of it.
Oh Dorothy, thank you so much for your sweet comment. I am so happy to know someone else who loves run on sentences.
Yes! And they say that a habit is formed after 30 days! This is great advice—-you are such an inspiration friend!
KariAnne
That’s TRUUUUEE!! KariAnne, after 30 days you have a habit. Thank you so much for your kind words.
WOW! What a Summer vacation “from school* you are having.
Remember Mother saying, we need to keep learning new things so it keeps adding bumps on our brain to keep us young and alive.
I try to keep learning!
Have a wonderful evening.
Yes! Donnie for sure. She never wanted our hands or minds to be idle!
I once could play a bit on an old electric organ (that was at my Grandmom’s house). The kind that came with song books that had numbers for the keys. The thing has long been thrown away (as it broke) but I wish I had transferred that knowledge (small though it was) into playing the piano.
That’s awesome, Kristen. I’m sure what you know would come back to you quickly.