1. You need to develop the ability for your hands to operate independently. You need to grow a second brain for your left hand. I frequently have to watch my left hand while I perform to "keep it in line."
2. Don't play classical music, Don't play fully written scores, Don't play with a bass and drummer, Don't play with a drum machine. Just jam on the piano by yourself.
3. Pick a simple bass line and chord pattern. Play the bass line over and over and over, trying to improvise with your right hand at the same time.
4. It take five to ten years to grow a new neuron and it takes about the same time to learn a simple rhythmic pattern so you can play it flawlessly. I can only play about five different rhythm patterns myself and the last patterns (Tango, and "embellished" Tango) each took about five years (or more) to "master."
5. Surprisingly, it is possible to improve your skill on piano as you age. The effort does not take as much physical abuse as either guitar, drums, or saxophone. Some piano players have their premier performances in their old age.
6. The most important thing is to be willing to be stupid and be willing to sound bad and awkward for a long time. But slowly you will improve whether you want to or not. Your brain is lazy and it really hates working any more than it has to, so reluctantly it learns new skills and abilities.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
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