Talents/depression

You know, Flyfree--I can't sing. I love to sing. I can play raquetball like a killer maniac, but haven't seriously looked for a partner in a long time, and Gads, I only know some percussion instruments but can't keep a beat.

Some weeks my world is caving in on me. Everything will stink at work. I won't have a social life. So, it is very very easy to get down. Well, cheer up. And that is hard to do. I have been on 24/7 praise music to keep my spirits up. I cannot talk negative. I have to be positive. When i get past this, it will be great.

 

Chocolate milk always helps

Maybe the fact that you could only play THAT song was a hint! God answers prayer...God answers prayer, God answers prayer....
da Gina

Hmmm, things *I've* noticed Adam IS good at
1. Computer skills
2. Theology/debate
3. Working with others
4. Being a friend
5. Being thoughtful, sensitive to others
6. Faithfulness/dedication
7. Helping others
Now if you played the piano on TOP of all of that with no problems it just wouldn't be fair! There's gotta be at least a FEW things a person's gotta have not come natural!

 

Funny, we just discussed this sort of thing in the Music forum. If you want to be good at something then you have to work at it.

 

Honestly, I think you need a different piano teacher. I play the piano, took several years of lessons. My kids take lessons now, one kid has more talent at it than the other, but practice, practice, practice always at least helps.
No one has ever asked me to perform in Carnegie Hall but I have been able to play hymns in some church missions.

If at the end of one evening, you were able to play any kind of recognizable tune whatsoever, you have more innate talent than I or my kids have.
I am surprised at your teacher projecting anything like that. However, it is true that
most people take a while to get the basics of keys and notes and then they more easily start to build on it.
You might also look into the methods that Southern Gospel pianists use to play the piano; a lot of times some very accomplished ones have techniques rather than having studied formally. There are several videos for sale. Look up Roger Bennett, for example, on a search engine. He was with the Cathedrals and is now with Legacy Five.

Don't be discouraged! I have tried all sorts of things I did not become expert at.
But I tried. Right now, I am going to a craft class in which at the end of the evening, I have one or two poor examples to show, while other people buzz out stuff good enough to be in a magazine. But I am having fun and getting better at it.

Karen

 

Adam wrote: "Know anyone who isn't any good in any instrument, in being able to sing, or being able to play a sport?"

I thought he was referring to me.

I can't sing, play an instrument, or even handle the basics of a fax machine. (Is there an "Office Machines for Dummies" volume?) I'm doing well to be able to draw a recognizable stick man, my cooking is iffy, and my house is a mess. I'm a better spectator than participant.

And every time I try something new and it doesn't work for me, I just say, "I'm good at other things - I don't have to be good at this!" The only trouble is that I haven't yet discovered what I'm good at.

Oh, yeah... I'm good at cleaning up after hurricanes (been through 8) and keeping the computer chair warm.

There, Adam - don't you feel better now? Don't let a mere piano teacher get you down.

 

Fly,
When I first came to this board about a month or two ago I was remarking to my wife about a guy on the board whose knowledge of spiritual things really impressed me. It was you. Then I hooked on to your web site and imagine my surprise when I saw you looked so young! (I looked at your pics). You seem to me like someone who would be an excellant teacher. There is a talent out there for everyone.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by flyfree432:
Know anyone who isn't any good in any instrument, in being able to sing, or being able to play a sport?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Can I join your club?? LOL

All I can tell you is to "hang in there".

I play "by ear" most "string instrument" and decided to try the piano, after being shown the
"chords" and few "tricks" by a friend who plays, I proceeded to practice.

Not long afterward, our church pianist "Moved", Guess who they ask to "fill in".

If you think you're "bad" you should have heard this "nervous, scared to death, amateur".

We, or I should say "they" survived until I learned enough to make it "sound like music".

My little offering wasn't much, but God blessed it every service for Five years.

So,"hang in there", make the best of what you have, you never know how it might be used.

 

Hi Adam,
I will have to agree with your piano teacher when it comes to a time schedule to learning. It takes a long time and a lot of practice to play the piano. I have been taking lessons for six months now. I have progressed alot faster than most of the students (according to the teacher) and I am 3/4 of the way through the first Adult book. But I also learn theory, finger exercises, and I practice out of a book of hymns (first level). What I am trying to say is that I don't just learn the keys, I am trying to learn the whole concept. I pratice for an hour and a half a day, at least. But I have a compulsive personality . Don't worry so much about learning how to play, enjoy what your doing while your practicing.

Everyone has talents that the Good Lord gave them. My best "talent" is hospital sitting. I know that sounds strange, but I can go and visit and sit in the hospital for days when necessary. I did not even know it was a talent until someone commented on it.

From what I have read when you post, you should be encouraged that the Good Lord gave you such compassion. That is a talent to rival all talents.

 

Fly,

Here isa quote I have written in the front of my Bible. Its by Seneca
"No man is made wise by chance."

I use this to spurn me on in my studies. Knowing that God doesnt give wisdom to the lazy, not that im saying you are. Most if not all greath theologians and men of God in the past have one thing in common, they worked and studied hard, long hours. Id venture to say that those that are good theologians or piano players are the ones that studied theology the most and played the piano the most. The things in life that are worth having the most are the things that youll have to work for the hardest. Saving salvation, thank God

 

Flyfree, could part of your piano problems be that your more interested in the teacher than the instrument? Just kidding, I just know that whenever I try to get a free lesson from my Grandmother, we wind up talking and laughing instead of practicing. It's hard to draw the line between Gramma and piano teacher. It would be even harder if I was taking lessons from someone who was courting me.
My first piano teacher said that if I practiced daily, I could probably be out of the beginner books in six months, but that was pushing it. I got out of them in 3 and never practiced. Don't just give up, keep working. I was incredibly bored my first year, but now, it's harder and I love it.
You are gifted in something, you just have to find out what it is. I never thought that baking cookies could minister to someone, I just like to bake, but I have been told that the cookies I bake brighten people's days.

 

adam, what i said was based on that you have no keyboard or piano at home to practice on and with your schedule it will be kind of hard to find time to practice.

Practice makes perfect and God has given me the ability to catch on to musical things very quickly.

If you work every day for at least an hour, you'll advance quicker. Another thing is that with a lot of distractions the learning process slows down. with you having no musical knowledge, it takes a little longer than those with some musical knowledge.

Keep you hands up, keep your memorizing, and whenever you look at a piano, try to figure out what keys are what notes.

Whatever you do, please don't make me lose my hair. J/k.

In Christ's gracious love,
Teresa