Music Training for Seniors

 I tell people, yes, I did take piano lessons for a short while. Then I add it was over 54 years ago.

What got me thinking to make it a better effort this time was my interest in music theory, and the questions that have always bothered me, such as why is the 12 semi-tone scale called an octave, i.e., why the 8 notes selected as the consecutive white keys on a piano for the C major scale. I think I found the best explanation on YouTube and will include it in a later post. (Interesting to note [pun intended] that historically other modes besides the major and minor scales were used: The Medieval Church Modes, Dorian Scales & Mixolydian Scale.) 

I began looking into YouTube posts from which I picked up some finger exercises, but more importantly found some very useful resources:

Leonard Bernstein’s Young People's Concert: "What is a Mode?" with the New York Philharmonic

Rick Beato is a music professor and Rock music studio engineer who provides music theory lessons, but also explores classical music. In one video he expresses his admiration for the 79-year-old pianist Martha Argerich (see next).

(from Wikipedia) Martha Argerich  (born June 5, 1941) is an Argentine concert pianist. Her aversion to the press and publicity has resulted in her remaining out of the limelight for most of her career. She has given relatively few interviews. As a result, she may not be as well known as other pianists of similar calibre. Nevertheless, she is widely recognized as one of the greatest modern-day pianists.

Lisa Witt's Pianote provides an online piano course, which I discovered on YouTube, and I'm currently a member. I'll be evaluating my experience in upcoming blog posts.

I have to thank Dr. Marie Rubis Bauer, Archdiocesan Director of Music and Cathedral Organist at Saint Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha, who sat with me at a grand piano to give me a few pointers on how to restart my music interests.

Anyway, so to begin again I purchase a used 66-key, Yamaha electronic keyboard from the Guitar Center in Danvers, MA. I found this item with an online search and had it sent to me here in Omaha. Kudos to the people who were great in packing and shipping this keyboard:

For music books, I purchased "For the Older Beginner: Accelerated Piano Adventures" by Nancy and Randall Faber.

Another instrument to consider, which I picked up, is the harmonica. It's a good breathing exerciser, and might be beneficial for those with COPD or the elderly in general.