Does Doodling or Improvising on the Piano Have Any Benefits?Are Tersun Piano Technique books any good?How to escape the C Major trap when improvising on the pianoImprovising “sparsely” on pianoWhat are the benefits of practicing standing up (guitar)?Improvising on the piano as a solo instrument: what octave range to cover?Question about Building My Composition/Improv Skilli've lost my way and i need help finding the way backHow do I own the music?Cross Dominance - does it effect piano playing ability?(How much) should I focus on sight reading if my end goal is being able to play by ear on piano?

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Does Doodling or Improvising on the Piano Have Any Benefits?


Are Tersun Piano Technique books any good?How to escape the C Major trap when improvising on the pianoImprovising “sparsely” on pianoWhat are the benefits of practicing standing up (guitar)?Improvising on the piano as a solo instrument: what octave range to cover?Question about Building My Composition/Improv Skilli've lost my way and i need help finding the way backHow do I own the music?Cross Dominance - does it effect piano playing ability?(How much) should I focus on sight reading if my end goal is being able to play by ear on piano?













5















I have a friend who recently spent around seven hours of his day playing on the piano by himself. While around three hours was spent actually practicing, the other four were spent doodling or improvising. I told him that doodling on the piano is a waste of time because it doesn't help improve on anything.



Now I'm wondering about it. I've researched the problem without much luck. What are your thoughts on this? Can simply playing whatever comes to mind on a piano have any benefits to technique, understanding of chords and scales, performance, or anything else regarding one's ability to play the instrument?










share|improve this question

















  • 4





    Why are you discouraging his creative work? Improvising can be expected to improve one's ability to improvise. There is more to music than technique.

    – replete
    1 hour ago











  • Three hours of actual practice isn't bad. Playing is not the same as practicing, but if it doesn't cut into your practice time, there's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself by playing things you already know and like, or even just noodling around.

    – Your Uncle Bob
    1 hour ago












  • what style of music is your friend playing?

    – Michael Curtis
    1 hour ago






  • 2





    He plays a mix of classical and light-jazz.

    – Victor Resnov
    1 hour ago















5















I have a friend who recently spent around seven hours of his day playing on the piano by himself. While around three hours was spent actually practicing, the other four were spent doodling or improvising. I told him that doodling on the piano is a waste of time because it doesn't help improve on anything.



Now I'm wondering about it. I've researched the problem without much luck. What are your thoughts on this? Can simply playing whatever comes to mind on a piano have any benefits to technique, understanding of chords and scales, performance, or anything else regarding one's ability to play the instrument?










share|improve this question

















  • 4





    Why are you discouraging his creative work? Improvising can be expected to improve one's ability to improvise. There is more to music than technique.

    – replete
    1 hour ago











  • Three hours of actual practice isn't bad. Playing is not the same as practicing, but if it doesn't cut into your practice time, there's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself by playing things you already know and like, or even just noodling around.

    – Your Uncle Bob
    1 hour ago












  • what style of music is your friend playing?

    – Michael Curtis
    1 hour ago






  • 2





    He plays a mix of classical and light-jazz.

    – Victor Resnov
    1 hour ago













5












5








5








I have a friend who recently spent around seven hours of his day playing on the piano by himself. While around three hours was spent actually practicing, the other four were spent doodling or improvising. I told him that doodling on the piano is a waste of time because it doesn't help improve on anything.



Now I'm wondering about it. I've researched the problem without much luck. What are your thoughts on this? Can simply playing whatever comes to mind on a piano have any benefits to technique, understanding of chords and scales, performance, or anything else regarding one's ability to play the instrument?










share|improve this question














I have a friend who recently spent around seven hours of his day playing on the piano by himself. While around three hours was spent actually practicing, the other four were spent doodling or improvising. I told him that doodling on the piano is a waste of time because it doesn't help improve on anything.



Now I'm wondering about it. I've researched the problem without much luck. What are your thoughts on this? Can simply playing whatever comes to mind on a piano have any benefits to technique, understanding of chords and scales, performance, or anything else regarding one's ability to play the instrument?







piano practice






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 1 hour ago









Victor Resnov Victor Resnov

1193




1193







  • 4





    Why are you discouraging his creative work? Improvising can be expected to improve one's ability to improvise. There is more to music than technique.

    – replete
    1 hour ago











  • Three hours of actual practice isn't bad. Playing is not the same as practicing, but if it doesn't cut into your practice time, there's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself by playing things you already know and like, or even just noodling around.

    – Your Uncle Bob
    1 hour ago












  • what style of music is your friend playing?

    – Michael Curtis
    1 hour ago






  • 2





    He plays a mix of classical and light-jazz.

    – Victor Resnov
    1 hour ago












  • 4





    Why are you discouraging his creative work? Improvising can be expected to improve one's ability to improvise. There is more to music than technique.

    – replete
    1 hour ago











  • Three hours of actual practice isn't bad. Playing is not the same as practicing, but if it doesn't cut into your practice time, there's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself by playing things you already know and like, or even just noodling around.

    – Your Uncle Bob
    1 hour ago












  • what style of music is your friend playing?

    – Michael Curtis
    1 hour ago






  • 2





    He plays a mix of classical and light-jazz.

    – Victor Resnov
    1 hour ago







4




4





Why are you discouraging his creative work? Improvising can be expected to improve one's ability to improvise. There is more to music than technique.

– replete
1 hour ago





Why are you discouraging his creative work? Improvising can be expected to improve one's ability to improvise. There is more to music than technique.

– replete
1 hour ago













Three hours of actual practice isn't bad. Playing is not the same as practicing, but if it doesn't cut into your practice time, there's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself by playing things you already know and like, or even just noodling around.

– Your Uncle Bob
1 hour ago






Three hours of actual practice isn't bad. Playing is not the same as practicing, but if it doesn't cut into your practice time, there's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself by playing things you already know and like, or even just noodling around.

– Your Uncle Bob
1 hour ago














what style of music is your friend playing?

– Michael Curtis
1 hour ago





what style of music is your friend playing?

– Michael Curtis
1 hour ago




2




2





He plays a mix of classical and light-jazz.

– Victor Resnov
1 hour ago





He plays a mix of classical and light-jazz.

– Victor Resnov
1 hour ago










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes


















3














I think you were too harsh. Improvisation is itself a useful skill, especially so if your friend has an interest in jazz. Trying new things can also help with composition - I'd imagine most music doesn't spring from the composer's head fully formed. You may find an interesting melody or rhythm when just noodling around that you want to keep for later. And above all, if your friend spent 4 hours playing the piano for his own enjoyment, that's a perfectly legitimate reason in itself. Intensive practicing can be draining, there's almost certainly some mental benefits in taking a break and just having fun!






share|improve this answer






























    1














    If you're practicing, then doodling or improvising is perfectly fine! It actually can be a form of practice because it helps with coming up with new ideas and freeing your hands more on the piano.



    Also, depending on the type of improvisation, it can be almost just as valuable as practicing for real. If you're able to incorporate scales and triads and other technique into your "doodles", then that can have some benefits for technique. Also, improvising on a song you already know or one you're still learning can have benefits too as you're getting more comfortable with the song. Also, improvising with a new genre of music like jazz if you're classical or doing ragtime can help you with learning different types of music.



    The only "doodles" that aren't valuable are playing Hot-Cross Buns or something like that that's way too easy. Otherwise, you're doing good! You can't be strictly serious all the time on the piano, or you'll learn to hate it. Have some fun!






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.



























      1














      "Doodling" sound a bit dismissive. "Improvising" sounds more serious.



      I would help to know more about just what this playing involves.



      But, if we assume that this playing is musically interesting. I think it is valuable. But that value will depend on what your friends goals are and they go about practicing.



      Surely everyone will want to have good technique, but time spent improvising is about learning how to develop new ideas spontaneously. You will concentrate on other things beside technique. Things like recombining and varying musical patterns.



      It seem important to note many good players cannot improvise, because they didn't devote time to developing that unique set of skills. Isn't that a shortcoming for a musician too?




      Jazz will be the obvious case for piano improvization, but there is a tradition of improvisation in classical style too. Take a look at these for starters...



      • Techniques of keyboard improvisation in the German Baroque and their implications for today's pedagogy


      • Partimenti of Durante - especially look at the suggested "styles" to improvise the right hand part over the notated bass.





      share|improve this answer
































        0














        I do perhaps see where you are coming from - 7 hours a day certainly is a big investment, and there can be a risk in doodling (and, for that matter, noodling) in that your fingers follow the same patterns again and again, simply reinforcing those same patterns - which might make you better able to follow those patterns, but little else.



        On the other hand, if you can avoid that pitfall: Improvisation can teach you a lot about composition; it can enable you to find the 'sound in your head' more quickly (whether in conjunction with existing knowledge about scales, or just giving you another more instinctive way to do it); it can generate interesting ideas for later composition; it can provide just as much of an opportunity for applying fingering techniques as any other type of playing.



        Ultimately, every activity is going to exercise some musical 'muscles' more than others. Sight-reading pieces from score doesn't reinforce your skills at playing by ear, or help you actively practice your composing skills or generate any of your own ideas. Playing scales doesn't teach you much about arranging. Doing harmony exercises doesn't help your physical stamina. But they all have their plus points too. Taking a step back and doing a cost/benefit analysis isn't a bad thing!






        share|improve this answer






























          0














          What your friend is doing is absolutely essential, and while you're spending your time on so-called "researching", your friend is developing deeper and deeper layers of understanding music. He's going to places and seeing things you have no idea about. I suggest you sit down at the piano, start playing by ear and improvising and exploring the world of music too. It's not a guided tour, it's an exploration.




          Babbling is a stage in language acquisition. (Wikipedia)




          You need to babble with notes, rhythms, scales, chords, chord progressions, tones, dynamics, melodies, motifs, modulations, fingering patterns, timbres, instruments, ensembles... Higher levels of abstraction are built on lower levels, and you need to discover them and experience first hand how they work. If you want to actually know your way around and operate in the world, that is.



          Some amount of systematic goal-setting is good in the long term, but you said your friend did some "actual" practicing. A few hours is nothing.





          share






















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            5 Answers
            5






            active

            oldest

            votes








            5 Answers
            5






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            3














            I think you were too harsh. Improvisation is itself a useful skill, especially so if your friend has an interest in jazz. Trying new things can also help with composition - I'd imagine most music doesn't spring from the composer's head fully formed. You may find an interesting melody or rhythm when just noodling around that you want to keep for later. And above all, if your friend spent 4 hours playing the piano for his own enjoyment, that's a perfectly legitimate reason in itself. Intensive practicing can be draining, there's almost certainly some mental benefits in taking a break and just having fun!






            share|improve this answer



























              3














              I think you were too harsh. Improvisation is itself a useful skill, especially so if your friend has an interest in jazz. Trying new things can also help with composition - I'd imagine most music doesn't spring from the composer's head fully formed. You may find an interesting melody or rhythm when just noodling around that you want to keep for later. And above all, if your friend spent 4 hours playing the piano for his own enjoyment, that's a perfectly legitimate reason in itself. Intensive practicing can be draining, there's almost certainly some mental benefits in taking a break and just having fun!






              share|improve this answer

























                3












                3








                3







                I think you were too harsh. Improvisation is itself a useful skill, especially so if your friend has an interest in jazz. Trying new things can also help with composition - I'd imagine most music doesn't spring from the composer's head fully formed. You may find an interesting melody or rhythm when just noodling around that you want to keep for later. And above all, if your friend spent 4 hours playing the piano for his own enjoyment, that's a perfectly legitimate reason in itself. Intensive practicing can be draining, there's almost certainly some mental benefits in taking a break and just having fun!






                share|improve this answer













                I think you were too harsh. Improvisation is itself a useful skill, especially so if your friend has an interest in jazz. Trying new things can also help with composition - I'd imagine most music doesn't spring from the composer's head fully formed. You may find an interesting melody or rhythm when just noodling around that you want to keep for later. And above all, if your friend spent 4 hours playing the piano for his own enjoyment, that's a perfectly legitimate reason in itself. Intensive practicing can be draining, there's almost certainly some mental benefits in taking a break and just having fun!







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 1 hour ago









                Nuclear WangNuclear Wang

                1312




                1312





















                    1














                    If you're practicing, then doodling or improvising is perfectly fine! It actually can be a form of practice because it helps with coming up with new ideas and freeing your hands more on the piano.



                    Also, depending on the type of improvisation, it can be almost just as valuable as practicing for real. If you're able to incorporate scales and triads and other technique into your "doodles", then that can have some benefits for technique. Also, improvising on a song you already know or one you're still learning can have benefits too as you're getting more comfortable with the song. Also, improvising with a new genre of music like jazz if you're classical or doing ragtime can help you with learning different types of music.



                    The only "doodles" that aren't valuable are playing Hot-Cross Buns or something like that that's way too easy. Otherwise, you're doing good! You can't be strictly serious all the time on the piano, or you'll learn to hate it. Have some fun!






                    share|improve this answer








                    New contributor




                    Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.
























                      1














                      If you're practicing, then doodling or improvising is perfectly fine! It actually can be a form of practice because it helps with coming up with new ideas and freeing your hands more on the piano.



                      Also, depending on the type of improvisation, it can be almost just as valuable as practicing for real. If you're able to incorporate scales and triads and other technique into your "doodles", then that can have some benefits for technique. Also, improvising on a song you already know or one you're still learning can have benefits too as you're getting more comfortable with the song. Also, improvising with a new genre of music like jazz if you're classical or doing ragtime can help you with learning different types of music.



                      The only "doodles" that aren't valuable are playing Hot-Cross Buns or something like that that's way too easy. Otherwise, you're doing good! You can't be strictly serious all the time on the piano, or you'll learn to hate it. Have some fun!






                      share|improve this answer








                      New contributor




                      Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                        1












                        1








                        1







                        If you're practicing, then doodling or improvising is perfectly fine! It actually can be a form of practice because it helps with coming up with new ideas and freeing your hands more on the piano.



                        Also, depending on the type of improvisation, it can be almost just as valuable as practicing for real. If you're able to incorporate scales and triads and other technique into your "doodles", then that can have some benefits for technique. Also, improvising on a song you already know or one you're still learning can have benefits too as you're getting more comfortable with the song. Also, improvising with a new genre of music like jazz if you're classical or doing ragtime can help you with learning different types of music.



                        The only "doodles" that aren't valuable are playing Hot-Cross Buns or something like that that's way too easy. Otherwise, you're doing good! You can't be strictly serious all the time on the piano, or you'll learn to hate it. Have some fun!






                        share|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.










                        If you're practicing, then doodling or improvising is perfectly fine! It actually can be a form of practice because it helps with coming up with new ideas and freeing your hands more on the piano.



                        Also, depending on the type of improvisation, it can be almost just as valuable as practicing for real. If you're able to incorporate scales and triads and other technique into your "doodles", then that can have some benefits for technique. Also, improvising on a song you already know or one you're still learning can have benefits too as you're getting more comfortable with the song. Also, improvising with a new genre of music like jazz if you're classical or doing ragtime can help you with learning different types of music.



                        The only "doodles" that aren't valuable are playing Hot-Cross Buns or something like that that's way too easy. Otherwise, you're doing good! You can't be strictly serious all the time on the piano, or you'll learn to hate it. Have some fun!







                        share|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer






                        New contributor




                        Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                        answered 1 hour ago









                        Commander ContinueyCommander Continuey

                        111




                        111




                        New contributor




                        Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.





                        New contributor





                        Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






                        Commander Continuey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                            1














                            "Doodling" sound a bit dismissive. "Improvising" sounds more serious.



                            I would help to know more about just what this playing involves.



                            But, if we assume that this playing is musically interesting. I think it is valuable. But that value will depend on what your friends goals are and they go about practicing.



                            Surely everyone will want to have good technique, but time spent improvising is about learning how to develop new ideas spontaneously. You will concentrate on other things beside technique. Things like recombining and varying musical patterns.



                            It seem important to note many good players cannot improvise, because they didn't devote time to developing that unique set of skills. Isn't that a shortcoming for a musician too?




                            Jazz will be the obvious case for piano improvization, but there is a tradition of improvisation in classical style too. Take a look at these for starters...



                            • Techniques of keyboard improvisation in the German Baroque and their implications for today's pedagogy


                            • Partimenti of Durante - especially look at the suggested "styles" to improvise the right hand part over the notated bass.





                            share|improve this answer





























                              1














                              "Doodling" sound a bit dismissive. "Improvising" sounds more serious.



                              I would help to know more about just what this playing involves.



                              But, if we assume that this playing is musically interesting. I think it is valuable. But that value will depend on what your friends goals are and they go about practicing.



                              Surely everyone will want to have good technique, but time spent improvising is about learning how to develop new ideas spontaneously. You will concentrate on other things beside technique. Things like recombining and varying musical patterns.



                              It seem important to note many good players cannot improvise, because they didn't devote time to developing that unique set of skills. Isn't that a shortcoming for a musician too?




                              Jazz will be the obvious case for piano improvization, but there is a tradition of improvisation in classical style too. Take a look at these for starters...



                              • Techniques of keyboard improvisation in the German Baroque and their implications for today's pedagogy


                              • Partimenti of Durante - especially look at the suggested "styles" to improvise the right hand part over the notated bass.





                              share|improve this answer



























                                1












                                1








                                1







                                "Doodling" sound a bit dismissive. "Improvising" sounds more serious.



                                I would help to know more about just what this playing involves.



                                But, if we assume that this playing is musically interesting. I think it is valuable. But that value will depend on what your friends goals are and they go about practicing.



                                Surely everyone will want to have good technique, but time spent improvising is about learning how to develop new ideas spontaneously. You will concentrate on other things beside technique. Things like recombining and varying musical patterns.



                                It seem important to note many good players cannot improvise, because they didn't devote time to developing that unique set of skills. Isn't that a shortcoming for a musician too?




                                Jazz will be the obvious case for piano improvization, but there is a tradition of improvisation in classical style too. Take a look at these for starters...



                                • Techniques of keyboard improvisation in the German Baroque and their implications for today's pedagogy


                                • Partimenti of Durante - especially look at the suggested "styles" to improvise the right hand part over the notated bass.





                                share|improve this answer















                                "Doodling" sound a bit dismissive. "Improvising" sounds more serious.



                                I would help to know more about just what this playing involves.



                                But, if we assume that this playing is musically interesting. I think it is valuable. But that value will depend on what your friends goals are and they go about practicing.



                                Surely everyone will want to have good technique, but time spent improvising is about learning how to develop new ideas spontaneously. You will concentrate on other things beside technique. Things like recombining and varying musical patterns.



                                It seem important to note many good players cannot improvise, because they didn't devote time to developing that unique set of skills. Isn't that a shortcoming for a musician too?




                                Jazz will be the obvious case for piano improvization, but there is a tradition of improvisation in classical style too. Take a look at these for starters...



                                • Techniques of keyboard improvisation in the German Baroque and their implications for today's pedagogy


                                • Partimenti of Durante - especially look at the suggested "styles" to improvise the right hand part over the notated bass.






                                share|improve this answer














                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer








                                edited 1 hour ago

























                                answered 1 hour ago









                                Michael CurtisMichael Curtis

                                9,644534




                                9,644534





















                                    0














                                    I do perhaps see where you are coming from - 7 hours a day certainly is a big investment, and there can be a risk in doodling (and, for that matter, noodling) in that your fingers follow the same patterns again and again, simply reinforcing those same patterns - which might make you better able to follow those patterns, but little else.



                                    On the other hand, if you can avoid that pitfall: Improvisation can teach you a lot about composition; it can enable you to find the 'sound in your head' more quickly (whether in conjunction with existing knowledge about scales, or just giving you another more instinctive way to do it); it can generate interesting ideas for later composition; it can provide just as much of an opportunity for applying fingering techniques as any other type of playing.



                                    Ultimately, every activity is going to exercise some musical 'muscles' more than others. Sight-reading pieces from score doesn't reinforce your skills at playing by ear, or help you actively practice your composing skills or generate any of your own ideas. Playing scales doesn't teach you much about arranging. Doing harmony exercises doesn't help your physical stamina. But they all have their plus points too. Taking a step back and doing a cost/benefit analysis isn't a bad thing!






                                    share|improve this answer



























                                      0














                                      I do perhaps see where you are coming from - 7 hours a day certainly is a big investment, and there can be a risk in doodling (and, for that matter, noodling) in that your fingers follow the same patterns again and again, simply reinforcing those same patterns - which might make you better able to follow those patterns, but little else.



                                      On the other hand, if you can avoid that pitfall: Improvisation can teach you a lot about composition; it can enable you to find the 'sound in your head' more quickly (whether in conjunction with existing knowledge about scales, or just giving you another more instinctive way to do it); it can generate interesting ideas for later composition; it can provide just as much of an opportunity for applying fingering techniques as any other type of playing.



                                      Ultimately, every activity is going to exercise some musical 'muscles' more than others. Sight-reading pieces from score doesn't reinforce your skills at playing by ear, or help you actively practice your composing skills or generate any of your own ideas. Playing scales doesn't teach you much about arranging. Doing harmony exercises doesn't help your physical stamina. But they all have their plus points too. Taking a step back and doing a cost/benefit analysis isn't a bad thing!






                                      share|improve this answer

























                                        0












                                        0








                                        0







                                        I do perhaps see where you are coming from - 7 hours a day certainly is a big investment, and there can be a risk in doodling (and, for that matter, noodling) in that your fingers follow the same patterns again and again, simply reinforcing those same patterns - which might make you better able to follow those patterns, but little else.



                                        On the other hand, if you can avoid that pitfall: Improvisation can teach you a lot about composition; it can enable you to find the 'sound in your head' more quickly (whether in conjunction with existing knowledge about scales, or just giving you another more instinctive way to do it); it can generate interesting ideas for later composition; it can provide just as much of an opportunity for applying fingering techniques as any other type of playing.



                                        Ultimately, every activity is going to exercise some musical 'muscles' more than others. Sight-reading pieces from score doesn't reinforce your skills at playing by ear, or help you actively practice your composing skills or generate any of your own ideas. Playing scales doesn't teach you much about arranging. Doing harmony exercises doesn't help your physical stamina. But they all have their plus points too. Taking a step back and doing a cost/benefit analysis isn't a bad thing!






                                        share|improve this answer













                                        I do perhaps see where you are coming from - 7 hours a day certainly is a big investment, and there can be a risk in doodling (and, for that matter, noodling) in that your fingers follow the same patterns again and again, simply reinforcing those same patterns - which might make you better able to follow those patterns, but little else.



                                        On the other hand, if you can avoid that pitfall: Improvisation can teach you a lot about composition; it can enable you to find the 'sound in your head' more quickly (whether in conjunction with existing knowledge about scales, or just giving you another more instinctive way to do it); it can generate interesting ideas for later composition; it can provide just as much of an opportunity for applying fingering techniques as any other type of playing.



                                        Ultimately, every activity is going to exercise some musical 'muscles' more than others. Sight-reading pieces from score doesn't reinforce your skills at playing by ear, or help you actively practice your composing skills or generate any of your own ideas. Playing scales doesn't teach you much about arranging. Doing harmony exercises doesn't help your physical stamina. But they all have their plus points too. Taking a step back and doing a cost/benefit analysis isn't a bad thing!







                                        share|improve this answer












                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer










                                        answered 30 mins ago









                                        topo mortotopo morto

                                        25.9k244103




                                        25.9k244103





















                                            0














                                            What your friend is doing is absolutely essential, and while you're spending your time on so-called "researching", your friend is developing deeper and deeper layers of understanding music. He's going to places and seeing things you have no idea about. I suggest you sit down at the piano, start playing by ear and improvising and exploring the world of music too. It's not a guided tour, it's an exploration.




                                            Babbling is a stage in language acquisition. (Wikipedia)




                                            You need to babble with notes, rhythms, scales, chords, chord progressions, tones, dynamics, melodies, motifs, modulations, fingering patterns, timbres, instruments, ensembles... Higher levels of abstraction are built on lower levels, and you need to discover them and experience first hand how they work. If you want to actually know your way around and operate in the world, that is.



                                            Some amount of systematic goal-setting is good in the long term, but you said your friend did some "actual" practicing. A few hours is nothing.





                                            share



























                                              0














                                              What your friend is doing is absolutely essential, and while you're spending your time on so-called "researching", your friend is developing deeper and deeper layers of understanding music. He's going to places and seeing things you have no idea about. I suggest you sit down at the piano, start playing by ear and improvising and exploring the world of music too. It's not a guided tour, it's an exploration.




                                              Babbling is a stage in language acquisition. (Wikipedia)




                                              You need to babble with notes, rhythms, scales, chords, chord progressions, tones, dynamics, melodies, motifs, modulations, fingering patterns, timbres, instruments, ensembles... Higher levels of abstraction are built on lower levels, and you need to discover them and experience first hand how they work. If you want to actually know your way around and operate in the world, that is.



                                              Some amount of systematic goal-setting is good in the long term, but you said your friend did some "actual" practicing. A few hours is nothing.





                                              share

























                                                0












                                                0








                                                0







                                                What your friend is doing is absolutely essential, and while you're spending your time on so-called "researching", your friend is developing deeper and deeper layers of understanding music. He's going to places and seeing things you have no idea about. I suggest you sit down at the piano, start playing by ear and improvising and exploring the world of music too. It's not a guided tour, it's an exploration.




                                                Babbling is a stage in language acquisition. (Wikipedia)




                                                You need to babble with notes, rhythms, scales, chords, chord progressions, tones, dynamics, melodies, motifs, modulations, fingering patterns, timbres, instruments, ensembles... Higher levels of abstraction are built on lower levels, and you need to discover them and experience first hand how they work. If you want to actually know your way around and operate in the world, that is.



                                                Some amount of systematic goal-setting is good in the long term, but you said your friend did some "actual" practicing. A few hours is nothing.





                                                share













                                                What your friend is doing is absolutely essential, and while you're spending your time on so-called "researching", your friend is developing deeper and deeper layers of understanding music. He's going to places and seeing things you have no idea about. I suggest you sit down at the piano, start playing by ear and improvising and exploring the world of music too. It's not a guided tour, it's an exploration.




                                                Babbling is a stage in language acquisition. (Wikipedia)




                                                You need to babble with notes, rhythms, scales, chords, chord progressions, tones, dynamics, melodies, motifs, modulations, fingering patterns, timbres, instruments, ensembles... Higher levels of abstraction are built on lower levels, and you need to discover them and experience first hand how they work. If you want to actually know your way around and operate in the world, that is.



                                                Some amount of systematic goal-setting is good in the long term, but you said your friend did some "actual" practicing. A few hours is nothing.






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                                                answered 8 mins ago









                                                piiperipiiperi

                                                2,149410




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