I have been an amateur musician for many years and never very good at it. I can play a few instruments - Guitar, Piano Accordion, Anglo Concertina, Mouth Organ and Tin Whistle, as well as being able to get a tune out of most things that make a noise. But only ever passably and never to a standard I would consider good enough to play 'out' apart from amongst friends. About 18 months ago I started to take lessons on Piano Accordion and, even though I know I have a long way to go, I do feel I am improving.

A few things I have noticed
- There are good weeks and bad. Sometimes I can't play a thing and others everything seems to click
- The teacher sets me pieces that I feel are too complicated at times. But that does seem to have the effect of making the previous ones easier!
- Practice definitely helps! I have known this for years of course but have only started realising how true it is recently
- A teacher definitely helps as well. I had a lot of bad habits I didn't even know about!
- Playing along with others helps. During the summer I spent about 6 nights playing the simplest bit along with an international standard accordion orchestra. My timing improved massively even if my playing didn't :-)
- There are certain pieces that come naturaly. To me a waltz is far easier to do than, for instance, a jig. Not just about speed, but timing.

Other things have struck me but those are the ones that spring to mind first. Not sure what I want out of this thread. Hopefully a bit of advice. Hopefully to give encouragement to others. I am happy to let it take it's natural course (Unless that is a discussion on bigotry :-) ) Whatever happens, hope you will contribute and enjoy.

Cheers

DtG