>>Same here. I took piano lessons, guitar lessons, flute lessons, and even the coronet. I played in the band one year. We always had musical instruments around. My mom could play by ear and loved boogie woogie (which is probably why I love it so much). We had people over for years jamming on different instruments. There lots of fun jam sessions. My daughter took piano lessons and violin lessons. Neither of us pursued it much beyond a couple of years. We all learned to love music (and to read sheet music which was my goal for my daughter) though.
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>>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ojt7e88g2I&feature=related
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>>>Wow, amazing! I should have paid more attention to my mother when she tried to teach me piano when I was young. <g>
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>>>~~Bonnie
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>I love to play piano as it is something at which I am not naturally gifted ( poor muscle-memory and serious ADD ) but from which I derive enormous satisfaction. I won't play in front of other people as that would completely inhibit the discovery process. The coolest thing is sight-reading - whether scores or just charts - especially of stuff I've never actually heard played or of arrangements that are unfamiliar ( Matt Dennis and Jim Progris are masters at creating this kind of stuff ) That way the first time you ever hear a piece of music or a particularly interesting chord progression it has come from your own fingers.
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>When I hear about musicians that can't read music it sounds like painters who can't draw. Maybe you can get away with it, but it sure limits what you could do if you could do it.

Your goal is entirely different than mine - I think you love it more for the challenge it presents :o) However, it is similar in some ways (loving the sound of the music). I always recommend people, who would love to play the piano but cannot afford lessons, to watch "The piano guy" on youtube or PBS... It's all chord based, but fun (for those who just love music and want to be able to create it themselves)...

3ojt7e88g2I