Setting Goals - Learning, Learning All the Time

Apologies for the poor quality of the photo

I’ve been a fan of Kate Bush for more years than I care to remember.  One of my favourite tracks is “Sat In Your Lap”.  One particular lyric has, sadly, always rung true for me.

I want to be a lawyer. 
I want to be a scholar. 
But I really can't be bothered. 
Ooh, just gimme it quick, gimme it, gimme gimme gimme gimme! 

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​I am very good at setting goals and sticking to them.  I am great at creating concrete action plans and delivering them.  But somehow this all falls to pieces when it comes to learning.  I am a butterfly flipping from one course to the next.  Jack of all trades, master of none.  I am totally addicted to learning, or should I say the idea of learning.  I just want instant results.  So, with apologies to Kate Bush.

I want to be play the guitar.
I want to play piano.
But I really want it right now
Ooh, just gimme it quick, gimme, gimme, gimme,gimme!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a total beginner, and I have put in hours of work on both instruments covering, scales, arpeggios, chords, (although barre chords still evade me, my old fingers just will not obey!)  But I’m still not good enough. 

I don’t want to be a 10,000 hour expert, I just want to be able to sit down and play. Play well enough to be able to improvise a bit and impress my friends.  The problem is, I get so far, then I lose interest as I stop making progress.  I just want it all now!  

I have to be honest and say my learning addiction and behaviour pattern extends beyond music. 

Fortunately I am able to feed my addiction with online training providers.  I particularly love FutureLearn.  I love their courses - far a start they are free, so I don’t have to feel guilty about not staying the course.  They are not too long (typically 4 or 5 weeks) and don’t take too much of a time commitment (typically 2 hours per week) but they still give you a good insight into the subject. 

I’m currently working my way through three. 

• Using Creative Problem Solving, from National Chaio Tung University;
• Physiology: The Science of Life with the University of Liverpool; and my particular favourite, 
• Bonnie Prince Charles and the Jacobites with the University of Edinburgh. 

 Whether I will actually complete any of them however,  is open to debate.

Click the link above now to have a look at all the free courses they offer.

​​Which brings me to today's new adventure.  I start yet another Piano Course - Learn Jazz Piano: 1.  Begin with the Blues, with Ray d’Inverno and the University of London.  It’s a six week course, so by Christmas, I will be playing like a Blues master. 

Hopefully!

Watch this space.

Off to tinkle the ivories, have a great day!

​Audrey