https://catherinepope.com/tags/learning/ Recent content in Learning on Catherine Pope Hugo -- 0.148.2 en Sun, 16 Aug 2026 16:45:04 +0100 https://catherinepope.com/posts/piano-progress/ Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:51:57 +0100 https://catherinepope.com/posts/piano-progress/ <p>After <a href="https://catherinepope.com/posts/learning-to-play-piano-at-50/">launching myself into piano playing with characteristic zeal</a>, I suffered a hiatus for almost six months. I had became frustrated with Simply Piano and exchanged it for Piano Marvel. Although Piano Marvel was much better, I found many of the songs unappetising. I was still playing most days, but never stretching myself or learning anything new. I went slinking back to Simply Piano, then got annoyed with it all over again. Finally, I realised the problem: I wanted to <em>hear</em> classical piano, rather than play it. Although I love the <em>idea</em> of playing a Chopin piece, I don&rsquo;t love the idea of the practising involved to make it sound even mediocre. For me, it&rsquo;s much better to go and see Isata Kanneh-Mason. Indeed, seeing Kanneh-Mason perform probably contributed to this feeling.</p> https://catherinepope.com/posts/tiny-experiments/ Sun, 02 Mar 2025 17:05:47 +0100 https://catherinepope.com/posts/tiny-experiments/ Discover how Anne-Laure Le Cunff&#39;s &#39;Tiny Experiments&#39; approach can help you achieve goals through small, manageable tests rather than overwhelming five-year plans. Learn about experimenting with money emotions and creative writing for personal insights. https://catherinepope.com/posts/saturday-morning-experiments/ Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:48:48 +0100 https://catherinepope.com/posts/saturday-morning-experiments/ Explore how Nobel Prize winner Oliver Smithies&#39; &#39;Saturday Morning Experiments&#39; can inspire your own creative breakthroughs. Discover why unstructured weekend experimentation leads to innovation and how to apply this approach to your own projects. https://catherinepope.com/posts/playing-piano-with-dinosaurs/ Sun, 13 Oct 2024 16:29:09 +0100 https://catherinepope.com/posts/playing-piano-with-dinosaurs/ A candid account of transitioning from piano learning apps to real lessons at age 50. Discover how human instruction transforms your understanding of dynamics, physicality, and musical interpretation beyond what apps can teach. https://catherinepope.com/posts/lets-talk-german-to-owls/ Wed, 09 Oct 2024 11:35:08 +0100 https://catherinepope.com/posts/lets-talk-german-to-owls/ An honest review of Duolingo for German learning from an adult perspective. Discover the pros and cons of the gamified approach, competitive leagues, and why supplementing with other resources like Easy German leads to better language learning results. https://catherinepope.com/posts/learning-to-play-piano-at-50/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:19:28 +0100 https://catherinepope.com/posts/learning-to-play-piano-at-50/ A candid review of piano learning apps from a 50-year-old beginner. Compare FlowKey, Simply Piano, and Piano Marvel to discover which apps work best for adult learners, including pros and cons of each platform&#39;s teaching methods. https://catherinepope.com/posts/the-art-of-deliberate-practice/ Mon, 06 Jul 2020 10:19:28 +0100 https://catherinepope.com/posts/the-art-of-deliberate-practice/ Explore Anders Ericsson&#39;s research on deliberate practice and why there are no shortcuts to mastery. Learn how to break out of the &#39;good enough&#39; rut by challenging yourself systematically, whether in music, business, or creative pursuits.