Learning A Skill: The Psychology of it All

One skill that I have been wanting to achieve since I was in high school was to learn how to play the piano. I have always been fascinated with the way beautiful music is being put together by just strucking a few chords, how fast, and how graceful. My father and my grandaunt were good at it that they were able to struck the right notes just by listening to the song or relying to their “echoic memory”. Two of my former blockmates also know how to play the piano expertly, and they were usually praised and applauded after finishing a piece. Somehow, I want to be like them, too.

Specifically, I want to learn how the hands are positioned and the basic chords in playing it. If I were to use a book manual, looking to the note and hand-position would be my stimulus, and strucking the piano with that note would be my response. The same would apply if I were to follow a piano teacher (or in my case, my father or my grandaunt).

I think this skill falls under observational learning since I'll be trying to imitate that image shown by the manual (that would be the first process which is attention).

To retain what I'm trying to imitate, the designated letters for this chords should be remembered like that note and hand-position denotes C, D, E, and so on.

In case of motor reproduction, I think I'm capable enough to imitate those chords. I have a complete set of fingers that I could voluntarily control (hehe). I am not color blind (to distinguish black from white), and I am not tone deaf (Beethoven may beg to differ.).

One last requirement would be my motivation to learn that skill. Well ,as we all know, it is human nature to impress other people (ehem), and by learning how to play the piano, I might get that hard-earned praise. I also find it self-satisfying. Just thinking of producing a sweet melody or playing that favorite tune makes me feel happy.

And speaking of praise, I might continue to practice and play that certain tune when I'm starting to hear phrases like “Your starting to sound good.”, or if I hear any of my housemates singing along. Here, I can apply operant conditioning, and those I've said before would be my reinforcers.

Checklist:

1. p

2. c

3. c

4. c

5. c