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Pianodometer

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It has been claimed that 10,000 hours of practice is sufficient to master any skill to a professional level.

On the piano, I suspect I've put in a few hundred hours, but I honestly have no idea. Do I have another 9,730 hours to go until I have mastered it, or only another 9,520? This could be important if, for example, I were faced with a terminal illness of predictable duration and wanted to be sure I could play well at my funeral.

I propose, therehence, a pianodometer. A microphone inside the piano is connected to a threshold detector and to a non-resettable timer circuit, and thence to a discreet display. As soon as the circuit detects a note being played, the timer begins to increment. Silence for more than ten seconds causes the timer to stop. The display will run up to 9,999 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

MaxwellBuchanan, May 25 2013

Practice Bench Timer - Prior Art Practice_20Bench_20Timer
Measure hours at piano, not just playing it [csea, May 26 2013]

[link]






       I've heard that claim also, but I'm afraid it has inconsistent results. For example, I've put at least 10,000 hours into thinking, and I'm still a complete idiot.
rcarty, May 25 2013
  

       Yes, but if you'd stopped short of 10,000 hours you'd probably be only an incomplete idiot.
MaxwellBuchanan, May 25 2013
  

       Well, I guess that proves wrong all those who said I'd never complete anything.
rcarty, May 25 2013
  

       I baked this in 1976, but based it on hours spent at the bench, rather than actually playing. [link] Some of the practice is silent, running through phrases in the mind, etc.
csea, May 26 2013
  

       Should it be calibrated for standard length when playing Stride?
Canuck, May 26 2013
  

       I think there should be a switch in each key so it counts every keypress. Not too hard to bake with an electric piano.
pocmloc, May 26 2013
  

       (+) This is an idea that is bound to get some mileage.
cudgel, May 27 2013
  

       [+] for the name.
csea, May 27 2013
  

       (+) because ... well, why not?
awesomest, May 28 2013
  

       It should sense what piece you're playing (or trying to play) and keep a running total for each piece. This would be great for piano teachers to instantly refute students' claims ("I practiced this for 6 hours this week, it's just too hard!")
phundug, May 31 2013
  
      
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