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I was wondering how long everyone has been playing. I just reached my 6 month pianoversary. I feel like I am making some progress just not as much as I had hoped. I hear how the music should sound in my head it is just not what comes out from my fingers.

HI Melissa....

Well, at two years, my progress in not as much as I had hoped. I hear how the music should sound in my head it is just not what comes out from my fingers. I think most of us would say the same thing....

BUT, and a big but, I am now working on much tougher music then when I started. The beginning stuff is easy. Never thought I would get to that point, but, by gosh, it is easy.

For you too, I would think. Go back 5 months in your workbook and see if it's not true for you as well.

Don't get in a hurry. That will lead to frustration. When you think it's too slow, go back and see how far you have come.

Amazing, huh?

I have been playing at the piano exactly 2 months. I have had 7 lessons (my teacher took Spring Break last week).

I feel as though I am making satisfactory progress. I am on page 26 of Alfred Adult course, Book 1 (not the all-in-one book). I think there I'd be on about page 50.

I have accumulated a vast library of piano books thanks to the ABF. I can't seem to resist when there is a thread in which a book receives some sense of universal acclaim.

My hands and fingers seem to be gradually, very slowly, developing some independence, flexibility, and some eyes of their own. I guess the true test will be if I can tap my head and rub my stomach at the same time (or is it rub my head and tap my stomach).

I still practice 60 to 90 minutes every day and enjoy the little successes when they come. I think it helps that the kids are out of the house and it's just me and the wife (32 years this year) now. Devoting oneself to one's hobbies is easier and less selfish when you aren't taking time away from the kids. Golf has always been so problemmatic in that regard.

Hi Melissa

I'm going on eight months now.

Like you, I had hoped I'd be a lot further along by now, but have accepted the fact that is a slow going and will be a lot of work. I enjoy it though. Its taught me patience and keeps me out of trouble.

I think the forums have been a tremendous help. Interacting with others in the same boat has been invaluable in understanding and dealing with some of the challenges I'm going through.

It will be 2 years this May.
The majority of my first 1.5 years was spent on theory, much I have not retained, so now I am playing catch up on technique and site reading.

Congrats on your 6 month anniversary!!

1.5yrs completed. A life time to go.......................

Naked

My signature answers your question.

I agree with Gmm1. When I look back at when I started down this wonderful road, I can't believe it would take me a good week to learn "Mary had a little lamb" etc. Now with about a dozen pieces to go in the Alfred's 2 all in one book (I'm on Battle hymn of the Republic at the moment). I'm amazed at how far I've come.

Having said that, I'll be absolutely thrilled if I can play like Gmm1 when I hit the 2 year mark. But hey... who knows?

18 months, best gift I ever gave myself was taking up the piano. I'm a childhood music retread, played several instruments for a long time as a kid so at least I knew how to read music.

Hi, Melissa. Not quite three months here.

Nineteen months as of 1 April. Not doing as well as I should, considering how much I practice, but better than I expected, having a pretty humorous lack of aptitude (10 thumbs, bad vision, decades of debauchery...).

It's been a real roller coaster. I had a nice growth spurt after I recently bought a new piano, but now I'm slipping while I force myself not look at the keys.

It's been a blast, no matter how I'm doing.

I've been taking lessons for 6 years!! and I still feel all thumbs at times although I've come a long way. The the music gets harder and my teacher gets pickier :rolleyes: so....it's still a struggle but I'm loving every minute.

One of the joys is going back to a piece that not so long ago was too difficult to find that it's now quite doable!!

I've been taking lessons for just 6 months. And just as MarkL says, it has been the best gift I ever gave myself (sorry for hijacking your words, MarkL )

Five months. I sometimes think it's futile to mention the couple of years I had as a kid 40 years ago, because I took from a kid - she was just a teenager while I was in grade school. I found some of that stuff was retained though & gives me a slight boost, while a lot was never taught. I didn't have to start at the dead beginning. Lessons were a gift to myself shortly after I turned 50 and I am loving every minute of it! Don't know when you get past hitting those wrong notes even though you know exactly where they should be. Enjoy your journey!

Three months here. I'm still waiting for the beginner stuff to get easy. :-)

After noodling around ineffectually (piano-wise) on and off for about 20 years and never getting to the point where I could play anything for an audience, six weeks ago I decided to restart with the Higginson "Professional Chord System". No startling breakthroughs, but I've made progress and am having fun getting reintroduced to possibility of maybe someday being able to play popular piano.

We'll see.

I was piano obsessed but very poorly taught (more or less classical from the unqualified) from about age 5 until 17. Piano was pretty much out of my life from around age 21 until 51, than back in again very very seriously for the past three and a half years.

Six years and finally feeling like I am getting to where I want to go. It is very exciting. Stay with it, it is more than worth it. Happy

Only about a year, without an in-person teacher (I'm working on that). At least I've been told by a few professional musicians that I'm doing well for my level. Right now I'm just about starting at an early intermediate level. I do believe that once I find a good teacher, I'll make faster progress.

Three years and a few months. I have a limited goal -- just to play a few classical pieces that I love. I feel I am succeeding -- on a good day, some small parts of my playing sound just like a recording.

If I practised more I'd be better, but statistically, I have only 17 more years to live (if I'm lucky!). Should I spend the extra time practicing, or should I go partying and chase wild women?

Hi Melisa,

Congratulations on your six months' efforts!

I wouldn't call my tinkling as playing but I started two weeks and two days ago, March 19th. I'm up to page 40 in Alfred's AIO, book 1, and loving every moment of it.

Keep up the good work, you won't have any choice but get better, just like many people here have already attested to.

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