I've been reading this forum off and on for a couple of years, but thought I would join and post since I have reached a milestone this month of 3yrs as an adult beginner. I decided I was going learn just after I turned 39.

I wished I could play piano for years, but like many believed that you had to start as child. I also had an additional hurdle to overcome because of what I believed it meant to "play the piano". Both of my parents are gifted classical musicians that teach at a prominent music school. So I grew up listening to my father playing the organ, harpsichord and piano. I just took it for granted that playing the keyboard meant being able to play a Scarlatti sonata or sight read a piece of music and transpose it up a step at the same time so it would be in a better key for the singer (in this case my mom.) Why even try if it's unattainable?

I'm not sure exactly what changed. A large part of it is probably just mid-life crisis stuff when I approached forty. But it was watching Scott the Piano guy on the local Public TV station when my attitude changed. I suddenly realized that I want to play piano for "myself". That even if I never reached a level of competence to play Bach, etc., so what? Even if I just tap out melodies with one hand and play chords with the other that's okay if that's what I want to do.

That may seem like really obvious reasoning but it was transforming to me. I didn't end up using Scott's method, but soon after found out that my child's kindermusic teacher also taught adult beginners. Since then I've been taking 30 minute lessons every week (actually 30-50 minutes, he's not a clock watcher).

What I'm working on now is the Bach C min Little Prelude (18), C Major little prelude (13) and "Linus and Lucy". It's been slow slow slow slow slow and hard hard hard hard hard hard sometimes to keep going, but I'm doing it. I'm playing Bach! I can't play without mistakes and it sounds terrible, but I don't care... I'm playing Bach!

If anyone interested, I'll post again with more detail about the chronology of which method books and pieces I've worked on.

This site has been a great source of inspiration for me.

Hey Austin:

I went to UT.

Welcome. I think you'll find us a diverse and sometimes ornery bunch. Glad you're here and glad you had the nerve to start. Never too late to follow your heart because in the end that's what you've got left.

I think you can't deny for much longer what is in your genes. I also think maybe you feel ashamed of not being up to your parents level. Well, think about how Bach's sons felt. much worse, huh?

Well, they actually came out pretty nicely by following their heart and their own style which decidedly influenced the musical period of the day: Classicism...

never too late!

Welcome to the forums, mrpod! You've been working on some beautiful pieces, and that's a great way to keep up the enthusiasm when the going gets tough. I hope your family is enjoying your progress and your pleasure at the piano.

Nancy

everyone else has cool parents.

i should like my family to be musical.

I can't believe yours didn't force you to play. i would force my children to do all sorts of things, and probably end up ruining them in the process also.

Anyone know what ornery means? It's sounds disagreeable!

Hey - you may be playing Bach slowly and with mistakes - but I've only just mastered the c major scale so you sound like you're doing pretty well from where I'm sitting!

Keep up the good work mate.

Ps. Ornery means just that - ugly and bad tempered. God bless dictionary.com! An internet boon for the erudite!

Welcome to the forum, mrpod! I loved your epiphany here... it describes very well how I feel about my own playing. The people who post recordings over in the Pianist Corner aren't even on my radar. I just try to catch up to kawaigirl.

many of us are playing piano as fullfiling a sort of childhood dream, me included. so, enjoy yourself at piano! Bach is always great to play, although his music is tough most of times...

mrpod, Welcome to the forum. Bach is hard, even for many of us who have been playing for some time. Congratulations on undertaking it.

Not only is Bach hard, but playing the Piano playing is hard. It is well that you have a teacher, as you will get good guidance.

You might want to check out the C.C. Chang Fundamentals of Piano Playing---free on line to download, or order from Dr. Chang. It contains a wealth of information on piano playing, particularly, how to practice. I for one, found it exceptionally helpful, as I was not making much progress, until I read what Dr. Chang had to say about "mental practice," as well as the advantage of learning pieces hands separately, then hands together etc..

Music is in your genes---so just enjoy doing what you were meant to do. Keep us posted on your piano adventures.

By the way, I have yet to play a piece perfectly, errors creep in, but I just don't let it disturb me. Except, that I have not yet gotten enough courage to post any of my playing on the forum. Perhaps some day. In the meantime I am enjoying just playing for myself, and my wonderful patient teacher.
Gaby Tu

Thanks for all the responses!

Alyosha: I don't know why my parents never pushed me or my sibling. It might be because neither of their parents were musicians so it's not how they were raised. Their abilities came from their love of music. Also, they might have consciously not wanted to push their kids the way some of their colleagues really pushed music on their kids. I remember one family where music was "the family business". All the kids could play exceptionally well and the family would do recitals as a unit. (Of course, all the kids now play in major US orchestras now that their grown up.)

My parents always supported my choices in music, however. I'm the one that wanted to start playing trumpet in junior high and they gave me encouragement and arranged lessons. Towards the end of high school I began to lose interest in the trumpet. Also, at this time I discovered blues and rock & roll. I started playing electric guitar and picked it up really quickly. Eventually I started playing in pretty loud pop-rock bands and my parents would occasionally come out to see us play. (Always putting cotton in their ears at my insistence.) They were always encouraging and non-judgmental about my non-classical musical choice.

They have been very supportive in my efforts to learn piano. I think they are happy I've come to be interested and enjoy classical music again. And I'm enjoying rediscovering classical music and being able to talk to them about it.

But now what to do about my kids? I want my kids to learn piano but I don't want to push. My lack of pushing is not working with my son. First off, I knew having him take piano from the same teacher as me would not work. I knew I would transfer his preparation or lack of preparation as "my" lack of preparation. Or his bad lesson as my bad lesson. I knew I would put an incredible amount of pressure on him so I found a different teacher for him. Well he doesn't like practicing. I may have screwed up early on by trying to getting him to focus by sitting with him and directing him. A couple of those ended in tears. (Just a side note, it is really revelatory to be learning piano at the same time as a nine year old version of yourself is learning. God he's just like me, impatient, a perfectionist and easily discouraged.) So now I've backed off and just say go practice and try not to listen to much. He's not really making any progress but I don't want to push him away from music. I don't want music to have any negative connotations for him.

That's great. Let it be. Music playing is for true music lovers. If he loves music, he eventually will be playing. If not, he'll be fine by just listening...

Your parents sound very smart. Why not ask them why? Now, more than ever, you need to know the reasons behind their choices. And, you turned out OK, so ask for their advice on how to help their grandchild.

It is my experience that children (OK, I mean my kid) seem to be ignoring you, and do not practice/study piano, baseball, homework, or anything. But they are paying attention. Just wait 20 years and you will be surprised by what they remember. They are like sponges. Your child's 10 minutes of pounding at the keyboard is worth at least 2 hours of my total concentration.

I would give the kid room to breathe, and make small compliments every now and again. The nice things you say are remembered forever, right next to all the bad.

Yes!! when I grow up I want to play like Kawaigirl. Maybe even on a Kawai! Well... no let's not go THAT far!

The original post struck my heart because of my own re-introduction to piano earlier this year, and how it was a totally life-changing experience even beyond the theraputic value of why I did it in the first place.

And being a total Bach addict on piano AND organ, I can well understand that feeling of "I'm playing Bach!"

I become elated every time I do that, still, and try to put a little Bach groove into everything I play.

re: his presentation as MY presentation.


Easy solution:

Have your spouse drive him to his lessons.


Luckily my dad and I had different leaning in music: he plays string instruments (guitar, mandolin, dobero, etc.) and I do piano and organ. He TRIED to teach me guitar but his instruments are strung for left handers so it was doomed from the start

I would talk to your son's teacher and explain the dilemma (he doesn't seem to make much progress when practicing on his own, but you sitting there and directing the practice sessions backfires even more) and see what your teacher advises. Actually, the first thing I'd ask your son's teacher is what he/she thinks of your son's progress. It could be that your self-admitted perfectionism and impatience is causing you to have overly high standards of progress for your son.

I feel exactly the same way. I play for ME. If the piece makes me happy then it's worth my time. If I don't like something, then I pass on it. My teacher is very flexible with all her adults as far as what we work on.

I just joined recently too, and I've noticed it's already had an effect on my practicing!

i suggest pushing your child to the brink of exhaustion.

when i was 10, my parents made such a feeble effort at making me do stuff. and my piano teacher was patronising and stupid. so now i don't have any talents.

i don't think music is just for music lovers.
& child pianists are cool.

Hi MrPod, welcome to the forum, lots o info and support. Don't get discouraged. Have fun and enjoy the journey.

MrPod, welcome to the forum.

My mid-life crisis started a bit later than yours. First buying a motorcycle, and then looking at my keyboard and thinking, I should try that thing once more or sell it. Well, after 3 months of lessons I bought a better digital, and now I'm planning to sell the motorcycle and buy a grand piano.

I now have six months of lessons and can play Bach's Minuet in G pretty well. And I remember (because I keep a practice journal) that I once thought it would be impossible.

Last night was the first time I practiced while my roommate was home and she said it sounded good, like stepping back in time.

a wonderful, frustrating, and rewarding hobby....

MrPod,

Welcome to the forum. I'm new to the forums and to the piano, myself. From what I've seen so far, I don't think you'll find any ornery Adult Beginners. The Piano Forum is a whole different world

My parents never pushed me into lessons as a kid. As a consequence, I ended up taking lessons for about 6 months before I gave it up. I expect a lot of kids need some help to get over the hump, to the point where the reward exceeds the effort.

I am finding that I have a lot more patience as an adult, and that I can get excited when my fingers "know" where to go for a scale (even if it only happens occasionally). I am lucky enough to have a wife with a very nice piano that I want to learn how to play. I have only had 2 lessons so far, but I already love that I have a piano teacher! I'll be very excited if I'm playing Bach in 3 years.

Again, welcome. I think you will find this to be a very supportive group.

Brent