Hello everyone:

I just wanted to say hi. I am 33 and a newbie to this forum, and have just returned to learning the piano. I was self taught back in high school and early college for a few years. I had to quit because engineering school was so demanding. Back then I played a Yamaha synthesizer (with ridiculously small keys, now that I look at it!). Now, almost 12 years later, I am back at it. I recently used my Christmas bonus to purchase a Yamaha DGX-293. I figured that I would be fine for now, and the next step would be to buy a digital piano, if I advance enough.

Right now, I am learning simple Bach pieces. I have a book called "First Lessons in Bach". It seems to be right at my level, since I already know music theory somewhat and can read music. I also am starting the Alfred Adult All-In-One course as well (level 1). That book seems a little boring right now, but I am going through it just to make sure I don't leave anything out. I didn't want to start with level 2 and be missing something.

I am interested to converse with people who are at or near the same level I am at, to see what other people are doing. I would say the biggest problem I have is what I call "brain stalls" - that is where I am practicing along and when the music changes to another section, it takes my brain a bit of time to switch gears and be ready to play it. I am thinking that it has to do with the way I learn the phrases - perhaps if I learned them along with a few notes from the surrounding phrases, I could play through them much smoother.

Anyway, happy to have found this forum

Thomas

Hi Thomas,
You might want to take some time and peruse this forum. There's a lot of good information and discussion and you can get a sense of where lots of us are in our "studies" or experience. I'm definitely on the lower end, being a piano restarter after not having played very much to begin with. I have some other music experience, though, so that definitely helps.

If you want to know who on this forum is credible and who is just way out there, let me know. Actually, it's a really good group and has been very helpful for us adult beginners. And the good news for you is, you're the second-youngest person who has admitted their age in the Respect Your Elders thread. Feel free to add your name to the list!

Welcome!

Welcome, welcome!

Come on in, the water's fine.

If there were water. If you know what I mean. It's a figure of speech. Oh, never mind.

My husband gave me "First Lessons in Bach" for Christmas, it's just about right for me. And my piano teacher said it's a very good book, so it got her seal of approval. We also talked about what you're talking about, when the music changes, she has me work on pieces in sections and then put it all together. You can get a lot of good info on this forum, it's helped me a lot.

Welcome ThomasBecket! Enjoy!

tk

Welcome, I don't think there are any Henry IIs hanging around. Since you are a former student you are ahead of me. My teacher has started me off using Faber's "Adult Piano Adventures." My first lesson was last week, but I have been using Humphries "Piano Handbook" since about three weeks before my first lesson. I'm working on Bach's Minuet in G along with the assigned stuff from Faber. I've been working hard to think in terms of progressions as opposed to notes.

Wasn't Thomas Becket the Archbishop of Canterbury? I assume that's ossk8ter's Henry II reference.

BTW, I'm in Faber also. It seems like several of us around here are using that method.

Thanks for the quick replies! I guess I am not the only one bored at work today! That reminds me, I have a question that is work related. I work as an engineer/software programmer. I type all day long. Thinking back, before I could type, I remember playing with both hands was hard for me to do. Now, coming back to the piano, it doesn't seem as hard. Still hard, but not as hard. Do you think learning to type has helped me play better piano?

Maybe it helped you, but it hasn't helped me!

Yes, Thomas Beckett was the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered at the alter. The murder has been attributed to Henry.

Hey, I was at the office almost all weekend. Typing has not helped my piano playing since I don't type with fingers four and five (although I might start), so they are weak.

"Yes, Thomas Beckett was the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered at the alter. The murder has been attributed to Henry."

Woo hoo! Score one for public education!

even though I was a private school brat.

Yes, I am the Archbishop.

So, at 33, would I look stupid if I went to piano lessons? I just feel kinda odd about it. Don't most teachers expect children as pupils?

So, at 33, would I look stupid if I went to piano lessons? I just feel kinda odd about it. Don't most teachers expect children as pupils? [/b]

Welcome Your Excellency!

I know what you mean about feeling a bit silly but the first teacher I had also was teaching my wife who in turn signed me up. She had 4 adult students out of about 15. I really liked her a lot but felt she didn't challenge or critique me enough. I got another teacher about 6 months into lessons. The vast majority of his students, 75 private students if you can imagine, are young from 5 - 18. He has several adult students but I don't know how many. He really loves the diversity and individuality of each.

I would check with the teacher first and see if they accept adults. Most I expect would welcome adults as they are generally committed to learn. Interestingly enough my teacher and I spend at least 15 minutes after the lesson talking about music. I feel as though he is as much a friend as a teacher.

Welcome, Thomas.

I'm 38, been learning for 10 months, self-taught (so far). I'm using the Alfred's Adult All-In-One Piano Course.

This forum is unbelievably helpful. (Now, the Coffee Room, well, that's another story...)

[Yeah, yeah, cut & paste is a beautiful thing.]

Wow, serious deja vu! I feel like I've read Jerry's post four or five different times in different threads!

"So, at 33, would I look stupid if I went to piano lessons? I just feel kinda odd about it. Don't most teachers expect children as pupils?"

I just started lessons myself last week. I'm 31, and about 1/3 of my teacher's students are adults. The only two students I've met when I arrived for lessons were both older than me. I probably wouldn't feel comfortable taking lessons from someone who had never taughts adults. Just ask. Good luck!

Thomas,

I'm 46 - been taking lessons for 3 years - you get over the "looking stupid" pretty quick. Now, last week - I carried my digital piano into work so I could practice at work ...

Anyway, I'm an Engineer by trade as well (Electronics/Software, yaddy, ya ...) I still can't type ... I'm finally learning to play piano with two hands, does that mean I could learn to type?

I'm also working through "First Lessons in Bach". My teacher "ran" me through it some time ago - now I'm trying to learn to "play" it. We'll see.

Anyway, welcome!

Kevin

Yeah, yeah, cut & paste is a beautiful thing.

(It doesn't mean I don't care.) In fact, caring means never having to say you're sorry.

ThomasBecket,

Welcome to the forum! There are a lot of us adult beginners out there taking lessons so don't feel stupid. We're actually more motivated to learn since no one is forcing us to learn, and the only one with high expectations is ourselves (in my case, anyway).

Ok, so if I can get over feeling stupid for being an adult, I also mentioned I have a yamaha DGX-203 keyboard and not a digital piano. I was eyeing the digital pianos, but I thought it was too much of a risk if I back-slid and stopped practicing. So, will most piano teachers frown on that?

Also, do most instructors want you to go to instruction weekley? I already go to choir practice weekley, and that's a two hour deal, I just don't know if I have the time for weekly piano lessons.

I have a Yamaha EZ-30, 61-key (5 octave) keyboard. I turn the 'touch response' on, and the lighted keys off. It is PERFECT for cutting my teeth. Once I feel like I have progressed beyond it (don't know when that will be) I will consider a digital piano. (Got to get the kids out of the house first, in order to afford it.)

welcome! 'First Lessons in Bach' is definitely a good start. as to your keyboard, it would cause you some trouble because it has keys without weight so that the key feel will be totally different. if you have to play on your teacher's piano, you can tell that immediately. if your keyboard does have a 'touch sensitive' button, then be sure to turn it on every time you practice which at least will make your transition from a keyboard to a piano easier. it is not impossible to start from a keyboard (just as i did), but as you progress you will definitely need a piano (acoustic/digital) later.

If you decide you've outgrown the keyboard later and still aren't ready to make the jump to buying a piano, you can consider renting an accoustic piano also.