Hi, all. I'm new to the forum and fairly new to the piano. Two weeks ago, I got my first piano. (I've wanted one for, oh, about thirty years.) I'm on the search for a teacher (because, boy, do I need the help), and I'm meeting one next week that sounds promising.

My background, in brief: I took organ lessons as a child because we had an organ at home. I didn't mind the organ lessons, but I always longed for a piano. I'd go to our elderly neighbor's house often to play her piano, and for a very brief time I took piano lessons in college. Fast forward many years later, at age 40 it suddenly became imperative that I get a piano and start lessons. Maybe it's some form of mid-life crisis? (Ha.)

At the moment, I'm working on a Bach Prelude (from WTC...the "easy" one in C. Not too difficult to get the notes right, but I might as well be playing it with my toes for how unmusical it sounds....)

I'm enjoying reading the forums. Lots of great info and support here. I love how many adult beginners there are here. Makes me feel not quite so crazy in my ardent quest to become a proficient pianist!

Hi quodlibet, I like that prelude myself. Sometimes I just play it as chords and listen to the harmonies. Sometimes I whistle Ave Maria over it - only when no-one's listening, though!

I'm a noob here myself, but welcome!

Welcome to the forum, guodlibet! You are not alone. Your background in organ should help you immensely in starting piano... I'm guessing you'll have much less trouble with hand independence, for example.

What kind of piano did you get?

Yes, I am grateful for the organ lessons as a child, because that is primarily when I learned to read music. (Later, I played clarinet--junior high and high school.)

My piano is a 1982 Young Chang full upright. In its previous life, it was well taken care of. I bought it at a store owned by a pianist and technician, so I feel confident in its quality. I mean, of course I read The Piano Book, so I would have a clue as to what to look for and what to avoid. (The owner was trying to talk me into a grand, which, hey, I'd love but can neither afford nor have proper space for! Someday....)

Welcome to the forum, quodlibet...or is that guodlibet? I can't tell with this font LOL. Anyways,. this is a great resource to help keep you inspired and to bounce ideas off of. Take your time in finding a teacher, you may have to do a few interviews before finding just the right one for you now, but ti's worth it.

Congratulations on your piano.
welcome to the forum.

Welcome, quodlibet. It sounds like you have a good start on learning the piano. How are you going about finding a teacher?

Nancy

It's Quodlibet, with a Q. I really like the word, plus it has kind of a cool meaning: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quodlibet

Re: teachers. My first interview was with a teacher I found on craigslist. She was fine, but I wouldn't say it was a perfect match. Then, I tried a guy I found on the website of the local chapter of the Music Teachers Association. (That website--for me, local is Seattle--is helpful because you can search for teachers by zip code.) Next week, I am meeting a teacher who I found on that website and who is highly recommended by my daughter's music teacher. (My daughter has been in music class since she was 6 months old. Her teacher is wonderful, and I value his recommendation.)