Well...

A tiny info about me, in case you don't know me. 32 years old, have a PhD in composition and have a diploma in piano, I got about 10 years ago. I kept studying for a few years after getting my diploma, gave a few concerts and then... army time, family time, 4 years in London without a piano.

Lost my touch? You betcha!

But I desperately want to get back in shape. In fact I'm hoping to give a concert in summer (so, let's say I have 6 months)...

I'm quite old now (I don't want to hear anything about that... I'm just saying I'm not a kid) and I've stopped having piano lessons for 10 years now...

So, how do I do it?

The weekly lessons, the lure of the diploma in performance (piano), the whole deal was tempting enough to get me in habbit of studying daily. But now? I don't have a teacher by my side and although I would imagine I can get sort of by, on my own... :-/ I still find it weird.

I decided to pick up the 3rd Chopin Ballade (one of my favourites and already "have" the 2nd (at least used to "have" it), and probably the 2nd Prokofiev Sonata, although I'm very much in love with the 8th. I think I'll put another 'mainstream' piece, maybe a more contemporary one and then... my own stuff (which is what this is all about pretty much, apart for my love for piano).

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So, today I started studying the 3rd ballade.

To my horror I realised a few things:

* My left hand is in a little pain. I played piano for the past year, but songs, not classical music and I also played in a bad positioned digital piano (in my studio).
* My memory doesn't seem to be responding as it used to. I've been studying for a couple of hours, but I'm not sure I can play the first few pages without the book in front.
* My hands are definately not in shape. Tried a few bars which gave me a tiny bit of trouble (the first 16ths one runs accross in the 2nd page... you know what I mean probably). I think I will get them easily, but it used to be SO easier...

But the thing I fear the most is having my own ears to judge something. It's been too long that I was a performer and for the past several years I've been judging others, as a composer...

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I'm not certain to what I'm asking. I'm certainly not certain (hem... a pun?) that I actually need advice, over something I don't know. I can probably post to my self on what to do, about methodic reading, start slowly, don't work too hard at first, it's reasonable to not learn everything on the first try, and so on...

But still I panicked and thought I'd share with you. ^_^ Maybe there's other people who feel the same as me.

Thank you for reading.

Prokofiev said he could write a whole new sonata movement in the time it took him to polish up for a performance (so he gave up performing).

Post a video, I'll tell you if you need panic about your technique.

I know, I know. I've read his biography... And this is also a thing that worries me.

Once I'm ready (cause, honestly, it's far from 'the right time' to make a video) I will post it, or send it over privately... hihi!

Thanks mate

Don't do anything polished, it's your habits good or bad that need comment on. Privately's fine.

This is a US-based website and in
the US the term "diploma" apparently
has a very different meaning from
that in the UK. So I'm not sure
what you mean by "a diploma in piano."

In any case, the Chopin 3rd Ballade
is a concert pianist-level piece of the
first order--this is far from
being the "easiest" of the Ballades
(in fact, it might actually be
the hardest because it is so well-known
and listeners will know every
note of it and will know exactly what
to expect from a performer doing it).
To play it note-perfect and polished,
and with pizzaz, is concert
pianist-level playing.

Surely a kindly old man gives them out in front of an audience of Munchkins? I'll bet that's how you got yours, Gyro!

I'm greek, so the diploma I mentioned is the Greek one, and it regards a concert pianist pretty much (although I'll admit standards are rather low in Greece). Along with the Chopin I also mentioned a couple of Prokofiev sonatas, which must also show the 'ability' I'm after getting back (if anyways I had it anyways in the past (which I think I did)).

So Gyro, any point in your post really? A warning not to attempt to get back in shape? Maybe a point that I'm lying through my teeth to myself perhaps? Maybe that I'm not familiar with the 3rd ballade? Not sure what the point of your post is. and BTW, where on earth do I mention that I consider the 3rd to be the easiest? O_o

The point is that I think it would
be better to get the 2nd Ballade
and the 2nd Prokof. Sonata into
shape once again, rather than attempting
to work up the 3rd Ballade and 8th
Prokof. Sonata. The 3rd Ballade
especially, I believe would be too
difficult for anyone except a
concert pianist.

Aha.

It was rather unclear from your previous post... Thanks ^_^

This WOULD be the sane thing to do. But I'm giving me a fair chance with the 'more difficult' ones. I have promised not to try for weeks to no end, but to at least give me the rest of January to see how much further I can take the 3rd Ballade. If not, I can always resort to the 2nd, which will be easier to bring back to shape, rather than learn on it's own.

On a mere technical level, I have to say that I feel the 2nd is a little more demanding (not a musical level), but this probably has to do with my ease in playing chords and my (huge) hands rather than anything else.

Anyways, again thanks for your post and your explanation.

Hi Nikolas... First of all, GOOD FOR YOU! I think it's great that you're getting yourself back in shape with the goal of playing a recital.

You said it yourself that you should start slow, break things down into segments, practice methodically. Also, don't spend too much time at the piano in one stretch at first. If you are out of shape, you need to start with short practice sessions as often as possible, rather than long sessions.

Finally, sharing video is a great idea. These days there are so many ways to get help with your playing besides the traditional one week per lesson. There are plenty of people here who will happily watch and critique your videos. There are also teachers (like myself) who will meet with you over video conference for an occasional coaching.

Best of luck!

Thank you Rachel for your very kind post!

I have to report that I just stayed on the first 6 pages of the Ballade (3rd) and it seems to be going well. So, ok, it's not fast, it's not technically hugely demanding, but it seems to be 'getting somewhere'. I might still have hopes...

I broke the studying in segments of half hours (also taking care of the kids in the breaks, eating), so I didn't stress myself too much. Either way I doubt I'll have tons of time, because of my composing obligations and gigs, but I still feel VERY good right now!

Hi Nikolas
Exciting to hear of developments in the Nikolas house How is your left hand today? I hope you are not pushing too hard, and are slowly reminding your body what solid practising feels like. My experience as an adult is that even with good hand-use and good posture there are still some creaks and groans of adjustment as an adult surprises his or her body with a new activity. Don't overdo it!

I had nowhere near the level you did as a youngster, and yet recent months of hard work has made changes in my hands and fingers - amazing feeling for a semi-mature-old person. Right now even typing feels different. I have new hands since October I hope yours will respond very well too.

As far as memory goes, I bet your structural/theoretical memory is good, and I bet your memory of the sound of a piece is good, because you are a composer. It may be your hand-muscle-memory that is slowing things down at first?

For me structural and sound memory are very strong which I assume is related to the study of composition, but my muscle memory lags behind. I work hardest by far on memorising fingering (of all things! and so tedious!). Having said that I am noticing that in the last few weeks my muscle memory is beginning to improve. I hope that although perhaps at a slower rate than for a piano playing child, you find the same improvement. Keep working at it and I'd be interested to know how you go. Good luck!

As Gyro would say, Nikolas, "JUST DIG IN!!"

Just wanted to thank for the support and report that things are going much better today (Europe here, so plenty of hours in advance of the US :D). The Ballade is going quite nicely and most of the first 5-6 pages flow without many stops and hessitations! Memory is helping and I'm trying to remember things, so I don't have to sight read constantly and keep my eyes on the score. Fast passages are starting to feel better.

I'm very happy of the progress for a couple of days work. Mighty happy.

(No need to reply to anything really. Just wanted to thank everyone with their encouraging words, that's all)