Apologies in advance for the long/rambling post.

This was supposed to be a short 'hi, I'm back', but I typed (a lot) more than I intended. Footnotes added at the bottom for those who don't want to read the whole thing.

I'm sure I haven't typed what I wanted to say very well either, so sorry if it comes across wrong.



I joined this forum a while ago (don't expect anyone to remember me though, as I didn't post much), but I left. I also took a break from the piano. The poor thing's been gathering a lot of dust over the last year.


I had a lot of trouble before with nerves before (I still do). No end in sight for that one.
I still hate the constant conflict of wanting to do something, yet at the same time not wanting to (scared to).


I had trouble finding a teacher, then had trouble finding the right teacher. Around here it seems almost impossible to find a teacher who a) Teaches adults and b) Teaches adults seriously.
The people I found were either "one size fits all" or "you're an adult so you'll be happy if I teach you to bash out a couple of tunes while we chat about 'stuff'".

The last teacher I found had a habit of saying things like "that wasn't quite right, but as you're and adult/not doing exams we wont work on that".

I know they probably didn't mean anything by it, but it came across as a little...patronising.

I did try telling them that I wanted to work on it, but I had to tell them every time.

Them: 'That's not quite right, but we don't need to work on it because you're an adult/just learning for fun/not doing exams etc...'
Me: 'I want to work on it.'
Them: 'Oh...ok'
*work on it for a minute*

Next time: 'That's not quite right, but...'

**scream**

In the teachers' defense I probably wasn't as 'forceful' (not sure if that's the right word?) saying it as I could (should?) have been, but I still have trouble speaking up.

I even went so far as to change my mind and say I did want to do exams, but that didn't change anything. I still got the 'since you're just learning for fun and not doing exams' bit.

It was like they didn't even hear me...or maybe they just didn't believe me?


Please Note: I don't think there's anything wrong with just learning for fun. In fact that's exactly what I was (and will be) doing. But for me fun = learning properly. I'll never be happy just bashing out a couple of tunes while chatting to someone about how my week was.


Maybe I was expecting too much from lessons? There never seemed to be any structure to them. Or maybe there was a structure to the lessons and I just missed it?

I was never given any set pieces. The few tunes I know now, I picked out myself and taught myself at home. Took them in for the inevitable 'play something...that was ok...play something else'.


Not that it matters now. I've decided that I've had a long enough break from the keys, so I'm starting up again.

This time however, I'm without a teacher. Not completely by choice though, I just can't afford lessons at the moment.

Though I think that, if I had to go through the stress of finding someone again...well... **AHHHHH!!!!**


Short story...

Couldn't conquer my nerves.
Got fed up with the 'just for fun/let's chat and bash out some tunes' attitude of the teacher.
Took a break.
Came back, but can't afford lessons, so I'm on my own.


*stillhavingtocheckeverythingatleastadozentimesbeforesendingHidden*

Apologies again for the 'post overload'

Welcome back to the piano and back to pianoworld! I remember you, Hidden.
So which pieces have you decided to learn? Do you think that you will work with a teacher once your financial situation changes?
There are a lot of resources for learning on your own that you can take advantage of. As inspiration, check out Nancy's thread about her level 1 exam. She has done a beautiful job self-teaching.
Good luck and have fun!!!

Welcome back!.... I think

Hi GlassLove.

I popped over to Nancy's thread and took a look. She's done a great job.


Most of the pieces I pick are from the ABRSM exams, because the books with the music in are relatively cheap, and there are usually plenty of people uploading vids of those pieces to youtube, so it's easy to find examples for them.

The thing I really need to work on though is my sight reading, in fact just reading music in general.

I have a good memory, so it's easy for me to just remember what comes next, without looking at the music after the first couple of times (I can play all the pieces I've learned so far by heart).

On the plus side it means that I can play things that are more difficult.

The down side however, is that my reading isn't really improving and I still have trouble recognising some of the notes.


Currently working on (from the ABRSM grade books)

Grade 3: Prelude in C (BWV 939)
Grade 4: Alone at Sunset (great for pedal practise)


I also bought the Grade 1 book, with the intention of forcing myself to read the notes, but it's not really helping (I still end up just remembering it instead)

Thanks...I think...

No, I'm sure...thanks.

I'm too new here myself to remember you, but welcome back anyway!

Only one year of dust? Hah, I wiped six years of accumulation off my piano. It took days to clean each key.

Why six years of neglect? Not because I wanted it to be so, but for the same reasons as many - nerves, stresses, time, etc. It's useless to start something new until the table is cleared.

Now as a beginner it's frustrating going many more days than not but I refuse to get discouraged. There have been months pass by with no feeling of real progress. But one day something clicks with the realization you can do something that you couldn't before. The door starts to open - making it worth every previous minute.

So, before diving in once again I suggest asking yourself if your situation is now one where realistic piano-learning expectations can be met?

For example, have you:

- A working and readily available device for practice - a DP or other full-sized piano?

- Committed to and are able to schedule practice time into each day?

- Removed any household conflicts that could prevent practice?

- Decided whether to go with self-training or the teacher route? (I'm self training for many of the teacher deficiencies you've noted.)

- If self training: "bookmarked" the many free and useful piano and music theory sites into your web browser? Able to use YouTube to watch training videos?

- If using a teacher: found one willing to teach what you wish? (And are you willing to restart at the beginning with theory and simple technique building pieces the way a serious teacher would expect?)

- Acquired sufficient learning materials to progress at a reasonable rate? Materials should be available that will stretch your abilities and also others that permit practice for fun.

(I've found a number of free .pdf public-domain music theory books through searches in google books. I've used the Alfred's series combined with Beginning Bach, Burgmuller and easy classic counterpoint pieces to train my fingers and learn notes. There are other publishers' self-learning series that would work just as well.)

- Realistic vs. unrealistic expectations? ("I'm going to learn the most I can in the time I've allotted and my playing level will reflect the time I've put in" vs. "I'm going to be a piano virtuoso in a year or two." ) It's shocking how many people I've met who think the second statement is realistic.

Also, if nerves are a problem why add the additional stress of "exams"? It's a reasonable goal, but move that decision off to a time in the future after your other problems have been ironed out.

Finally, this is a great forum. I've learned so much here I honestly don't know that a live teacher would be of much greater value!

Welcome back!

Welcome back Hidden!

Not quite a year of dust, I've had the odd play about here and there. It's been impossible for me to leave it alone completely.

I just haven't been working on improving anything.



Well the teacher/no teacher dilemma has been resolved for me. I can't afford lessons.

As far as the instrument goes, my digital piano will have to suffice (it's certainly a great deal better than the 61 key keyboard I started out with).



I don't really have any piano goals/expectations, as long as I'm improving at least a little I'm happy.

Though I will admit, I have a 'hitlist' of pieces that I would love to be able to play one day. They're WAY beyond me at the moment, but not so far (I hope) that I'll never have the ability to at least attempt them.



As strange as it sounds, I want to do the exams because of my nerves. It's my way of trying to get myself to face them. Though I certainly wont be taking any for a while. It's something I think I'll have to work up to.

A test of my nerves as well as of my piano playing I guess.



Agreed, this forum is great.

The people here were incredibly supportive the last time I was here, and I really appreciated it.

*hasstoppedreferringtothemselvesasanidiotHidden*

Though I still think it sometimes.

ty

Welcome back,

I have been back and forth with the piano for years. I had lessons and self taught. Sometimes I had time and $ for teachers and sometimes I didn't. I have some good teachers and some bad ones. I learned a lot from all of my experiences. I have also started to overcome the nerves. One book that you might find interesting is "Effortless Mastery" by Kenny Werner.

Don't worry too much about the reading. Just keep doing and make sure you're reading something new everyday. I also had a hard time with reading but kept at it. One day my teacher handed me some music and said "lets do some duets". I was panicking on the inside but I just did them and at the end I was like "hey! I read all that!" LOL.

So be patient with yourself and the process and you will be fine.

Btw... the teacher I have now is great and worth going through all the bad ones to get there.
So, maybe when you are able to take lessons again you will find a teacher you are comfortable with. In the end though it's all about the effort we put into it.
Best of luck!

I am gong to say welcome back and I'm back too! I have been away from Piano World, except to post through Facebook, but not away from my piano. When work intervenes, as it should, i miss out on playing.

But with beginning a 50's-60's pop rock band ( trio), believe me I am getting the time and my band mates are right with me!

Yes, I am still playing classical music-- finally got to the end of "Moonlight Sonata" and hopefully will go back to a few other pieces.

It's good to "see" familiar post and to see new ones!

Keep on playing! Take care!

Happy birthday!

Welcome back and Happy Birthday Piano4!

Welcome back...whoever you are...I never know where I am...even when I'm here...at least you think...therefore you am....

You might try lessons via Skype. ? Just had a thread on that.