I have been reading this forum for months, but just recently registered to participate in the recital. I am a software engineer and live in Northern Virginia.

When I was a child (around 7), my older sisters introduced me to piano and I had about a year learning myself to play some simple tunes like Lara's Theme (easy piano version) and some folk musics. Then my family went through some hardship and my mom had to sell the piano. So went my dream.

When I was in high school, I started to play guitar as it is more affordable, portable and popular. However I always love piano music. All of the pieces in my repertoire were guitar versions of an original piano musics like Moon Light Sonata (1st movement), Fur Elise, Chopin's Tristesse, La Cumparsita...

Fast forwarding to the beginning of this year, my wife and I decided to get a piano for my six year old daughter (so I can live thru her dream ) who was starting taking lessons. That was how I discovered this forum while seeking for advice.

During the search for my daughter's piano, as I could not play, I asked a salesperson to play some tunes on different pianos so we could make the decision. He was obviously bias on the brand he liked to sale. He played the heart out on it and just so so on other pianos. Any way, I was mad and vowed to learn some tunes so the next time when we ever want to trade up the piano, I can make the decision myself So I started printing music sheet from the internet and that is how my piano journey began. Now my wife complains that I use the piano more than my daughter.

Beside piano, I swim, paint, watch TV ... and help my wife keeping the two little monsters under control.

Ps: I have been reading several piano forum, but none can compare to this one. Posters are like family going beyond piano domain, supporting each other through hard time (job loss, divorce...) and encouraging beginners (like me) to enjoy their journey in whichever path they choose.

TrueBeginner,
Welcome. So glad your daughter got you to revive your dream!

Actually your story reminds me of my cousin. He took his 2 kids to ice skating lessons. After watching on the side line, waiting for the lessons to end, he ended taking lessons too. Now his is competing (senior club level)! And, get this, his kids have stopped long since! True story.

True Beginner,
How long have you been playing piano???

Im checking to see if anyone is as much a beginner as I?

Aspenxtreme

HI Rosy,
Im bad, I should be playing my piano right now. Shame on me!!!!
I just had to comment on the Ice Skating cousin that you have. I think thats an awsome short story. Its funny how our kids inspire us !!! I think its awsome!!!!

I think this forum is cool Tooo!!!!

Thanxs, Aspen

Aspen, I was inspired by my cousin too.

The only person who has called me Rosy was a guy in college who had a crush on me, but whom I rebuffed. But you can call me Rosy. :p

Rosy,
You made me laugh!!!!

So did you take up Ice Skating????

THe only other Rosy I know of is one of my high school friends wife. She is a very nice person, very quiet and softspoken. So I think its a great nickname.

Its small town here so there are no Ice Skating rings otherwise I would take that hobby up too. My daughter went once with my sons school for a field trip and she loved it.

We ride horses instead.

Aspen

Atok,

I just started learning to read the Bass clef last month. Let me know what you end up doing to learn it.
Will you teach your self? Or maybe do lessons?

I finally found affordable lessons so that helps me.
Take care, aspenxtreme

aspenxtreme, I just started learning piano since February this year. My guitar background does help me a little bit with reading music sheet. I am still having problem hitting the right keys when my eyes are not glued to the keyboard.

TB

True Beginner,

I just started last month with my lessons. In HIgh School I played in the marching band so that helps me with the treble clef line. Its learning the Bass clef that is stumping me. Thats interesting that you look at you rhands while playing, I do the opposite. I stare at my music.

Good Luck with your playing, Are you teaching yourself or taking lessons????

Take care, Aspenxtreme

I was seriously thinking about it. (I love watching figure skating.) But within months of learning of my cousin's story, the nearby skating rink closed down after being a local landmark for decades. Hmm, an omen?? Anyway, I am too afraid of the bruises I would acquire. Besides ballroom dancing is my thing.

aspenxtreme, I am teaching myself. The way I read the Bass clef is to look at it as Treble clef with all the note transposed down one line. The thing that I don't know is how people manages to sight read two clefs at the same time. When I learn a new piece I try to memorize it right away so maybe that caused me to look at my hands too much.

TB

TB,
Memorization!!!! Wow, Thats a technique I havent thought of. So far my music is not that involved where I have crazyness going with both lines. BUt im with you, I dont know how people manage to read both lines at once. Thats why I am taking private lessons once a week. My lesson books are geared towards little kids ( The illustrations are very cute), They make me smile when I play, and everything is taken one step at a time. I tried to teach myself using the "Alfreds basic adult piano course" and it just frustrated the heck out of me. So I went searching for a teacher. Ive noticed on other forums that some people are having a great time with it. Are you using a book????

Aspenx

Welcome Irangho, TrueBeginner and Aspenxtreme...

I love to read all the stories associated with how we came to be here. I can participate on the boards a bit before bed, but time is limited for me. I'm trying to add all this new stuff into my world! Nice to make friends while I try.

I am teaching myself right now, but I think I will have to get lessons eventually. I don't want to pressure myself too much. Already my Father in Law wants to come visit me in Phoenix and hear me play... and I'm like... um.. not ready for Prime time. Yet. Give me 6 months and maybe then!

Hello everyone! I am so happy to have re-discovered this forum where I can be with kindred spirits. I lurked on this site many years ago but after reading Grand Obsession ( a truly remarkable opus), I decided to re-visit.

I live in the Philippines but currently on a 3-month R&R in CA. Started playing the piano at age 7 and stopped when I went to college. I am a chemical engineer but can't help regretting that I should have listened to my piano teacher who advised me to pursue a degree in music.

I have retired from the corporate jungle and am so happy to be able to play the piano whenever I want to! One of the last pieces I learned was Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique. I brought the sheet music with me on this vacation so I can re-learn it again.

I hope to be able to contribute to this forum in my humble way (with the limited experience I have) and to immerse myself in my first love again... piano-playing! When I get back home in July, I shall join the MOYD so I can hone my skills.

Menorah73, Welcome to the Forum!

Hi Rosanna! Thanks, it's great to be here. Reading the posts has inspired me to put in more practice hours.

I am, will soon be, 43 years.....young! I am married to a wonderful man, and July 26th, we will celebrate 22 years of marriage toghether.
We have two children, an 18 year old son, and 13 year old daughter. We have homeschooled for the past 7 1/2 years, and have never once looked back....Our 18 year old will be starting his 3rd semester in College this fall, and is doing quite well....amazingly! Both were diagnosed at young ages with Son(ADHD.severe) Daughter (ADHD,CAPD,Anxiety), and when medications were not enough, and they were quickly falling further and further behind, and the school couldn't, (or wouldn't) help, we decided we could better meet our children's needs...They have both been medication free for 7 1/2 years, and both have done extremely well considering their circ...and remain at or above grade level. Our daughter is an extremely gifted writer, (all areas of writing), and enjoys writing and singing her own songs. She is also an accomplished photographer! She also plays guitar. Our Son is also an extremely gifted writer, but doesn't write for fun, as my daughter does. He is currently working three jobs in preperation for the fall semester,.(we reimburse 100% for good grades! A great motivator!) He is also extremely gifted musically, and plays the guitar and piano by ear. Both children, despite popular belief, are socialists at heart!

We live in Houston, Tx., in a modest home, (the only way I could afford to stay home with the kids, afford needed oustide assistance, and plan all the extra curricular homeschooling activities and trips!!), We also have 3 dogs and an outdoor cat.

My husband is 43 and works for an engineering company,and plays electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and fiddle.... I am a registered nurse, and work in the ER weekend nights only, so I can be home Mon-Fri. In between all of this, I find SOME time to actually practice piano!! I keep a semi-night schedule during the week, as do the kids. I play at night from about 2-3 in the morning!! They all sleep through it!

I have been playing for 4 years, and bought my Yamaha grand on my 40th birthday 2 1/2 years ago! Before that we had a Yamaha digital P200, that we bought for my DAUGHTER to take lessons on!! She hated it, and a month later I was taking in her place! LOL! I was instantly hooked! I regret that when my mom tried to teach me at age 6, that I refused, and again at age 9, when I quit because the teacher ONLY taught theory! BORING!!! So, no real lessons to speak of until 4 years ago! I have had excellent teachers!!

Well, I believe you have met me and my entire family!!

totallyclassics, Welcome to the forum! Yout family story is very touching and I feel like I'm a friend of your family after reading Congratulations for your courage on playing the piano under "difficult" conditions. It needs a real love for music that you certainly have!

Keep it up! All the best for you and for your very charming family!

Ilia

Thanks Ilia20!

totallyclassics,
It's really nice to read about your family. And welcome to this cyber family too. I think many members here also have strange syndromes too , but there are also many gifted musicians among this family!

Hi---My name is Barbara, and I live on the Oregon coast.

I'm sixty-five years old, and have been taking piano lessons since I was sixty years old. As a child, I wanted to play the piano SO bad, but my parents didn't have the space, or the money for a piano. So, I realized that i would someday have to do this on my own. I had to wait until I retired, but soon after retirement, I bought a used spinet piano and started lesssons. I love piano in any way, shape, or form.

Last summer, I upgraded to a M & H Grand piano. I found it on Ebay. My piano tech had a tech in the town where it was located check out the piano. It passed with flying colors, so now am an owner of a grand.

I'm a retired elementary school teacher as is my husband. I love to play the piano, play the piano, and then play the piano some more. I also enjoy cooking, baking, and reading.

Barbara/Oregon

Let me be the first (retired teacher) to welcome you, Barbara. I have always played piano, but didn't read music. Now that I'm retired and have the time, I have been teaching myself to read and loving every minute of it.
Please consider joining the online recitals.
Mike

Hi - My name is Bill (b528nf7). I joined 2 weeks ago after lurking for a few days. I'm a recently retired marketing manager for a major telecommunication company.

For the last several years my twin passions have been golf and playing (learning) the piano. I'm happy to report that I am now that guy you see driving to the golf course most mornings when others are heading off to work. Retirement, so far, has been a dream come true.

I've played piano primarily by ear for several years, mostly banging out chords and singing pop songs. What I do is probably not considered "real" music by serious pianist but it is all I aspire to do.

I post songs on YouTube under the ID b528nf and enjoy the feedback (even the smart-mouths). My mission now is to learn to read music. I'm making progress with the treble cleff and hope to some day learn to read the bass if I live long enough.

I love the positive energy of this forum and find myself checking the board every day. We seem to have a common bond in our love for music and our desire to improve.

Thanks,
Bill

Barbara, welcome. Glad you finally got to play the piano after all these years. And congrats on owning a nice grand piano.

Bill, your playing and singing may or may not be "real" music, but I thoroughly enjoy it. I guess I am not that "serious" a pianist either! :p Sounds like retirement suits you!

Hi! ^_^ I'm new here, glad I found this site. By the way, I'm 23 and just starting to learn piano. I'm a software engr. ^_^

Hi guys!
first of all I want to apologise…I must admit that I am forum shy :-( That's why I've spying from the ether for the last few months.
My quest for piano learning started something like 18 months ago, when I was about to finish my PhD. I then realised that it would be it, nothing more to learn! It was the time to start doing something challenging at the same time as rewarding, so I went to the drawer where I keep the projects (right at the back of my brain) and I found out that there, in the back burner, (quite dusty, by the way) was my long time formulated wish to learn how to play the piano. So I took it, and started slowly, slowly.
So I feel now is the time for a proper introduction. I am originally from Spain, but living in sunny England for the last seven years. I am 36 years young (I don’t know if that qualifies for an adult…) Happily married to my sweetheart for the last 9, and the proud mum of my two little monsters: Oscar, 3 ½ and Alex 7 months.
I have been teaching myself on and off for the last year and a half (sometimes more off than on) and I think you may understand my reasons for having a digital piano (I only learned about silent pianos recently).
My goal is learning a little bit a day, even if it is a tiny little bit. So I try to practise every night when we put the kids to bed. I am becoming a very good juggler, combining full time job, family and the piano. Now is time to add another thing and it is this forum.
I feel I know many of you already, and I love your encouragement and support towards fellow learners like myself. Count on my if I can be of any help.
I also wanted to thank you all for the help you have already provided, introducing me to Burgmullers’ pieces and Mr Einaudi (of course) (I am already learning nefely, thanks Monica!) and other authors.
I have now the Alfred all in one, so I will probably see you in the book 1 (and may be 2 and 3) forum, where you will learn of my struggles with BTMD and the like.
Kind regards, and read you soon.

Welcome to the forum, pixie's friend! Don't worry about being forum shy; AB forum is a friendly and supportive place so your shyness will soon pass. (Believe it or not, *I* started out forum shy, and now look where Ms. Blabbermouth is... )

And congratulations on your most excellent taste in music. We look forward to having you join in on the Einaudi thread.

p.s. not to mention congratulations on your ph.d. What field?

Of course Monica, I love that thread. I am even thinking of finding a babysitter for his concert in London!

p.s PhD in something like cooking (...chemistry)

Hello pixie's friend. Welcome from another newbie. Reading your first post, I was wondering if, some day, Monica will have the forum converted to an official Einaudi forum . As for me, I couldn't resist, to start some of his pieces, too.

Hello people!

A bit about myself, I am a 21 year old guy who lives in Western Australia, I signed up to your forum because I know how much fun and how useful they can be - I am also known as Jedi on a forum about motorcycle riding (my other passion) and it has helped me immensely.

Ah what else, currently studying electrical engineering, I took up piano to balance out all the science and math that dominates my life at the moment I am finding it quite enjoyable. I'm only about a month into lessons (coming back from a short stint as a child) my teacher is very good, he says I'm going well. If I can play as well as him one day I'll die a happy man I currently have a digital Casio piano I practice most every day.

I hope to benefit from all the collective experience of what appears to be a very knowledgeable board, and maybe even add something to it one day