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Hey ,

I've started playing the piano 3 weeks ago with:
Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Part 1.
I'm 15 years old at the moment. Is it normal that i'm at page 30 after 3 weeks. And now she's gone for 3 weeks (holiday) and i have to work to page 39 + i have to learn hedwig's theme by John Williams(it's quite easy). But if it isn't enough i can go through to as far as i can go. Is this fast?

How long should i practice before i can play. He's a pirate.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/289813/Hes-a-pirate-Pirates-of-the-caribiean
It doesn't seem too hard. It's just a lot of chords to play in a row and i think i can build up the paste in the summer holidays :p . My question is. Is it possible to play this piece in 8-9 weeks? Or maybe 14? Any suggestions?

Thanks

(This is a copy from the pianist corner, but they didn't know how long it should take a beginning pianist to play the piece so here is the post again)

I started to practicing running 3 weeks ago. How quickly should I be able to run a marathon?

I hope you can see the similarity between my question and yours. The fact is that its really impossible to answer. Each person will progress at a different rate, just as each person crossing the finish line will reach it at different times.

It say its a little too early to be doing something like this after only three weeks of practice, but would have to ask...

Do you have an understanding if 6/8 time? Know the different between a quarter and eight note? Understand the different rest marks? Understand the concept of the Key Signature?

If so, I'd say it would be possible, but probably more difficult that to what you're accustomed to. It may take you two weeks, it may take you six months. Again, impossible to say.

My suggestion would be to focus on building good fundamentals, taught by the lessons in your method book. This will provide a good solid foundation to stand on in your future.

Haha i know what you mean. I know all the key signatures and rest signatures. But what i acutally ment is. Is it better for me to start to learn this piece AFTER 13 or 14 weeks? So i'll just train out of my method book for 13 to 14 weeks and start learning this piece on the 12th or 19th of July for example ?

My son is pretty decent. He learned Pirates toward the end of his third year of study (age 11). Third year, not third week! Could he have played it earlier? Sure. But when he did learn it he could nail it convincingly. There are a lot of tricky rhythms in there. Knowing 6/8 isn't half the story.

I"ll admit that learning that song on your own is a pain sometimes with the rhythms.

haha ok i'll wait for a long time before i think i can learn it :p

All of those are actually pretty simple concepts which, I think, could easily be taught in one lesson (assuming a good student, which wimbwicket seems to be, and not one who'd rather talk about what they're having for dinner.)

I agree. That said, I also think you could do it if you want to. This is not to say it would be easy, but I believe most anybody can do most anything if they really want. Start SLOW.

As for the "fast? slow?" question--I recommend don't even think about it. Akira was quite right in saying that everybody's different, so any comparisons are moot.

For the rhythms... yeah, they can be a real hassle when learning a song on your own, but not so much of a problem if you've got a catchy recording of the song.

Hey guys ,

Thanks for all the advice. I think i'll just wait for another few weeks before learning it. I've got summer holidays coming in about 14 weeks (around the 12th of July). I'll think i'll start learning the song by than.

Well about that 'catchy recording' :p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e9M7kRo8Ek
I just love the song, every time i visit that link i at least watch it 2 times.

I found another person who is also learning from Alfred's Basic Piano Course for Adults.
http://www.youtube.com/user/PianoNoobAlexMan
He finished book 1 in 2,5 months. Is this fast?
He is now busy with book number 2. He's at page 75 after 4 months. Is this fast?

If i think i'm not up for the job after 14 weeks i'll just wait with learning the song. I might post here again when i start learning the song. I'll post here to ask some questions if it gets tough. (i hope i won't need to ask questions) :p .

Thanks for all the tips.

If it goes on like this i'll be done in 6 weeks with ABPC (Alfred's Basic Piano Course) book 1 and that means it was a total of 10 weeks of working with ABPC book 1 and than i'm going to book 2. I think the last 5 weeks will get harder and it will go less fast than it used to be. So i think about 7-9 weeks to go. I still play everything from page 1 every week once.

How long is the normal period of learning with ABPC book 1?

Ps. i know i'm kinda obsessed with speed but i just want to learn it !!!good!!! and as fast as possible.

i want to learn this book fast because the songs you learn are kinda boring :p

One last question:
When you're done with ABPC (Alfred's Basic Piano Course) for Adult's book 3, are you than done with the most of the technique you need to know to play songs?