Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum I'm back.

I did the inconceivable. After a 14 year layoff, I came back to the piano. I was back at my parents house recently and saw the old 1890 "Newcombe" upright sitting there -- the one that tormented me for 10 years off and on in my youth. I hated practicing, hated lessons, but did so because my mother wanted me to. I always had a knack for practicing maybe 3-4 hours a week and winging it at my lessons. I progressed, but rather slowly. I finished in grade 8 (Royal Conservatory) and somehow managed to get my certificate. That's the last time I ever played a piano. I was sick of it and I would never come back to it -- or so I thought...

While at home the other week, I had a few moments to myself, so I sat down on the bench and tried to play one of my old songs -- just for kicks. I couldn't. I mean, I was looking at the staff, clefs and notes, and it just wasn't there any more. It was totally foreign to me. What a weird feeling. I got really scared. So, instead I played a couple scales just to see if I could make some reasonably coherent sounds come out of the piano. Right then and there I vowed to get a piano and at least get back to where I had left off.

When I got back home, I realized I needed something a bit more portable and affordable than a full piano, so I opted for a decent digital with a weighted action that felt as much like a real piano as I could find. I ended up purchasing a Yamaha CP33 and off I went. That was three weeks ago. I'm a man on a mission. I have blown through three songs I used to play, and have been diligently practicing every night for more than an hour! Inconceivable!

Slowly, the cobwebs have lifted and I was able to play one of my old songs with my eyes closed, just feeling the notes... I'm back! Ok, so I was never that good to begin with, but my interest is piqued and I'd like to re-learn all the fundamentals that used to be at my fingertips. I actually took music theory for 3 years while in high school and wrote an exam for credit, but I've forgotten much of it now. Dom7s, Dim7s, minor harmonic scales, melodic, arpeggios, how to figure out a key from a key signature, all the Italian terms... It's coming back to me, albeit in bits and pieces.

What I'd really like is to go on a self-directed 6-12 month term of re-discovery before committing to a teacher. Considering where I'm at, are there any recommended self-directed learning systems that will keep me busy at the keyboard with sight reading exercises, classical pieces, technical exercises as well as intermediate-to-advanced theory?

Anyway, here's a recording I made of an old song I used to play: A Tear , by Mussorgsky. I did it in a single take, so please excuse the inconsistencies. Frankly, I'm impressed that I can play anything after that layoff...

Gourdo - that was beautiful - a new piece for me. Another piece that's beyond me for now.....

As far as a self-directed 6-12 month re-discovery book, I am afraid I am not qualified to "direct" you to something that would fit your needs.

All I can suggest is give "The Piano Handbook" by Carl Humphries a look. I am using it as a beginner's book, so it may be too far below your skill level.

Good luck and welcome to the forums.

Again, very nice job on "A Tear".

Mike

Very pretty, gourdo! And congrats on deciding to re-learn piano! I can't really help on the course idea, either, I'm afraid. While I did know some theory when I started my lessons about a year and a half ago, I was a completer newbie to piano, so I am really at a beginner's level here.

Thanks for the kind words all. I read reviews of the Humphries book on Amazon and it sounds quite comprehensive. I'm going to order it along with some Hanon. That's a definite start, thanks!

Welcome to the forum, gourdo, and welcome back to piano! Playing piano as an adult is a very rewarding experience, because it is a choice freely made and you know you are doing it purely and only because you want to.

I enjoyed your Mussorgsky, btw. I hope you will consider contributing to our quarterly recitals.

Where can I find out about these quarterly recitals?

nice job gourdo. i am currently in the same situation as you. played the dreaded piano all through grade school and had my mother as my teacher and tormentor. (she's korean, so it is even physically worse).
every day i see the piano i just have bad memories.

but recently, i am 34 now, i am completely in love with chopin, especially after watching the Pianist, last year, and especially seeing the piano solo played out in the end credits.

i purchased a kawai and have been practicing at least an hour ever since.
but unlike you, no real major progress, as i am just doing some hanon for conditioning and straight to my favorite chopin songs i am slowly attempting to practice/play.

i hope both of us can continue to enjoy and practice till we die.

You make nice music, Gourdo. Could you please tell me what you used to record the "A Tear"?

I'm beginning lessons again, tomorrow, after more than fifty years with no lessons and the past sixteen years without learning on my own, or playing my piano until about three months ago.

Good luck to you with your rediscovery of the greatest form of musical expression.

Lisztener, I recorded "A Tear" on my Yamaha CP33 digital piano plugged into my computer running "Native Instruments Akoustik Piano" Midi software.

glad that you have returned to your long lost love and glad that you have found the forums. this is a wonderful place to be as you grow and grow. welcome and enjoy your rekindled flame!!!

You can search the archives using the word "recital" as the subject of the thread, and you'll find all the threads related to the on-line recitals we've had so far. They were started by Mr_super-hunky and Bob Muir. As one example, here is the thread that gave the instructions for recital #3, our most recent recital:

thread on instructions for recital 3

The results of that recital are stickied at the top of the AB forum page.

Recital 4 will (probably) follow the same format, with one important exception: Because it falls on Nov. 15th, we decided to make it a holiday theme. People are encouraged (though not required) to play a holiday song or piece. We'll probably get serious about starting a thread to solicit submissions in a couple of weeks.

p.s. You can go to this thread here to put your dibs on a particular holiday piece/arrangement.

Welcome back to the piano and welcome to the AB forum. Many of us have taken "a few" years off before returning. I went over a decade without any serious playing as well.

it sounds great that you're returning to piano! i'd recommand 'Piano Handbook' (check at amazon.com) as well, which would give you a quick view of all basics and theory stuff as well.

good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement folks!

Monica, I'll check out the recitals. Not sure if I'll be ready to submit any holiday songs by Nov 15, but I'll see how things proceed.