How will you perform at the piano in 5 years compared to now? Better? Much better? Why? Sandy B

I took lessons for several years as a kid and stopped playing for about 30 years. Now, I'm pretty motivated and want to be able to play some advanced pieces from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and Brahms to name just a few.

I've already improved tremendously in just over the year that I have been playing and I intend to continue working hard at improving until I reach my goals. I don't expect to be playing the Hungarian Rhapsodies or Brahm's Hungarian Dances within the next 5 years, but I expect that I will be on my way to playing those pieces. Plus lots of pieces by Chopin, Bach and others along the way. I also expect to find lots of other interesting pieces and composers along the way, I know that I already have found some other favorite composers at the level that I am working at.

I'm in this to enjoy the music along the way, but at the same time I do want to play many advanced pieces.

Some people are posting that life is too short to play anything but music that you love, but at the same time, I have found lots of new music that I really enjoy (if not love) by not limiting myself and working through some repertoire books steadily.

Rich

Very good question...

My circumstances and aspirations pretty much mirror DragoPianoPlayer's.

I've returned to the piano at the age of 56 after last having lessons as a child, more than 40 years ago.

My expectations for the next five years are high. Like DragonPianoPlayer I'm really motivated to do well and to make up for all the 'lost' years. The piano, with the priceless support of this forum and its members, has become the means by which I'm discovering true fulfillment in my life - it's that important to me!

My progress is good and I'm already aiming high in that I'm attempting to learn, as a long term project, Chopin's wonderful Nocturne Op 48 No1 - a real labour of love! It's really 'stretching' me, but I don't care.

I'm taking lessons and, of course, learning pieces which are nearer my current ability level, such as the 'easier' - but not simplified - chopin composotions from the Alfred book 'Chopin, An Introduction TO his Piano Works'.

In addition to playing for my own enjoyment I expect that, in five years time, I will play well enough to bring much joy to others as well. By this time I would hope to have built a repertoire which will include many 'advanced' pieces say, equivalent to grade 8 or above.

My determination to succed is so great that I'm seriously considering taking early retirement next year so that I can devote more time to my playing - life really is too short to waste five days a week doing a job one hates, 'just' for the money!

Mike

I certainly hope so. Couldn't be much worse!

I hope so. I really am a beginner (started from scratch a little over 18 months ago), so I hope to have reached mid intermediate level by then.

I'd be curious how the learning curve goes. I know everyone is different and everyone practices differently. But assuming you practice at least 2 hours a day, what would your growth be from year to year and finally after 5 years?

Interesting question, Sandy. As someone who spent 40 years on making/meeting goals in the business world, I understand the importantance of using the process to measure and insure progress is being made.

That said, your question made me realize I do not have long term goals, so to speak. Yes, I expect to improve my playing/reading/skills as time go by, but I lack the actual process of what to accomplish daily/weekly/monthly/yearly, so I do not know where I will be in 5 years.

One of the things I did when I retired was to "remove" from my being the things that drove me crazy while working. Maybe I went too far....

No, I just talked myself out of changing - I don't know and that's OK. If I quit tomorrow, that's OK. If I am touring the US as the oldest novice in history, that's OK too.

Darn it Sandy, you made me think.

Unless my learning curve hits that dreaded wall Gyro is always going on about I should be much better.

Oh boy, hmmm, how would I perform on the piano 5 years from now? I hope it would be better than it is today. I try to keep moving forward by picking something that's challenging for my level and hope that I don't hit into a brick wall

Well, since restarting lessons a year ago, my technique has improved - especially in the area of relaxation. I've also learned a lot musically - this is where having a teacher has made the most difference. I do expect to see some improvement, but I'd really like to overcome performance anxiety so that I can play with other musicians.

Wow...what a question. I have never looked so far ahead. My dream is to develop enough technique and musicality during these years to be able to play a lot of Chopin, some Liszt, maybe even start something by Rachmaninov. Of course, that's the "dream." Practically, I envision that I'll probably only come close to achieving the Chopin part of that dream. Really, I don't think it's that productive to think so far ahead. Above all I want to get better and to have fun doing playing.

Five years on: Fewer notes, better chosen.

(jazz player)

I'm going to be in the army for about five years, while off duty I'll do nothing but piano. I Gotz to master playing be ear and memory . hopefully I don't slack off like I usually do lol

I expect myself to achieve alot more then i ever have for the next 5 years meaning hopefully I'll be playing at one of those big concert halls.

I MUST play better; there are a few pieces that I NEED to arrange and play by that time.
My teacher does not seem to think in terms of limits but more in terms of work put in (She sure does not spare the work). She says she is satisfied of my progress in the year I have been taking lessons. I, of course, think it's taking too long :p
I am retiring in a year and intend to make piano my mean activity.
So hopefully...

Cheers,
Daniel

I expect to have a good level repertoire of classical music. I Expect my ability to read and play a piece quicker. That is the technical part will be easier to grasp.
However I haven't given myself a 5 yr goal actually. I've given myself a life time goal, it really took the stress out

Peter

I expect in 5 years to be able to play some of the more difficult repertoire like the first movement of the Pathetique as an example. I'd also like to have expanded into Jazz and improv a bit.

I hope that I can play by ear *better* than Seaside_Lee play it now (After all, at this momemt, he has about less than 4 years of PBE experience, and I will have 5 years, right? I haven't started yet just so you know.)

I also hope that I have acquired some skills in composing nice sweet pieces, much like my other hero Mahlzeit.

AND that I can play *and* record Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu for a recital! This last one is a distant wish.

Having said all this, I would also say that I don't make these into goals - that would somehow put too much pressure on myself and take the fun out of it all. But the above are certainly possible outcomes 5 years from now.

I'm hoping to gain some composing skills within the next 5 years.

2012: I hope to have two Chopin Ballades under my belt by then. The Third is within my grasp now (mostly memorized) - just needs time and attention. I have played it through, though never at a performance level (i.e. relatively mistake free). I lack experience with larger forms, will be a major learning challenge.

I've been playing with the thunder-and-lightning section of the Second Ballade, figuring if I cannot get my fingers around that then there is no point in learning the rest of it.

The Liszt Transcendental Etudes are well outside of my technical reach at this point, but they are my goal. Perhaps I will be just cracking the door open on one of these by then.

I believe these goals are realistic.

Well, when I first had the notion to take up the piano, I truly thought that someday my fingers would be able to brilliantly fly up and down the keyboard. Alas, despite years of playing piano I've come to the realization that it's not going to happen. At least, not the way I had envisioned it. However, I derive more pleasure from simply playing than I would have thought possible. Even though I've pretty much resigned myself to not being as 'brilliant' as I had hoped, there are some days that upon playing a piece of music with a minimum of 'errors' that I reflect that this is what I really enjoy. I love being just as excited about piano and music today as I was 30 years ago. I've learned a lot and now know I'll be learning the piano for the rest of my life, God willing.

Five years from now? Barring a physical impairment, I know I'll be better than I am now. Not just in being able to play more quickly but rather being able to play with more understanding, playing more from the heart, and communicating with the notes to touch emotions. That's what I work toward.

In 5 years? Hmmm....that's a good question. I played "at" the piano for a long time - I have a good ear, and learned to fake my way through songs by reading the chord charts. I can read music, but never translated it into learning the piano.

About 18 months ago, I started taking lessons, and have gotten into the John Thompson 4th grade book (which is EXPONENTIALLY harder than the 3rd grade book, BTW). So, I've made some progress, and am working through Hanon and another technic book.

After I finish the 5th grade book and 2-3 more rounds of Hanon, I'll probably ease up on the classical stuff (still doing it, but fewer pieces), and go back to learning some blues and pop/rock/jazz stuff. Do that for a couple years, then back to focusing on classical. Lather, rinse, repeat, and hopefully I'll continue to get better.

Pieces I want to be able to play (well) in 5 years:

Rondo Alla Turka
Pathetique
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel
(Do the) Mess Around - Ray Charles
Music of the Night - from Phantom
and a bunch of Elton John stuff
- Burn down the Mission
- Take me to the Pilot
- Tiny Dancer
etc...etc....

In five years - that's double the time I've been learning to play the piano - I should expect some good progress.

I have no idea though where I will be then in terms of pieces and technically.

Sit down, write a plan, work on it, think about it, develop it, and write it down. Then, take it out and read it every day so you remember what's important to you.

I speak from hard-earned experience here. You will meet a bunch of people that will love to help you spend your money on beer, women, cars, sports, beer, women, toys, concerts, beer, women, ..........and of course you will want to get even and help them spend their money on beer......

Seriously, if you can burn a plan into your brain now, not just "I wanna" or "I would like to", it is more likely to be something you will do. A buddy will say, "lets go uptown" and a little voice in your head will say "after practice". Odds are you will ignore it, but at least you made the choice.....

When do you report?

If my world tour of major city stadiums and arenas hasn't kicked off by then!...I'll be sorely disappointed!!


I'll be all right though if mine gets going before 'Hunksters' :p

Lee

em.. I am praying I will be good enough to go to em... Carnegie Hall
Let's reach for the stars everyone. Go for it.

I'm going to quit my day job

hahahahahahahahahaha

Cathy