Re learning as an adult.

[valley girl]

Hello,
I took lessons for about 7 years as a kid, got to the level of Bach 2 part inventions. The sheet music section on this site says that is level 5, whatever that means. I never practiced nearly enough. When I went away to college, I stopped, rebellion or something,and never really played again until about 2 weeks ago (15 years!) Recently, I have been thinking about piano, missing it, and decided to play again. I went to the music store and got a level 2 Alfred book of hymns and the Bastien adult course book 2. These seem to be an Ok level for meto get my confidence up , they are a tad on the easy side. My question  : How to begin again? I like a wide variety of music, from bluegrass and folk to classical, and would like to play just for pleasure, at an intermediate level. Any books or methods you would recommend? I saw a post about a sightreading booklet, any other books? Things seem to be coming back to me as I encounter them, such as scales and chords of a few keys etc. anny and all advice for a person in my situation appreciated!

[gorbee natcase]

I would go back to bach 2 part inventions as you are capable of playing them and take it from there

[bernhard]

This question (or similar ones) has been asked (and answered) many times in the forum.

For instance, here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2444.msg24025.html#msg24025
(Can you make it as a pianist if you start late?)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2855.msg25276.html#msg25276
(where should one be after 10 years of piano study?)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2976.msg26082.html#msg26082
(advantages of being a late beginner)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4059.msg37072.html#msg37072
(Does there come a time when piano learning will not be so difficult – The problem: a good teacher, enough practice and yet very slow progress –  approach maybe everything: practice to make it easy. Guardian link to Alan Rustrbridge article – summary of PPI - alternate hands)


The usual answers can be summarised in two items:

1.Get a (knowledgeable) teacher.

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2115.msg17860.html#msg17860
(the advantages of a teacher – comparison with typing)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2450.msg21250.html#msg21250
(the four levels of teaching: Toddler, beginner, intermediate and advanced)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2500.msg21577.html#msg21577
(Teaching adults)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2749.msg23873.html#msg23873
(self-teaching – the pitfalls. Analogy of frying an egg - principles of fingering)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5569.msg53917.html#msg53917
(when are you ready to be without a teacher – roles of the teacher)


 And on the meantime. Read these threads:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5767.msg56133.html#msg56133
(huge collection of links)

2. Choose a repertory that you love and that is within your ability to master.

Have a look here for some ideas:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2958.msg25879.html#msg25879
(Easiest Chopin pieces – grades 4-5-6)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1769.msg13830.html#msg13830
(The easier Debussy pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1834.msg13883.html#msg13883
(suggestions for some beginner pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1970.msg15762.html#msg15762
(easy sonatas)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2147.msg18098.html#msg18098
(Easiest piano piece ever written)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2314.msg19869.html#msg19869
(Schumann’s Album for the young)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2340.msg20224.html#msg20224
(Building your piano foundations – suggestions for a progressive repertory)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2562.msg22127.html#msg22127
(Suggestions for repertory for someone who has been playing for a year)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2851.msg24984.html#msg24984
(Introduction to romantic pieces – how technique is specific to pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3721.msg33399.html#msg33399
(grade 4 – 6 repertory)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4094.msg38101.html#msg38101
(Liszt easy pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4140.msg38111.html#msg38111
(True repertory for total beginners)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4238.msg39061.html#msg39061
(easy show off pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4371.msg40871.html#msg40871
(Mendelssohn favourites)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4416.msg41105.html#msg41105
(nice slow romantic piece for beginner)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4737.msg44794.html#msg44794
(Jacques Duphly)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5063.msg49589.html#msg49589
(Albums for the young)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2357.msg56150.html#msg56150
(Joe Hisaishi sheet music)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,7008.msg80656.html#msg80656
(Beautiful music that is not hard to play)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,8368.0.html
(Victor Carbajo)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,9269.msg94090.html#msg94090
(melodic studies)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2339.msg20064.html#msg20064
(favourite Scarlatti sonatas).

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3865.msg34994.html#msg34994
(Schumann’s music – Album baltter and bunte blatter)

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[alzado]

Valley Girl--

I had a somewhat similar experience, having quit the piano for about 10 years.   And about a year ago I decided to take it up again.  I have a long track record over a long life of playing the piano.

When I took it up again, I decided I wanted to play show tunes.  I purchased a couple of music books of "themes from the moves," popular hits, and the like.

That lasted a couple of months, but somehow these were not too satisfying.  Without consciously intending to do so, I went back to classical piano music.

It must have taken me about 10 months, but I believe I'm as good now as I have ever been.  I am really not that skillful -- perhaps late intermediate, or about grade 8.

One change in me -- I have developed a distaste for the over-played, tired old chesnuts that everyone seems to play.  They are great music, don't get me wrong. But I just can't look at them anymore.  Perhaps because I am so old, and over my long life I have played these tiresome things again and again.  Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata, the easy Chopin waltzes, Spinning Song, and on and on.  Of course, when I was young, these were all new to me!  (Those were the days.)

My latest thing of these past few months is to find composers or compositions that I have not experienced before.  Almost everything I play now I have never heard played.  So I have to explore them by reading sheet music.  This is partly because these composers are minor composers and rarely recorded.  Or if recordings exist, they are rather obscure and hard to find.  This adds a sense of adventure for me. 

Oh, and I have a teacher and take lessons.  She "keeps me honest!"

Hope you enjoy your return to the piano!