Help: Adult beginner here

[jcg256]

Ok, here's my story.. I am 23 years old and just starting to learn piano (Just about 2 weeks). I do have a teacher and we meet once a week with a one hour session.

Right now, we are using Alfred's books for adult beginners and im doin' just fine.

My concern is this, what else do I need to do or study, say for at least 3 months, that can help me improve faster.

It's not that I don't trust my teacher, but I think there's more that I can learn if i do some studying myself than just one hour sessions per week.

I've been browsing to this site and found helpful informations but a lot are still confusing, as I am not familiar with a lot of terms..

So if you could provide something (maybe lessons/exercises/pieces) that I can concentrate on at least for the next 3 months, then that would be great.

I know theres a lot of great people on this forum. Advance thanks to those who will reply.

[stagefright]

some elementary music theory will fit here

there are some on-line courses for free, but I prefere books

you can then discuss with your theacher some topics before every lesson

[barnowl]

And you sit there thinking, StageFright didn't give you much help. Not so.

Follow the advice and keep your teacher abreast of whatever you do.

If you want a book suggestion for  adult music theory, try

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory.

It even has a CD for ear training.

[rlefebvr]

Alfred's books are great to start. You don't say if you could read music before or have any music knowledge.

I will assume this.

Follow up with scales, arpeggios, Chords in the circle of fifth. Start with major chords, then minor chords.

After that it depends on what type of music you want to play. I will assume classical since you are on this forum.

Here is something to wet your appetite from an old friend:


If you want specifically Beethoven, Bach and Mozart, you can start with those:

1.   Bach – The Little book of Anna Magdalena Bach of 1725 (ABRSM) – the 25 pieces in there are not really by Bach, but rather instructional pieces that Anna collected for her own instruction and the children.

2.   Bach – 18 Little preludes (Easier Piano Pieces no. 18 – ABRSM). Most of the pieces here are by Bach, but some are by his sons. They were used for the instruction of his children.

3.   Beethoven – A book of dances (Easier Piano Pieces no. 20)- Particularly delightful are the Six Ecossaises (to be played as a set) WoO 83 – they sound immeasurably more difficult than they actually are (Kissin plays them as encore).

4.   Mozart – The Nannerl notebook – Compiled by his father, Leopold this is a bit like the Little Notebook of A. M. Bach. There are sixty or so pieces from contemporary composers (most of them anonymous) and Leopold used it to teach Nanerl (Mozart’s sister the piano). Soon, Mozart was doing it as well, and the last 20 pieces or so are his own compositions (aged 4 –6).

5.   Mozart – 25 Early Pieces (Easier Piano Pieces no. 67) – Mozart’s first compositions, between the ages of 5 and 9.


Make sure you follow this up with your teacher. After 3 months, it's time for you to sit down with your teacher and decide on the direction you and he want to go on.

Agree on this or find another teacher more to your liking.

Chances are though, you will find mutual ground as your teacher wants you to play better as much as you do.

Teachers often start with Alfred Books to see how the student responds and how quickly he learns. It is not meant to be played forever and by itself.

Hope this helps,

[debussy symbolism]

Here is something to wet your appetite from an old friend:


If you want specifically Beethoven, Bach and Mozart, you can start with those:

1.   Bach – The Little book of Anna Magdalena Bach of 1725 (ABRSM) – the 25 pieces in there are not really by Bach, but rather instructional pieces that Anna collected for her own instruction and the children.

2.   Bach – 18 Little preludes (Easier Piano Pieces no. 18 – ABRSM). Most of the pieces here are by Bach, but some are by his sons. They were used for the instruction of his children.

3.   Beethoven – A book of dances (Easier Piano Pieces no. 20)- Particularly delightful are the Six Ecossaises (to be played as a set) WoO 83 – they sound immeasurably more difficult than they actually are (Kissin plays them as encore).

4.   Mozart – The Nannerl notebook – Compiled by his father, Leopold this is a bit like the Little Notebook of A. M. Bach. There are sixty or so pieces from contemporary composers (most of them anonymous) and Leopold used it to teach Nanerl (Mozart’s sister the piano). Soon, Mozart was doing it as well, and the last 20 pieces or so are his own compositions (aged 4 –6).

5.   Mozart – 25 Early Pieces (Easier Piano Pieces no. 67) – Mozart’s first compositions, between the ages of 5 and 9.

Before that you might want to establish some basics in hand positioning, finger independance and overall feel of the key board. Before Mozart or Beethoven, have a look at Clementi's easier sonatinas and Bach's little preludes. I recommend against Hanon because the excercises might give you a bad start because they can ensure tesneness. Do scales, focus on one, and then on the other, arpeggios, chords. As you are a beginner, ask your teacher before doing something.

[jcg256]

Hi,

My internet connection has been down the few days.

First up, i would like to thank stagefright, barnowl, rlefebvr, and debussy symbolism for the replies!

I have read you suggestions and sort of summaried them:

1. Always keep your teacher informed of whatever you do/practice.
2. Read some basic music theory stufss.
3. Focus on scales, chords (major first), aprpegios.
4. Work on easier pieces first (Clementi's easier sonatinas and Bach's little preludes)
5. Lastly, No Hanon exercises.

Is there anything i've missed?

also @ debussy symbolism - I have read quite a few threads showing your disaproval of Hanon exercises. However, you do recommend exercises by Czerny (hope i got the name right). I personally think, exercises can really help so i will have to trust you on the Czerny part. My question is can I start with it now? Or should I do it at a later time?

Best regards,
Justin

[gilad]

i can't "stress" how important it is to keep your hands, fingers, arms, shoulders relaxed. im 24 and started playing a year ago.  The more i am able to relax all the above the better i am becoming at the piano, or maybe visa versa, but i think relaxation is the cause of the latter. so dont play with tense hands, i think tense hands is more common in adult beginners than children, that is the impression i get from other sources.
maybe you'd want to read this book by c.c chang, it is free to download and will more than likely provide you with insight and ideas.
i was in your position a year ago,  perhaps one could say all roads lead to Rome, some quicker than others, you just have to keep traversing them and see what works for you. there is a wealth of information on this sight of course,
the guys who posted have given you good advice

[jcg256]

Hi gilad,

I think I do have a pretty relaxed hands while playing. My teacher also mentioned it when i first played for her. Maybe its because my job is most of the time in front of the computer and hitting these keys just like what im doing right  now. =)

Im also reading the book of C.Chang for three days now. I got the link from one of the threads here.

Good to hear insights from someone close to my age. Goodluck to us buddy. =)

Regards,
Justin