where do i start?

[tallman]

HI everyone , great website.
i have just purchased in the last few days a yamaha u3 piano and have had it delivered , it is great . it has been my dream to learn the piano. and now i am . so my question to you is , i am using alfreds adult all in one course until i can find a piano teacher. and am wondering how quick do i progress through the book like do i just learn one page till i have that down pat and then go to the next page  or just keep going forward . Its really confusing ?

ie. like what should i expect to do in one week etc .

thanks

[shortyshort]

just go for it at your own speed and enjoy.

have fun.

[aaron_ginn]

Can you already read music and do you understand rudimentary music theory?  If so, I suggest picking out some simple works from this post by Bernhard:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,8126.0.html

Also, download a copy of Chang's online book and have your local Staples print and bind a copy for you:

https://members.aol.com/chang8828/contents.htm

If you don't know how to read music at all, go to this site and run through the free lessons in the table near the bottom of the page.

https://www.musictheory.halifax.ns.ca/lessons.html

I also suggest listening to recordings of the pieces you are learning.  I know many musicians disagree with this as they feel you won't develop your own style and will only imitate others.  Personally, I don't care.  I have a much better ear than eye for music and I would not be as far along as I am if I didn't listen to the pieces I am working on.  Decide for yourself.  If you want to play pieces in a shorter amount of time, listen to them and try to hear every note.  In many cases, you will find that you don't even need to read the music to find the correct notes, but can play the piece by ear.  If you want to be a professional musician with his own style and interpretation, do it the hard way and use only the sheet music.

I've only been playing since last June, and I am making great progress.  I can play the Maple Leaf Rag, a Chopin Nocturne (Op 9 No 2), a Chopin Mazurka (Op 6 No 2), the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata, a Bach Invention (No 4), and I'm working on one other Chopin Mazurka (Op 30 No 2) and a Chopin Waltz (Op 64 No 2).  I practice quite a bit (maybe an hour a day) for my busy schedule.  Just go at your own pace and break the pieces you are working down into small manageable bits.  Make short attainable goals ("I will master measure 20 today playing HT") and celebrate a little when you reach them.

Good Luck!

[Bob]

This is very general, but for the pieces that teach one concept, like F#, I would expect a student to finish that in about a week.

Usually my piano students have had 1-2 pieces from each of their books -- primer, "recital"/extra pieces.   Then some theory and something related to technique (but that could just be reminders on posture and hand position).

With about 30min/day, a beginner can usually do that.  If not, they can take the piece another week and then it's finished.

Take that with a big grain of salt.  I know nothing about you and you don't have a teacher.  The method books leave a lot of information out.