what direction to go,

[avey123]

Hallo,everyone
I am new member to this wonderful websight.Have been reading with such interest for a few weeks now.Iwould like some advise if poss,please.Istarted learning piano approx,5 years ago.Iam just coming up to my sixty second birthday.Ihave been with teature for past 4 years.Icannot tell you what stage i am at musicly as i dont no. Iapologise if this sounds silly.Ihave worked through first 4 books of Shaum.Book2of Howard Kasschau.Prelude No 1 J.S.Bach.Still sruggling with a couple of bars of Fur Elise.as for scales Maj,C.G.D.A.B.F.B,flat,E,flat A,flat.Minor scales,A.E.B,D,G,C,all in 2 octaves.My sight reading is i think very bad.Imust just say during this time i have had quite a lot of domestic problems which did not help my practice time.I suppose what i really would like to no is should i be further ahead with my music than i am.Should i go to another teacher for instance to get a second opinion if possible,or indeed change my teacher.i do feel a bit stale with things.the only time i talk music with anyone iswhen i see my teacher.thats why i am so pleased i found this wonderfull website. Ireally do love my music left it a bit late i suppose,that does not trouble me at all,and my music is very very inportent to me.If i am absolutely honest i feel that i shuold be better than i am.At the same time may i ask if there is such a thing as get togethers for people like myself who are learning piano in the london area.Any advice at all would be very verymuch appreciated.May i take this oportunity to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year.Philip.

[stringoverstrung]

Hi,

if i were you i'd go for more repertoire there is no point in practicing scales for the ten next years. It is also possible to acquire technique while studying repertoire.

now check out post nr 2 in this thread:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,8126.0.html

maybe you could write down these pieces, check them out which ones you like and then go to your teacher and ask her/his advice. If she/he is not prepared to work on some of the repertoire, i suggest you change teachers and look for the new one with the list in hand.

[avey123]

Hi thank you so much for your suggestions,very much appreciated.Bythe way i have started to study the Hannon exercises for the past 3 weeks would this be benificial up to exercise 16.Again thank you for your time.

[stringoverstrung]

opinions on Hanon differ but i tend to go with post 2 of the following thread

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,3442.0.html

no time to waste to get some repertoire. just be conscious about what "exercises" are hidden in the beautiful piece that you have chosen to learn.

most certainly you'll need your teacher to assess the difficulty of the different choices ( pieces) that you want to learn . once again if he/she can't do it: change teacher.

practice in small chunks. make sure you check everything out on this site that bernhard has to say on technique.

[dorfmouse]

At the same time may i ask if there is such a thing as get togethers for people like myself who are learning piano in the london area.

If you look at the ABRSM forums,
www.abrsm.org
particularly the piano forum or adult learners forum, you could post your question there. Also, there are forum concerts arranged at various places around the UK.
You may also find that your local adult education or higher education institute offers group piano lessons which is a nice way to get to know other learners.

[ksnmohan]

Hi Philip,

Wish you too a Happy, Healthy and musically joyful 2008.

With 5 years of piano learning, which should have given you the adequate basics,and at 62 along with your domestic obligations, you should actually relax and listen to more music (not necessary all piano) and enjoy what pleasure and insights the great works provide us. To find out where exactly you stand, talk to your teacher and with his/her help try to appear for Grade 1 or 2 of one of the music exams (Royal College or Trinity) - this will give you a focus, a goal.

Try to compose your own music on the piano - may not be quite  Mozart or Beethoven, but it is Philip, your own creation. This will lead definitely lead you deeper into understanding of music.

This Forum is an excellent place to exchange thoughts - with the Internet, you need not have to interact face to face with other musicians.

Prof Narayanan
Musicologist, teacher, composer
Madras, India

[avey123]

Hi,thank you for your helpful comments
Kind regards philip.