Returning Student Looking for Good Approach to Regaining Dexterity and Speed

[energyguyoly]

Dear Forum:

Four years ago I left WA state and moved into a small house in AZ--too small for  my grand, which I gave to my daughter. Last week the Kawai RX-2 was delivered and I am finding how rusty I am. I haven't really "studied" piano in quite some time. I am looking for a good approach (short of getting a teacher, since my time is limited) to work back into velocity and technique. The last pieces I was playing when I studied were Chopin Waltz in C# Minor, some other waltzes and preludes.

I have purchased Czerny School of Velocity and welcome any recommendations for how to really begin to advance my playing.

Thanks to all who reply.

[hyrst]

I would suggest starting with Czerny's shorter studies if you can cheaply get a copy.  This allows you to get through more work quickly with a variety of different movements.  The School of Velocity has much more complicated demands than first appears.  Perhaps work on a few studies from this collection otherwise, but not at tempo and several of them at once for just one page.  These really do take time.  Try to make everything easy.

This is how I approach things....   I would suggest you aim for a basic workout over the next 3 months to get almost back to where you were.  To do this, I would do as much sight-reading as possible.  I would try to learn 2 or 3 pieces a week, especially Classical period, at about grade 2, 3 then 4 level and reasonable dynamic and tempo controls.  (Download as much as you can for free from different sites so it is more realistic.) 
I would use the sorts of stretches recommended for people with office jobs - do a search for yoga or exercises to prevent RSI as these are usually beneficial for piano.  Do stretches before each practice so you can get rid of the accumulated tension and the tension resulting from having expectations of yourself. 
Dozen a Day is a good source of exercises for nimbering up fingers - work through the levels.  Although they are designed for kids, I find them lots of fun for any age. 
Try to establish a routine of practice at about 30 minutes a day, or most days, but build up towards that if needed and then build onto that as much as you can and as you want to.  You may well find huge improvements from week to week, and you might need to rest a day or two as well - this can also help retrain the muscles. 
After about 3 months you will probably be feeling comfortable again and I would start looking for a piece about grade 5 or 6 and maybe even one at grade 7 (the first ones won't be perfect, but they should give you confidence and a good point to dive off from back into where you were.)

Good luck and enjoy.  Things often come back sooner than we expect.  Like, if you haven't ridden a bike for years you wobble and feel stiff the first few kilometres, but it is a whole lot easier than when you were a child learning the first time.  You might need to take a short ride the first time, though, or you'll get a bit saddle-sore.  Two weeks later you'll feel like you've ridden bikes all your life.