Self-study Method for a 15 year old

[matty2705]

Hi everyone,

I'm a 15 year old and I live in Belgium. I want to selfstudy the piano (so without teacher, and I was wondering which method book I best use. At the moment I am at SMP (sheetmusicplus (from the website)) level 2. I would like to hear your suggestions, thanks.

[pianowolfi]

Why selfstudy? I wouldn't recommend that. Get a teacher who is good for you, you will save time and avoid frustration.

[matty2705]

Let's say that I have my reasons to do Self-Study.
I won't explain them in detail but I give you some words:
- not always time on same moment
- limited movement

anyways, Should i take an adult method or not?
And which method? Faber? Alfred? Hal Leonard? Thompson?

[alpacinator1]

use Soft Mozart, it's the only way.


In all seriousness, I don't reccomend a method book. if you can read music, just try some simple pieces and compare them with recordings on Youtube (good ones mind you). Not as effective as a teacher, but you'll probably learn to play if you're dedicated enough.

[Petter]

Study for a year with a teacher, see where it leads and then go from there. 

[pianowolfi]

Let's say that I have my reasons to do Self-Study.
I won't explain them in detail but I give you some words:
- not always time on same moment
- limited movement

anyways, Should i take an adult method or not?
And which method? Faber? Alfred? Hal Leonard? Thompson?

I would say go through all of them, you will experience the advantages and disadvantages. But, actually, are you handicapped or something? "not always time on same moment" could be dissolved by individual appointments between you and your teacher. "limited movement", perhaps you can find a teacher who comes to your house. I would do that for a handicapped person who lives in my region, anyway I drive to some people's houses regularly, many teachers do this.

[mad_max2024]

I second pretty much all pianowolfi said.
Take it from a guy who selfstudied for 14 years, it is a frustrating, slow and painful way to do it...
The things you will learn to do the wrong way will be very hard to set right afterwards.

When I got a teacher, I recall he had to give me classes on weekends several times because I have a tight schedule. I doubt you have less available time for lessons that I do... 

Don't know any of the methods you mentioned so I can't really help you there, sorry...

[loonbohol]

I am also self-study 15 years old Filipino person.
Who have studied more than 5 years by myself.

We'll I do not have a problem in my self-study.
Because I have a straight path to choose, Which is to perform all twenty-seven Chopin Etudes and Compose a composition.

As long you have a basis path then I will be a no problem. 

[matty2705]

Thank you very much for the reactions.
You solved some of my problems but not yet all of them.
(I know this doesn't very polite, my english isn't THAT good, we get it at school starting from 13 years old. Normally I speak Dutch; well; Flemish actually, but it's not really a language, I try my best anyway  )

I'm still with the problem which method I should use?
A childish; Older Beginner or Adult? (I'm 15 years old)
and Which method? Alfred? Hal Leonard? Piano Adventures?

Thanks in Advance,

Matthias

[alpacinator1]

I am also self-study 15 years old Filipino person.
Who have studied more than 5 years by myself.

We'll I do not have a problem in my self-study.
Because I have a straight path to choose, Which is to perform all twenty-seven Chopin Etudes and Compose a composition.

As long you have a basis path then I will be a no problem. 

Are you using a translator?

[Petter]

Thank you very much for the reactions.
You solved some of my problems but not yet all of them.
(I know this doesn't very polite, my english isn't THAT good, we get it at school starting from 13 years old. Normally I speak Dutch; well; Flemish actually, but it's not really a language, I try my best anyway  )

I'm still with the problem which method I should use?
A childish; Older Beginner or Adult? (I'm 15 years old)
and Which method? Alfred? Hal Leonard? Piano Adventures?

Thanks in Advance,

Matthias

Use the one that seems most fun.

[lostinidlewonder]

If you work on your own don't study out of a book (Beginners/Intermediate can learn from books because they need to learn the basics which can be learned pretty much from anything). You should work out a few things before you decide which pieces you should study. The first thing is, where do you dream to take your piano playing? This is a long term goals which we work towards. Some people do not have an idea where they want to go, that is fine, but you must then consider what standard you want to get at technically and musically.

Some people who teach themselves cannot clearly judge whether or not what they are doing is technically comfortable or musically correct. This is an ability that you want to sharpen first then. The ability to know when something is physically comfortable and how to increase the comfort, and being able to hear a desired sound in your head and produce that on your instrument. These are critical measuring tools that pianists are constantly using.

[mlhf_michelle]

Yes, I would suggest that you should get a piano lesson at least because the teacher at least could correct your mistakes and would guide you to the correct path like fingering those and stuffs.

[richard black]

Either use no method (just find pieces of suitable standard to work on) or use an adult one. The kids' ones are annoying for anyone over the age of about 10!

[flamingo81]

i totally agree with most of the people here. self-study is quite difficult. I had a piano teacher for over a year, then stopped due to some extracurricular activities. And it's been years since then, and I still regretted ending my piano lessons with my teacher. It's really hard for me to learn on my own since then without supervision because some techniques are better taught than merely learned by yourself, say for instance, by observing others play. But then again if you're gifted, you can practice with any music piece that you think is appropriate with your current level of skill, then move up from there once you mastered them one by one. at this point, i think there's really no difference among the books since most of them are probably designed to be learned with the supervision of a teacher. But take it from me, it can be really frustrating learning on your own. I started my piano lessons rather late at age 13 and by age 15, i was on my own. I really love playing the piano but i guess not that talented enough because i didn't improve much since i stopped my lessons. But it sounds like you also love what you're doing and i have a feeling that you're way talented than i am. so goodluck!

[G.W.K]

Why selfstudy? I wouldn't recommend that.

I'm self taught and it can be very frustrating as you have no one to guide you. I try to learn by watching YouTube clips, playing by ear and reading excerpts from theory books.

I don't use a teacher because they can be expensive and I have other commitments, etc. So, if you can afford it and you have enough time - get a teacher. If not, it's basically trial and error.

G.W.K