Considering starting piano as third instrument

[liche]

I'm 28, and did no music at school. Took up trombone at age 20, now play to a good standard in several mid- to high-end amateur orchestras. Took up singing at 23, less seriously, am a competent solo/choral classical singer. I have no aspirations towards earning a living from music, though my SO is a postgrad at music college, so I know a lot of people who do - had I started when they did then it would be a realistic option.

I've always said that I would take up piano when the time is right. I think this time is now. I'd like to make sure that this is a good idea, and that my goals are realistic. I am interested in classical, opera, jazz, and show music.

Due to my living arrangements, I am unable to practise trombone more than once a week (and that with a practice mute), and I have no immediate urge to work more seriously on my singing.  Getting an electric piano with headphones would give me a realistic expectation of practising 3-5 times a week. I'm an experienced enough musician to have a strong idea of what sort of pianist I would like to be.

I would very much like to able to do the following on piano (eventually...):
- Sight-read accompaniment or pit-orchestra parts sufficiently well to play all the music on sight, if not all the notes.
- Play, or play accompaniments to, songs/pieces that I am familiar with, by ear, in any key, on demand. Again, to play all the music if not all the notes.
- Sing and play piano together.

Things I'd like to do, but not as a priority:
- Have sufficient keyboard skills to be able to move into amateur conducting/MDing in, say, 10 years' time. I have stage-directed a number of musicals/operas, and am aware of what it takes to be an MD; this is a role which will suit me very well when I have the remaining necessary skills.
- Be able to knock out a few classical solo pieces, but not in performance.
- Play in a jazz rhythm section from chord symbols.
- Jazz improvisation.

Things I'm not interested in, on any time-scale:
- Playing very difficult classical solo pieces.
- Playing pop music.
- Performing solo at any level.

I'm well aware that there is a *lot* of work needed to get anywhere near achieving any of this. It's taken me a lot of hard graft, and a lot of soul-searching, to get where I am now musically, and I'm not daunted by the task. One aspect I am keen to emphasise is to avoid my past mistakes. I have spent too much time practising trombone technique, and not enough time practising musicianship (sight-reading, playing by ear, improvisation etc.), and my limited practice time must be spent principally in maintaining technique and muscle strength. I want this to be a primary focus from day one, partly because I would far rather be a pianist with strong musicianship and limited technique than the converse, and partly in the hope that musicianship on piano will transfer onto trombone without much extra practice.

This is a long post, and I apologise for that, but it is necessary background for the following questions:

- Are the above goals realistic for me?
- How many years is this likely to take?
- Is this the best time to start?
- Can anyone recommend a suitable teacher in Oxfordshire or (at a pinch) London?

Thanks!

[aslanov]

I'm 28, and did no music at school. Took up trombone at age 20, now play to a good standard in several mid- to high-end amateur orchestras. Took up singing at 23, less seriously, am a competent solo/choral classical singer. I have no aspirations towards earning a living from music, though my SO is a postgrad at music college, so I know a lot of people who do - had I started when they did then it would be a realistic option.

I've always said that I would take up piano when the time is right. I think this time is now. I'd like to make sure that this is a good idea, and that my goals are realistic. I am interested in classical, opera, jazz, and show music.

Due to my living arrangements, I am unable to practise trombone more than once a week (and that with a practice mute), and I have no immediate urge to work more seriously on my singing.  Getting an electric piano with headphones would give me a realistic expectation of practising 3-5 times a week. I'm an experienced enough musician to have a strong idea of what sort of pianist I would like to be.

I would very much like to able to do the following on piano (eventually...):
- Sight-read accompaniment or pit-orchestra parts sufficiently well to play all the music on sight, if not all the notes.
- Play, or play accompaniments to, songs/pieces that I am familiar with, by ear, in any key, on demand. Again, to play all the music if not all the notes.
- Sing and play piano together.

Things I'd like to do, but not as a priority:
- Have sufficient keyboard skills to be able to move into amateur conducting/MDing in, say, 10 years' time. I have stage-directed a number of musicals/operas, and am aware of what it takes to be an MD; this is a role which will suit me very well when I have the remaining necessary skills.
- Be able to knock out a few classical solo pieces, but not in performance.
- Play in a jazz rhythm section from chord symbols.
- Jazz improvisation.

Things I'm not interested in, on any time-scale:
- Playing very difficult classical solo pieces.
- Playing pop music.
- Performing solo at any level.

I'm well aware that there is a *lot* of work needed to get anywhere near achieving any of this. It's taken me a lot of hard graft, and a lot of soul-searching, to get where I am now musically, and I'm not daunted by the task. One aspect I am keen to emphasise is to avoid my past mistakes. I have spent too much time practising trombone technique, and not enough time practising musicianship (sight-reading, playing by ear, improvisation etc.), and my limited practice time must be spent principally in maintaining technique and muscle strength. I want this to be a primary focus from day one, partly because I would far rather be a pianist with strong musicianship and limited technique than the converse, and partly in the hope that musicianship on piano will transfer onto trombone without much extra practice.

This is a long post, and I apologise for that, but it is necessary background for the following questions:

- Are the above goals realistic for me?
- How many years is this likely to take?
- Is this the best time to start?
- Can anyone recommend a suitable teacher in Oxfordshire or (at a pinch) London?

Thanks!

well depending on how well u pick up this knowledge of the piano, it may take a long time, OR, A VERY LONG time.

seeing as how you have a background in music, you should have no trouble learning to site read pretty quickly, you just have to train yourself to know where the ntoes on the keyboard are, which is very easy. may i suggest starting to practice with some Czerny studies, its very helpful for your fingers and site reading.
i did those for a while, on my own, and a year later i can sight read reasonably well for my time of practice.