I don'nt have a gage...

[elbert]

I am a two year student. I have finished the 3 books of the Hanon studies. I am now doing the Clementi studies. I am just finishing the second lesson according to my instructor. These lessons jumb around instead of staying in sequence. I hardly have time for new pieces with Clementi and I practice about 20 hours a week. I have finished  the piece by Chopen, Prelude in E Minor and Scriabin's Nocturne in A Flat Major...McDowell's To a Wild Rose and a few others. I guess I am filling bogged down right now. I am with the only instructor I know. Who I think is great. I don'nt know any other students except very young kids. I am 53 and don'nt have 40 years to learn to play. However I still don'nt think I am anywhere close to saying "I can play The Piano". My instructor doesn'nt say you are doing great or not even ok. Then comes the next long hard lesson. Is this just Piano or is it I am a late starter. Where am I? Can you help.

[Bob]

There are always harder pieces out there.  I haven't found the end yet.  Yet, haha.  There is no end. 

Clementi sonatinas?  In two years?  That sounds like decent progress to me.

[elbert]

Thanks Bob, That is somehow what I mean. It seems I'm learning how to do lots of exercises and studies and yet no real clear understanding. I keep thinking I will wake up one day and it will all make sence.
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[scottmcc]

you seem to be progressing well.  the problem as I see it (and I could certainly be wrong), is that I have no idea of what your goals are. what pieces would you like to be able to play?  what musical styles interest you?  within each genre are pieces at just about any level, and you can surely find something that you find enjoyable with a little searching.  from your initial post, it seems like you didn't really connect with any of the pieces you have played so far. 

for instance...I really enjoy beethoven and bach.  much of their repertoire is very, very difficult, far beyond my skill level.  but they both composed a number of fun, easier pieces which I am enjoying while developing my skills, sometimes contained within larger works.  For instance, Beethoven op 13 (the very famous pathetique sonata) has a challenging first and 3rd mvt, but the adagio cantabile is much more reasonable, and almost everyone likes it  . 

most off, while exercises are useful (and I consider most of the clementi sonatinas to be exercises, even if they are masquerading as music), let real, honest music be the center of your playing!

[soitainly]

 A good measurement of where you are as a player is to find a piece you really like, something that is easy for you to play technically, and really work on the musicality. Then record yourself and evaluate what you like about your playing. This helps in many ways, first it forces you to focus on getting a good performance and recording, it gives you a goal. Listen to see if you like your sound, your dynamics, your tempo and rhythm. Does your own playing give you an emotional response? Use this as a tool to improve your ability to listen to yourself objectively.

 I am saying this because ultimately you have to be the judge of what your are trying to achieve as a musician. Teachers, other students, friends, audience members, and critics can help in judging your music, but in the end you have to have your own conviction on what you are going to play like, and what you need to do to improve.