I'd love to hear about your experiences

[fur_elise]

Hi everyone,

I’m a new member here to the forum and I’d like to introduce myself.

My name is Elise. I started taking piano lessons when I was 9 years old and I’ve completed the practical examinations for grades 1, 3, 5, and 7. I’ve also participated and competed in local music festivals and competitions. My greatest accomplishment in music has been the ability to learn (on my own) and play Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin, a grade 9 piece. It is absolutely my favourite piece to play.

Four years ago, I had to stop taking piano lessons with my teacher of almost 10 years because I was moving away to university. Over the past four years, a lot of reading and studying for school was taking up almost all my time and left barely any real time for me to really practice piano regularly on my Yamaha P-70/P-70S.

Now graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, I can finally get back into doing what I love on a regular basis. That is, making music. Not only that, but I’ve decided that I would love to launch a small business related to music and piano. This is where I need your help.

I’d really like to hear about some of your experiences with music and piano, so I can find ways to provide what you need in the easiest and most convenient ways possible. I’d be very grateful if some of you would take the time to answer a couple simple questions for my research:

1. What tools or information have you had the hardest time finding?

2. What one thing would make your hobby more fun?

3. What’s your biggest gripe about the suppliers you currently buy from? (No names, please—this isn’t a “bash the other guys” session, but a serious fact-finding mission I need help with.)

4. What one thing do you like most about the supplier you currently buy from most often? (Again—no names—this isn’t an advertising session, either.)

Feel free to stick to one-word answers or elaborate as much as possible. I’m sure other members would also be interested in what others have to say as well.

Thanks to all in advance!

Elise

[kapsaicin]

hi elise,
your story reads very close to mine. i stopped at 7, gave it away, went to university, travelled the world and now i am getting back into playing consistently again. i too am thinking about a career change and focusing on piano to teach, compose and perform. can you please clarify what you mean about a "small business related to music and piano." do you mean teaching, performing, tuning, selling grand pianos or piano moving?

[jgallag]

No offense, but I think you're looking at it from the wrong angle. I know all of these questions are very important, from a business point of view, and that's obviously your specialty. But they're not important (save for question 2) in large scheme of things. As kapsiacin has asked, you haven't given us your purpose, which should be No. 1 in your mind. I'm in progress for a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education with piano as my instrument. My first concern is to teach. Yes, I want to perform, too, as I love to play, but the first thing I want to do when I settle down is open a studio. I'd also like to teach high school, but piano is my top priority. Yes, all those other details are hairy, but it seems for all the teacher's I've encountered they simply fall into place in the process. As for your questions about suppliers, I like mine's willingness to order any sheet music they don't have in stock and their large selection. Gripes? It's an hour and and fifteen minutes drive to get there, but it's the only one around (They mail stuff, though, so it's okay). You'd think living around Albany, New York, there might be more, but alas... Question 1 would definitely be a world-class teacher to show me the skills necessary to play anything I want and to play it well. It costs me $40,000 a year for that one, and I had to do an audition to get there.

Okay, question 2: I'm not sure I would call it a hobby anymore, as I get graded on it and someday I'll get a degree for it, but the one thing that would make my hobby more fun is a nice baby grand piano. Right now I'm practicing on a digital Casio Privia, because my dad sleeps during the day, but I think have a baby grand would be nice anyway, even if I couldn't play it all the time.

[go12_3]

I think that the questions being asked by fur_elise are confusing to say the least.  My experiences has nothing to do with *hobby* nor *a supplier* nor *what tools or information*.....I mean, I use piano books from a music store in my hometown, for the pieces I am learning.  Music isn't a hobby, it's my life and I teach piano which is fulfilling for me.  I practice the pieces that are challenging and helps me to stretch my technique and yet I enjoy a variety of pieces from classical to jazz to contemporary. And it's not just piano;  I sing, play violin and guitar.   Anyhow, I may not have exactly *answered* the questions, but music is an ongoing experience ever since I was a little girl.

best wishes,

go12_3

[nearenough]

F.E. should amplify this trial balloon.

[keyofc]

1. What tools or information have you had the hardest time finding?

Easy music for beginners in all 24 keys.  Most method books only do C, G, F, D
Bb if you're lucky.

2. What one thing would make your hobby more fun?
Not a hobby - but it would be more fun if the community
opened up more opportunites for students to participate on a regular
basis - like in churches, stores, restaurants, etc.