How can I progress after 12 years of self teaching???

[nickyjlyons]

Hi everyone,

I've only just joined today and this is my first post so sorry if it's been asked before. Basically, I have been playing piano for 12 years, I'm 100% self taught. I can read music but can only sight read at a very basic level. I have good knowledge of  music theory after getting and A in music GSCE and music theory being one of the units on the Music Technology degree I'm currently studying for.

I'm personally quite impressed with my ability but when I think about it all I'm really doing is learning (sometimes quite complex) chord sequences and patterns and playing them in such a way that sounds impressive to the listener. I wish that I could improvise jazz, sight read classical etc

Do I start from scratch as if I couldn't play piano at all? Do I carry on as normal but practice scales every day? Do I start trying to learn grade 1 pieces and work my way up? Should I take lessons? Do you think I could essential "fast track" to becoming a 'real' pianist or would I have picked up so many bad habits over the years that I may as well be a beginner?

Sorry this is so long but I just want you guys to know my situation.

I hope you can help 

Cheers

Nick

[lostinidlewonder]

What kind of music can you play by memory? What kind of music can you sight read fluently? What kind of music are you most interested in learning?

I would start planning a sight reading practice routine and push the standard that you can fluently sight read. You will not regret improving this skill since you will be able to play music instantly without hours and hours of muscular memory practice. You can certainly train your reading skills to such a level that what you read can be played with full emotion and clarity as if you had it memorized and you should be demonstrating this every day to yourself by playing pieces that are at your reading capabilities.

Improvisation is a very experiential skill. You need to expose yourself to rhythm, beat, all sorts of musical tools and sounds, you need to listen to all sorts of styles, play a load of music yourself. Then when you look back on your journey and try to create something on your own you have all these tools you can draw from rather than feel totally lost. Some people specialize their improvisation skills into certain styles, in this case you would focus a lot of your listening time on these styles. Listening is very important and being able to try to recreate sounds you hear from within the minds eye to the hands. Start simple and develop.

I like to improvise without even knowing what I am doing, it is a fine exercise and should be certainly encouraged no matter what skill level you are at! You can produce very interesting results and it is a creative joy to be a part of, what music is really all about, and provides us with great freedom. You can certainly get lost in this world and I would suggest that you do not get too drunk from it and maintain your main focus on non improvisational content. I say this because I have come across several students who love only to improvise but it is pretty bad in my mind. They love doing it but it is just useless gibberish with no real hope for improvement if they don't start learning standard works and building a repertoire they can draw tools from.

Seek assistance from professional musicians you will not regret getting insight into how they work at music. You have developed your own learning craft and it is always good to fine tune it with professional advice. You may not even need a teacher every week and would only need once to monitor your progress and practicing/learning method. Good luck with your journey.

[keyboardclass]

Hate to say it but no doubt you're a bundle of bad habits.

[landru]

Hate to say it but no doubt you're a bundle of bad habits.

Unfortunately, the above may be correct. I also had a long history of self-teaching (20 years!) and just about every habit I picked up was in some fashion detrimental. The good things I picked up in the 20 years were 1) very proficient sight reading and 2) good chord technique.

Everything else I had to relearn with a good teacher who undertook to remake what I had into something - basic rhythm, solid sound, practice techniques, ornaments, fluid hands, memorizing, phrasing, variety of touches (staccato, legato etc.) - and those are the things *I* know, maybe my teacher has other things to say that I *didn't* recognize I needed!

That being said - like you I did have an advantage over a rank beginner because my ear and ease at the keyboard were very well developed - this will give you a good basis. A teacher who is flexible and work towards your strengths while firming up your weaknesses would be a great idea.

As far as improvisation - before my lessons I did have a rudimentary free improv style, but after 5 or so years of classical training with no improv my improvisations are much improved.

[keyboardclass]

...because face it, the teacher is showing you how to communicate.  You gonna learn that on your own?  Don't thnk so.

[dcstudio]

think about all the amazing things you were able to learn without a formal instructor.  Remember all the successful moments you've had--then--think about a pianist you don't like, figure out what you don't like about his music, and look at your own playing... this is what you need to fix....and teach yourself how to progress to a teacher and ask that teacher to help you fix that which needs fixing...   so many students come to me in just your predicament--but they don't know why they aren't progressing.   It will save you many dollars in lessons if you no what you need before you ask the teacher.   They may decide to focus elsewhere first, but at least they know why you are there.

[arctic_mama]

You may really benefit from a few months (if you absolutely cannot afford more) with a teacher, to help do some trouble shooting on what your strengths and weaknesses are, if nothing else, and correct some bad habits.  And yes, i'd pick up a few pieces in each grade level and work through them until you find material that is a little bit of a stretch but still very doable, and consider that your 'grade level' and work from there.

[dcstudio]

seriously, and I mean this kindly.  I have not yet met a student who was not painfully aware of every weakness they have.  They know each sour moment and exactly what happened.  They really don't need help determining their weaknesses. It is far more difficult for me to convince them that they are good at anything--but I never give up trying.  I am an optimist and I believe all of my students are incredibly talented no matter how much they may disagree with me.  ha ha ha I only have time to convince them they did it right, my lesson time is always over before I ever have time to tell them that they played anything "wrong."