Getting Back into Piano/Finding a Teacher (London)

[mayerling]

Hello  ,

I haven't played the piano for a long time. I played from the ages of three to fifteen and went through my Associated Board grades etc. When I was fifteen, I left school with ill health and left piano behind too. I never consciously quit, but there was a lot going on in my life and days became weeks which became months...by the time I realised that it had been years I was too apprehensive to start again, as I didn't want to face how rusty I had become. I've spent probably twice that time wanting to start again but doing nothing! Even though I haven't played for years, I've always still considered myself as a pianist, because it was so ingrained in my childhood, if that makes sense. I've never considered that I wouldn't play again.

Now I'm twenty-two, and I've only just started picking at the piano again in recent weeks, just doing some scales and things. It was very painful at first but it's coming back quickly, and I'm currently working on Chopin's 34/1, Schubert's 90/1, and the first of Ravel's Valses nobles et sentimentales.

So, I have two issues:

Firstly, though I had some vague ideas about just playing some pieces that I liked for fun, it's become quickly clear that I'm going to need a teacher again. I really would like to go on to do my DipABRSM eventually. I don't know how to go about finding a reputable teacher, though - I don't know anybody that plays anymore so I can't just ask them about their teachers. I don't want to go just pulling names out of the yellow pages. Where should I start? What sort of rates are reasonable today?

Secondly, I was a VERY lazy student - I suppose it's pretty common to just take things for granted at that age. I rarely practised. My teacher at the time thought that I could have been very good, but there was just no application. I suppose it's too late now to capitalise on whatever little natural talent I may or may not have had, but I'm at least doing my best to counteract all the laziness. I never learnt to count. As in, I know the values of the notes and what various time signatures mean, but when I'm playing a piece, I don't count the beats at all, I just play it (nowadays I know the pieces, back in the day I just mimicked my teacher). My sight-reading is accordingly rubbish, and it's just something I want to fix in general but I don't know how to even start. I've also forgotten almost all of my theory, which I griped about having to learn in the first place (I know, I must have been a joy to teach!). Can anybody recommend me a good theory book, and any exercises to fix my bad habits and just for getting back into things in general?

Sorry about the life history, it's just a bit of an odd situation and I thought some people on here might have advice that I wouldn't have thought to ask for directly!

[pytheamateur]

I just came across your post by a random search.  Hope it's not too late.

In terms of website you can try

www.musicteachers.co.uk

or https://www.ism.org/

I think you are spoilt for choice in London.  If I'm looking for a teacher now, I'd probably consider the following: Brenda Lucas Ogdon (https://brendalucasogdon.com/) (she's John Ogdon's widow), Graham Fitch (https://grahamfitch.com/).  Also, I have heard a lot of good things about Philip Fowke, who teaches at Trinity but is very keen on teaching amateurs.

Also you may want to get in touch with the piano department at Guildhall.  They are very friendly and helpful.  They can get you in touch with their professors or their graduate piano students.

In terms of fees, if you are looking for a professor from a music college, it will cost at least £80 an hour.  If it's a graduate student, then probably £30 an hour.