Hello, I'm new here

[zillybug]

Hello everyone,
I joined piano street and have been reading the posts for a couple of months so I guess it's time to introduce myself. I recently returned to the piano and lessons after 45 years and started taking lessons again last winter. I will admit I was quite nervous about starting lessons again since my experience in college during my last semester was not a good one. My teacher who I had done so well with left to teach some place else at the end of my junior year. I had a different teacher for the first semester of my senior year, became discouraged and quit the piano in the middle of my senior year. This time I was very fortunate in finding an excellent teacher on my first try. I did wonder like others have mentioned on this forum if a teacher would take me seriously because of my age. I did tell him that I wanted to learn to play classical music again and was willing to do the work. He is very calm and patient but does have high expectations and seems to know when to push me. I am willing to practice but my lack of confidence definitely gets in the way.  The last time I had taken lessons was in college and I had not even touched a piano in over 35 years. In fact, a year ago, I did not remember how to read the bass clef and the treble was slow. I went through Level one and  two adult Alfred beginner books and taught myself to read music again. I then started to work on some easy classics and realized very quickly that I needed a teacher. Well, the reading came back fairly quickly but these fingers that are now 65 years old  are giving me problems playing fast, especially 16 note runs.  I have read many of the posts here, especially the ones by Bernhard, looking for ideas. My teacher already has me practicing them with the different rhythms ( slow, slow fast; fast, fast, slow, etc. as well as stacatto and at different speeds). Those are the suggestions that I have found on this forum.  We did start very slowly and tried to increase the tempo gradually but I cannot seem to get them at all fast or they become uneven and out of time. Anyone here have experience returning to the piano after so many years or any ideas on how to increase speed on 16 note runs.  I also do work on scales and Czerny. I do love the piano and typically practice about 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day.  Sorry this is so long.
Zillybug

[jimbo320]

Hi Zillybug,
Welcome to the forum. You sound as if all you need to do is practice practice practice...

[costicina]

Hi Zillybug,
welcome to this wonderful forum!!
I'm a re-stater like you (returned to piano after decades). It's hard at the beginning, but don't get discouraged 

If I may give you some advices: follow Bernhard's method/approach to the letter: it really works, and has done wonders for me!!!
Watch also the tutorial videos Birba made for some of us, they are veery helpful, rich of useful suggestions.
Many other members have posted precious advices, instructions, tips...in general, you'll find in this forum a precious resoruce. 
 Last, but not least    give up Czerny, please, it's a loss of time. Read what Bernhard write about it...
Good luck 
Margherita

[zillybug]

Hi Margherita,
Thanks for the welcome and encouragement. I am trying to follow Bernhard's advice on practicing and it has helped. I printed out his lesson on the first Bach invention and have been following it. I  am just now starting to put it together. At my age, I cannot memorize music as easily as when I was younger, and it took me 4 weeks to memorize it hands separately but I did it. I am now working on putting it together. The other things I am working on are a Kuhlau sonatina (that's the one with the 16th note runs), Chopin Polonaise in g minor,  a Mendelssohn Song without Words  (Consolation), Brahms Waltz, opus 39, no 15, and a duet of the Swan from Carnival of the animals. My teacher does let me pick out most of the music as he agrees with Bernhard that I should be playing music I love. I will sometimes ask him to suggest music that he feels will help me advance but he always asks if I like it. However, he assigned the Czerny so I cannot give it up. I have read what Bernhard wrote on it. At least he doesn't hate it as much as Hanon.

[cagal]

Hi Zillybug,

I also started back after a long time.  Just have patience and perseverance.  It has taken me a year to truly get back to form but I am always amazed that it did come back! When I had my first lesson a year ago, I almost left in tears as I could not play a simple C major scale.  Now I am pretty much able to do all of them with formula patterns, separated by thirds, sixths, staccato, legato etc.  Enjoy the fun of playing the piano and sense of accomplishemnt you will get as you progress.   I also have trouble memorizing - but that is coming back too!  Just not for Bach LOL.

[zillybug]

Hi Cagal,
 Thanks for the reply and encouragement. It is so nice to hear from others who have restarted after many years. I am enjoying it tremendously. I sometimes get really frustrated with myself but  my teacher is calm and keeps telling me I can do anything. I agree that the Bach is hard to memorize. I found the romantic era pieces much easier to memorize. They just seemed to come after enough practice. My teacher does not usually care if I memorize my pieces but he did want the Bach memorized hands separate at first. It does help when you put it together.
I am glad I found this forum as no one in my family or friends play the piano and they are probably tired of hearing me talk about it.
I am really excited. I just sent my registration in for Summerkeys in Maine. I am going the first session in June.
I have read a couple of reports on it and it sounds wonderful. Has anyone on this forum ever gone?
Have a great new year all.