Hi, I'm new here

[enjru]

Hello, I'm Enjru and I'm a new member here. I'm already in my 40's and I want to recommence practising the piano seriously again. I'm hoping to hear if any other people have been through this kind of mid-life crisis and what kind of succress you've had. I'm looking forward to learning and re-learning a lot here. Thanks!

[cagal]

Hi Enju,

I think you will find quite a few of us here! I am in my mid-forties and came back to playing about a year ago after a 25 year hiatus with a goal of completing my RCM Grade 10 and on to ARCT after that.  Patience is the key.  I could not even play a decent C major scale at first and was very skeptical about my chances.  However, after a year, things are MUCH better.  I have becom quite proficient at Mozart Sonata in Eflat major K282 (two-thirds memorized), Schubert Moment Musical Op94/No.2 and Bach Fantasia in C minor.  I also memorized Back French Suite No. 5 Allemande and learned the Gigue (although I have to admit I am putting that one on the back burner - it's just not coming to me) and also mostly memorized Debussy Arabesque 1 (another relegated to back burner - it was my first piece after returning and I think it just isn't suiting my strengths).  In reality, I needed the year to rebuild technical skills and remember ornamentation.  After almost leaving my first lesson in tears, I can play pretty much any scale in any format.  I admit that my practice time is limited.  At this age, family and career are very pressing, but I do try to fit at minimum of an hour a day in.  Oh yeah, and I started guitar lessons last week to kill the half hour my son takes his lesson.  I guess I decided I don't have enough challenges in life LOLOL. 

Sorry this reply is so long.  Welcome to the forum and welcome back to piano!

[zillybug]

Hi Enjru,
  Welcome
I also returned to the piano about 11 months ago. I am in my sixties and the last time I had a lesson was over 45 years ago in college. I had not touched a piano in over 35 years. In fact, I  did not even remember how to read the bass cleff.  I had spent a couple of months teaching myself how to read music again.  I started with the Alfred Level 1 and 2 Beginner books and did them on my own in about 2 months. Then I tried to start playing some easier classical pieces. At that time, I realized I needed a teacher. if you can manage it, I highly recommend finding a good teacher. I would suggest that you talk to the teacher and communicate that you want to be serious as all adults do not want that.  At my age I definitely have to work more on technique that when I was young. These fingers  don't always want to do what I want them to do. I am now playing pieces that are grades 5 to 6 and I am so happy I started playing again. You can definitely do it in your forties. I work 4 days a week and my children are all adults so I have the luxury of having plenty of time to practice. Good luck and enjoy the piano.

[enjru]

Hi cagal and zillybug,

Thanks for your welcomes, your encouragement and for sharing your experiences with me! You've given me plenty of hope to keep pursuing my goal. I've actually not completely stopped playing the piano for any more that maybe one year here and another year there. I started lessons from maybe when I was 4 years old and had formal lessons up until my mid-20's. I was only ever a low-level amateur piano player. The most demanding pieces I could play were probably some longer Chopin pieces like his Scherzo in B flat minor, his Barcarolle or his Polonaise in A flat Op. 53. I can still play the Scherzo reasonably, but the Barcarolle now sounds more like the Pirates of Penzance and the left hand octaves in the Polonaise are sounding more like The Rite Of Spring. I've kept up playing the piano every now and then at the church and also I've been playing the pipe organ there regularly, but I've only learnt a very undemanding repertoire for the pipe organ. It must be years since I last practised a scale or arpeggio. Oh well, I'll have plenty of time to catch up - I'm sure I'll be able to practise 3 to 6 hours a day for 5 to 6 days a week.