New member here with a couple questions.

[bioandy]

Hello everyone,

Just found this website and signed up for membership. From what I can see this looks like a great source of information.

As my first post, I have a couple questions that maybe some seasoned pianists could answer.

As some background information. I am currently 32 years old. I played piano for 2 years when I was a child, along with the flute and singing. I then DJ'd professionaly for about 10 years (underground, nightclubs etc..), while I was developing software as my day job.

About a year ago, I quit all of it as I heard the calling of the piano again. I'm fortunate enough that with the software I created I am able to now dedicate myself to piano, anytime for any length of time I wish.

So I started lessons 2x a week about a year ago. I was practicing very hard for 6 months (up to 8 hours a day, in 2 hour blocks.) until I got a wrist injury from working out.

I spent the next 5 months rehabilitating my wrist, and finally, slowly working my strength and endurance back up on the piano.

I am now full swing again, and pickup lessons with my previous teacher again next month. She is great, plays with the symphony and challenges me every lesson.

My question is in terms of practice until I'm once again having lessons. I just wanted to see some comments if there is something better I could be doing.

Here is my daily routine - After each block, I take a 15-30 minute break.

45 Min Scales
45 Min. Technical Work (Dozen a day etc.)
45 Min. Free Play
45 Min. Bach 2 Part Inventions
45 Min. Sightreading
45 Min. New Piece (currently Beethoven's moonlight sonata, 1st movement)
45 Min. Scales
45 Min. Technical Work
45 Min. Free Play
45 Min. Bach Inventions
45 Min. Sightreading
45 Min. New Piece again.

Ends up being around 9 hours or so. I made up this schedual, as my previous one took me to about 6 hours, but I just ended up playing 9 or so hours anyway.

I focus on sightreading, as that is my weak spot. I'm a memorizer, so bad in fact that after playing through a piece once, I no longer need the sheet music.

I find that 45 minutes is the sweet spot for me. It keeps my mind from drifting, and focused on the task at hand. I have to set an alarm clock though or else time just fly's by. The short sessions with breaks in-between is also good for my wrist, as I still worry about it.

So with the above play schedual, is there anything else I should be doing. Replacing one of the items above with something else? Just maybe something I had not thought of.

On another note, I'm really excited as in a couple weeks I finally get to start playing on my own piano in the house. I'm currently using a newer yamah digital piano (88 weighted keys). Just trying to decide if I should purchase the Boston UP-126-PE, or go with the Steinway Model 1098.

I'm sure some of you will say, why practice so much, and other may say "I wish I had that kind of time to practice that much".

My goal is not to be some high end concerto pianists. I just want to go as far as my ability and hard work will take me. If it takes me there, then so be it. If not, then nothing was wasted, as I'm doing this for my love of the music and piano.

There is no greater ecstasy than having the piano and your soul singing in unison together.

Anyway, sorry for the long first post. I'm looking forward to conversing with the people of this board. I have a few other questions about recording and such, but will save those for another day.

[keyboardclass]

45 minute sessions is the secret.  Quite how many a day is still unrevealed.

[birba]

All I can say is "wow".  I wish I had your drive and ambition.  With your input, you can't help but reaping benefits.  I'm just curious as to what "free play" means.  Is that improvisation?  Piano and music are evidently your calling.  Don't worry so much about sight-reading.  I mean, it's nice if you can, but lots of pros aren't that good at sight-reading.  Alfred Brendel is one.  I'll be curious to hear about your progress!

[bioandy]

Thanks for the comments. Nice to meet you two.

When I free play, it's basically playing pieces I have already learned and enjoy. One thing I really dislike doing but my teacher would insist on me doing (but I understand why), is working on 3 pieces a week. Playing them to the best of my ability and then moving on. If I struggle on one, or a piece of one we will keep it until the next week.

Free play gives me a chance to perfect the pieces I enjoy as much as I can. I think it's absolute for me to do this.

Bascially when I'm learning my 3 pieces a week. I learn the keys, the rythem and some of the dynamics etc... But doing that never really gives me the chance to hmm... how to put, add the emotional side to the piece. The silences along with the music that make the piece whole.

Hard to explain! Anyway, free play lets me do that. It's also just a chance to unwind, mess around a bit etc..

[alessandro]

Welcome bioandy,

I don't understand the program.   (you created software and now you have time for the piano ; I think you can put your teeth into something).   But I don't understand the program, it sounds weird, to me.

My goal is not to be some high end concerto pianists. I just want to go as far as my ability and hard work will take me. If it takes me there, then so be it.

"If it takes me there..." you say ("Where" is that exactly ?) "...then so be it" ? What do you mean ? "Getting somewhere" doesn't sound like a an accomplishment, but sounds here like ambition for the sake of ambition.   I do not understand.  

There is no greater ecstasy than having the piano and your soul singing in unison together.

This, on the contrary, I do understand a little bit better.   Though I wouldn't use the word ecstasy myself, joy is fine enough (for me

I would advise you to walk at least two hours in nature.   And also rest during the day.   These breaks are too short to do something consistently.   Maybe it is the discipline in the program that suits you, but the time that it absorbs is too much for me.   How do you eat ? Do you carefully grow or choose your food and prepare it with love ? Do you let slip in some other form of art in your program (is there any place for 'other' music, figurative arts, literature)  or perhaps a good newspaper article once in a while (though this latter is discussable).   Do you once in a while have serious relaxation, rest ? Is there any place for boredom, that's it, do you still have some time left to feel a little bit bored ? I do think that there is too much organisation in this program, it sounds too rigid for me, BUT I wish you all the best with all my heart.   But don't scare me off, bioandy, I'm just hoping that you are not heading towards a severe midlife crisis or a depression that is not necessarily linked to the piano, but just to the fact that it could be a little bit dangerous to try to mould time too much.   Please, leave some space and time for the unexpected.  

Very kind greetings and success with your project.

[bioandy]

Hi Allessandro,

Thanks for the comments.

I'm not sure what you mean by the first comment. Bascially all I was saying is that I used to do software development, created my own products, and now am fortunate enough to no longer have any need to do that, and as a result can devote the time I used to work, onto the piano.

Were it 5 years ago, I would have only been able to devote a couple hours a day to the piano, due to work. But now, that's not the case.

I'm really not sure what you mean by the program?

As far as the second comment. I basically meant, that if all my joy, devotion, hardwork etc... on the piano makes me a top end piano performer that would be great.
And if it does not, I'm just as happy being able to play to the best of *my ability.

I do have accomplishments and goals, I just did not want to list them out and make an already long 1st post even longer. I do plan on taking the graded exams. I would love to eventually teach children. I currently have a BA in computer engineering, but already looking around at schools in my area that offer musical instruction / degrees. (Yikes... more school!)

As far as the last comment, yea I do have a life:) I'm awake at 5am and in bed by 10 or 11pm. So usually 16-17 hours in my day. Married with 2 small children and just found out last week a 3rd on the way! I'm lucky enough to have a very supportative family in regards to my piano playing. My wife is home all day as well, so that helps alot that neither one of us are away at work. I do get outside as well, usually walk a mile a day with our dog.

Anyway, enough of my life and justification that I do in fact have one outside of piano:)

To your comment about being so structured. Apparently I'm the opposite of you. If i just sit down and play, and not plan my practice time it ends up being not very productive.

But with a checklist you might say, a well structured plan. I find that I get so much done, through my intense, focused sessions.

And yes, I pretty much plan out most things. Just the way my brain ticks. People always tell me I would have adjusted well to the military becuase like them, there is a time for everything

Thanks again for the comments. Hope this clarifies some things for you.

[candlelightpiano]

Welcome to PS!  My goodness!  WOW!!  What a workout!  I wish I had your discipline, focus, endurance, ambition, etc., etc., etc. And how nice to have such a supportive family and to be able to do this and not have to work.  Lots of people would be envious!  Looks like you're on the right track.  You're on a better track than me, anyway, as I don't have your ambition and I'd be satisfied if I accomplished a lot less.  You'll learn a lot from this forum - I did - and meet a lot of extremely talented individuals here who are also incredibly dedicated (that does not include me, unfortunately).  And most of all, you'll have lots of fun here and enjoy this "family."  Pianostreet is my favorite street.

[birba]

 I wrote a suggestion for a new thread, but moved it to the audition room.

[zoecalgary]

Wow! Bioandy I am envious of your determination and your drive and all the time you can devote to piano!! I follow a similar schedule although each time slot is 5-10 minutes for technical work and 30-60 minutes on pieces. I usually get 1-2 hours a day practice though it varies often with the demands of 2 young children and family time.

When I decided to follow the graded exam process (Royal Conservatory in Canada) I created a checklist to work through all the technical requirements (an area in which I had gaps) and found it made my time productive and focused.

I really like how you incorporated all the free play time in daily practice. A very good idea indeed. Early in my prep for my exam I got so focused on exam Requirements I stopped doing this. The end result was so much tension at my lesson I could hardly do anything right and loss of motivation. I had lost my way and my focus and took a 2 month break to just play pieces again!! Now I am much more careful to keep free play into dAily play time and it keeps everything else focused and fun. Plus I am finding pieces that have elements of things I'm learning are easier to read through and learn and of course that is fun and gratifying.

 I too am early in my piano journey and enjoying every minute of it! Enjoy yours! Sounds like this is what you were meant to do! You will like it here! Many fine folks to share your passion with and to learn from. Good luck!

[roseamelia]

Hello and welcome to the forum. My name is roseamelia or you could call me Rose.

[bioandy]

Thanks for all the great comments. Nice to meet you all.

Zoecalgary, that is what im working towards as well, the graded exams. I picked up awhile ago the piano syllabus working from the royal conservatory of music.

My teacher has me sort of nervous saying that my first exam will be grade 4 or 5 in a couple months...

After only 6 months of piano playing, and hearing from others that most grades take a year or so to work through, I'm not feeling very confident

Especially for my first exam. I might talk to her and say I want to do a couple grades below my ability for the first one, just to work out any first time kinks. The whole exam process has me a little nervous heh

[zoecalgary]

Bioandy - I am going to be taking my grade 4 RCM exam in April. When I first mentioned exams to my teacher last summer she suggested we start at grade 2. But after a month of me working on things on my own through the summer she suggested I skip ahead to the grade 4 or 5 exam when I went back in the fall.  We settled on grade 4. At first I was worried because the pieces looked so much more difficult but now I believe I am ready for the most part to tackle this. 

After awhile I was fairly comfortable with the pieces but it was getting a handle on the technical requirements that made me want to push my exam to April as opposed to this past January. Also, I didn't want to feel stressed through the Christmas holidays and I wanted to play some 'fun' pieces.   My teacher strongly suggested I do the exam in January but I am glad I delayed. However, I must say that I can see her logic too. I would have to 'maintain' pieces longer (or learn other ones). I chose to learn other pieces that I could also use for my exam so I didn't get bored or go crazy. Now I am ready. The biggest thing that could work against me is my nerves. I get nervous even just playing for my teacher most times! (though I am working to conquer this!).  I was told the exam itself takes about 15 minutes.

If I do grade 5 (which I really plan to) I may consider doing it in January this time around. If I pass the grade 4 I'll basically start grade 5 now and not feel the time pressure through the busy month of december.

I'm guessing you will be fine at the level your teacher suggests with all of that practicing you are doing.  I think you will know if you are ready for the exam.  I think for kids it takes about a year per grade but dedicated adults or kids can move through the exam faster my teacher said. A couple of her high school students started their Grade 8 RCM requirements last September and were to do the exam this past January. Wow!  My teacher says you'll get back what you put in! You're putting in more practice in a day than most people get over 1 -3 weeks! Kids these days can be so busy with various activities they probably only do half hour to an hour each day at most.  But we also just got to take our time and not rush. Things will come with time she says.

P.S. Though I started piano new in June of last year (so less than 1 year on piano), I did have about 5 years of playing the organ as a kid (oh getting close to 30 or so years ago now! haha!)

P.P.S. Sounds like we have similar backgrounds. I have 2 young children and my prior work was in IT. Though not as a programmer but as a systems analyst and project manager. Probably that's why we like structure/order/plans/ and the focus that the RCM exams bring!!! haha! :-)

I'd be interested to hear what grade you start at in RCM and how you progress through your studies. I find I am so restless and always wanting to tackle pieces way (waaay!) over my abilities. But I believe in the process of studies, etc. so I must just try to let time and practice do it's thing.

[ajspiano]

My teacher has me sort of nervous saying that my first exam will be grade 4 or 5 in a couple months...

After only 6 months of piano playing, and hearing from others that most grades take a year or so to work through, I'm not feeling very confident

With the amount of time you are putting in this is not unreasonable - 1 year to cover the exam in the lower grades is an extraordinarily long time. I think that that idea generally encompasses learning other non-exam material during that year, and that students are not pushing themselves more than 30-45 mins a day of practice - many are probably doing less than that.