After 15 years I am retaking the piano studies

[klaviertraum]

I had started too late at age 15. It was an inspirational evening listening to Earl Wild recordings (Rach 2, the Paganini Variations, Liszt, Chopin, Saint Saens and others) and the next day I was sitting at my aunt's piano, teaching my self how to read scores and to play piano. Eventually, I got a teacher learned quickly and I did not stop playing for the next 7 years. My playing weighted expression as I have considered my fingers to speak better than my words and a technique sufficient to get around a few demanding works. I stopped because of a saturation episode and due to pressure at College (I was studying science). I tried to come back to the keyboard a number of times, never succeeded really. Now after 15 years I feel I do want to do it, I adore music I hope I can catch up and play the music I dreamed I could. Sorry if I do not post any question or insight for you guys, I felt I just needed to write it down.

Cheers,

G.

[awesom_o]

I'm overjoyed to hear you are interested in coming back to your musical studies!

It sounds to me like you need to study creative improvisation!

[klaviertraum]

I'm overjoyed to hear you are interested in coming back to your musical studies!

It sounds to me like you need to study creative improvisation!

Creative improvisation like jazz?. Would you elaborate please?

[awesom_o]

Creative improvisation like jazz?. Would you elaborate please?

Jazz is a very advanced style of improvised music. I don't recommend it as a starting point for beginner improvisers.

It is much better to begin studying jazz with considerable classical improvisational studies under your belt....

[beebert]

What do you mean started "too late" at 15? Too late for what? Who has proved to you that 15 is too late? The only proof for 15 being too late is that no person believes in him self enough too prove people they are wrong. 15 is not too late; only reason people say so is because they are too small minded too explore the world given to them. Think about it; if you were never in contact with any culture, institution or tradition telling you that 15 is too late, I doubt that you would even consider 15 being too late; you would definately see that it is not.

[awesom_o]

It's never too late to become a virtuoso, if you study using the right methods!

[klaviertraum]

I agree beebert, otherwise I would not have carried on playing by then, despite the generalized views and comments from teachers and (much younger and technically better) peers. I would not be thinking to do so now, 15 years later when I'm much older. My advantage is, I feel no pressure/obsession to become a concert pianist as I have a profession that pays the bills and see it rather like a personal but very important goal. Where there is a will there is a way!
 
I'll post a few recordings as soon as they are ready

Cheers,
G.  

[awesom_o]

Do you want to become a composer?

[klaviertraum]

By now I think more of becoming an interpreter than an a composer. It´s funny you mentioned improvisation above since I kind of like playing spontaneously whatever comes to my mind a given moment: putting chords together in sequences, series, resolving them, adding melodies, making variations, etc. I lack though formal training in harmony.

It seems you are a very good composer awesom_o, I enjoyed your Allegretto no. 1 posted in the Auditions room.

 

[awesom_o]

Thanks.

Remember, all composers started out as aspiring interpreters.

Improvisation really helped them to get from being accomplished interpreters to being accomplished composers.