How to continue my learning?

[sp_mag]

I graduated from high school, and for a month now im not taking any piano lessons nor learning music in school as i was used to for the last ten or so years.
Learning the piano was a significant element of my life and my day routine and though i definitely appreciate the spare time i miss it very much and honestly im confused about how to continue my learning. is it really possible to keep learning and improving without a teacher or other guidance?
I don't know whether some of you who graduated school faced the same problem but i am clueless about which pieces should i learn and how.
I've tried some pieces that i like since: chopin nocturne 9'2 and ballade no 4, schumann and grieg piano concerti. but i just felt unmotivated to keep learning and was tired of the pieces shortly after i started.
Can someone give me a good advice maybe from your own experience about learning "solo"?
Cause my worst fear is to stop playing and eventually lose it.
Thanks

[toolsche]

I had only lessons for some years before I graduated and after that had no time, no instrument and stopped for about 15 years to play at all. 4 months ago I bought me a digital piano and started to learn "solo" again. I try to find easy pieces or arrangements of pieces suited for my level that I definitely want to play.

Ask yourself why you feel unmotivated shortly after you start learning a new piece. You had ten years of lessons. You learned a lot of new pieces and obviously didn't feel like that when you had a teacher. Do you miss the advice on how to handle difficult spots in the pieces? Do you miss having tasks set by the teacher? What kept you motivated before you stopped lessons?

If you can answer these questions, maybe you find out what you can do to keep you motivated:

• Maybe you have to set yourself goals when learning a new piece.
• Possibly you need to create challenging exercises for yourself which keep you motivated.
• Try to record your playing (easier if you have a digital piano) so you can check how your playing sounds.

I'm no teacher, so maybe there is someone out there who can give you better advice.

[awesom_o]

Dear sp_mag,

I would love to help you with continuing your learning! Working on your own, without a teacher.... welcome to 'real life' as a musician!

I have a few questions to ask you. The more truthful your answers, the better I will be able to assist you!

1. How is your reading? You mentioned that your repertoire includes some sizable pieces, by notable composers.

2. How well do you know the scales in formula pattern? Can you play all major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, in formula pattern, with the hands separated by a 3rd, 6th, and 8th? If you are unfamiliar with the the term 'formula pattern', it refers to this:

3. How comfortable are you with improvisation? (not specifically jazz... just free improvisation)

4. How far have you progressed in the study of music theory? Have you passed the advanced-level examinations in harmony and counterpoint?

5. Do you compose?

I await your answers!

[sp_mag]

I had only lessons for some years before I graduated and after that had no time, no instrument and stopped for about 15 years to play at all. 4 months ago I bought me a digital piano and started to learn "solo" again. I try to find easy pieces or arrangements of pieces suited for my level that I definitely want to play.

Ask yourself why you feel unmotivated shortly after you start learning a new piece. You had ten years of lessons. You learned a lot of new pieces and obviously didn't feel like that when you had a teacher. Do you miss the advice on how to handle difficult spots in the pieces? Do you miss having tasks set by the teacher? What kept you motivated before you stopped lessons?

If you can answer these questions, maybe you find out what you can do to keep you motivated:

• Maybe you have to set yourself goals when learning a new piece.
• Possibly you need to create challenging exercises for yourself which keep you motivated.
• Try to record your playing (easier if you have a digital piano) so you can check how your playing sounds.

I'm no teacher, so maybe there is someone out there who can give you better advice.

Thanks, great questions i'll think about it

Dear sp_mag,

I would love to help you with continuing your learning! Working on your own, without a teacher.... welcome to 'real life' as a musician!

I have a few questions to ask you. The more truthful your answers, the better I will be able to assist you!

1. How is your reading? You mentioned that your repertoire includes some sizable pieces, by notable composers.

2. How well do you know the scales in formula pattern? Can you play all major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, in formula pattern, with the hands separated by a 3rd, 6th, and 8th? If you are unfamiliar with the the term 'formula pattern', it refers to this:

3. How comfortable are you with improvisation? (not specifically jazz... just free improvisation)

4. How far have you progressed in the study of music theory? Have you passed the advanced-level examinations in harmony and counterpoint?

5. Do you compose?

I await your answers!

First, thanks for your attentive comment! About your questions:

1.My reading is quite well I guess, I can sight-read simple pieces and generally it doesn't take me too much time to read and memorize a piece

2.I practiced few scales in formula pattern and with separated hands like you described, but just a few, I definitely don't master all the scales that way.

3 .I really enjoy improvising both free improvisation and Jazz. Sometimes I'm even really satisfied with the results.

4.I've passed my school's final exams in music theory and harmony and got A in both. However, the level of music theory taught in my school is insufficient and very low compared to the knowledge required from a conservatory graduate. I have never learned counterpoint and not
advanced harmony.

5.I tried composing a few times but have not succeeded, I wish learned some basics in composing.

[awesom_o]

It seems you are well-qualified to be your own teacher, judging from your answers to these questions!

I recommend you work to improve your reading ability. You should be able to read intermediate pieces with a high level of artistic finish, with virtually no mistakes. You should be able to read advanced pieces with a decent level of artistic finish, with few mistakes, even if it means going a bit slower than actual performance tempo (sometimes a lot slower, depending upon the complexity of the score). With intermediate pieces, you should be able to read more-or-less in actual performance tempo, right away.

One of the best ways to improve in this regard (other than reading everything you can find on your own) is to get a duet partner, and begin exploring the vast 4 hand repertoire.

Seek to master the scales in formula pattern. This will also help you with reading! Do NOT neglect melodic minor, as this one is the most challenging to execute in formula pattern.

Fantastic that you are comfortable with improvisation! Improvise regularly!

Study counterpoint and advanced harmony. If you can find a course, that would be great.... if you can't, do it on your own. Haydn taught himself using the Fuchs textbook.... it is still in use today in conservatoires!

In most cases, people only 'succeed' in composing long after they are dead! Keep trying. Bartok said that composition CANNOT be taught.

In my opinion, it can only be learned!

Share your work in the audition room! I'm excited to hear  the fruits of your labour!

[sp_mag]

Thank you so much for the valuable tips!