Restarting the piano - how to proceed?

[iceblink]

I'm currently learning/relearning the piano, and am looking for some advice on how I should proceed.

My history with the piano is patchy - I played as a child and passed grades 1-3, and then stopped as I was not at the time fond of classical music and found the exams horribly nerve-wracking. My mother persuaded me to switch to the keyboard instead of stopping entirely, so from the ages of around 11 to 15 I had weekly keyboard lessons, although looking back I actually mostly played piano on the keyboard (my teacher gave me mostly 20s/30s/40s standards, as well as some ragtime etc). I never took any keyboard exams and my practice was patchy as best - the lessons eventually stopped when my teacher moved away.

Fast forward 15 years and I'm now cursing that I didn't stick with it as a child. I bought myself a Kawai CN34 a few months ago, and, having no idea what standard I was at, bought the ABRSM grade 4 and 5 books (2013-14) to have a try at. I found the Grade 4 pieces fairly straightforward after some practice, and have worked through a lot of the Grade 5 pieces. I then bought the Grade 6 books and am working on polishing the Dussek Rondo and Furchtenmachen, both of which I've really enjoyed. I've also been working on the Mozart K545 (second movement sounds quite smooth, working on polishing first and third).

I'm practising for 1-3 hours a day after work and have found myself completely hooked on it - and am cursing that I didn't stick with it as a child! I'd like advice on how to proceed further. I suspect I will get a proper teacher (as I imagine with my patchy history I have lots of horrible errors in technique) but I am unsure whether to work towards grades or not. My sight reading is quite good, and I've been pleasantly surprised that I'm able to handle grade 5/6 pieces, but as I have not taken exams since the grade 3 nearly twenty years ago, I would have to do lots of work on all of the scales and the aural, as well as take the grade 5 music theory exam if I wanted to proceed beyond grade 5.

What do people think? Is it worth attempting to develop these areas and going for ABRSM grades? I am not that concerned about obtaining certificates, but wonder whether doing the work for the grades would improve my playing as well as give me a goal to work towards. Any advice?

Also, any recommendations for grade 5/6 pieces would be very welcome! 

[amytsuda]

It's so exciting that we seem to have at least one new adult rebounder posting every day! Welcome to the world of rebounding adult pianist!  I never went through those grade systems so I can't comment, but I do wish I did, it seems to give real good foundations. In any case, everyone on this forum would say "find a teacher and ask the teacher what she/he recommends"..... Which is true. A teacher would make it so much more efficient and effective, if you find the good one. Did you reach out to some teachers? Do you know where to find one? Do you have any music school in your neighborhood? If you do, it seems the best place for adults to find a teacher, as they could match you up.

[indianajo]

Welcome back.
I had to give up piano to concentrate on a band instrument, then the pressures of college, my draft number, and earning a living kept me away.  I bought a piano age 33 and started practicing again, with slow results because of my intense job.  But now I've quit working near retirement and am really making progress, although my muscles aren't as flexible as they were back when.
Grades are useful devices for helping you find repretoire appropriate for your skill level.  I find the certificates meaningless IMHO.  They do get you used to playing in front of people, but so does playing the piano at the charity dinner downtown on Saturdays.  
Incorrect motions can inhibit progress, and can injure you in some cases.  I would suggest finding a teacher to review your style at least quarterly, if economics or travel are considerations. One can compare his performance to pieces on the internet now, so the function of the weekly lesson with a teacher for pointing out your mistaken notes is a bit obsolete.    
It is difficult to find a teacher that will attempt popular music.  I've asked some people with this skill to work with me playing by ear etc, and they never have time.  Classical training, there is always the piano guild or contacts you can make through a church or school support group.  It is still mostly children that take piano lessons.  I don't recommend the teachers at the local musical instrument  store, particularly.  
One thing you are leaving out is exercise books in the difficult motions of piano.  I worked through Edna Mae Berman books 2-5 and then Czerny school of velocity.  The teacher is mostly helpful in pointing out the teaching points of these books- rolling the hands, wrist position, etc.  These are concentrated doses of the hard stuff you will encounter in other repretoire later, and are highly useful, if boring.
Have fun.