Dear people of this forum,
My name is Laurens, I am a 23 year old law student living in the Netherlands. I have been visiting this forum quite some times, so I decided it was about time to make an account for myself.
A little history:
I come from a family where we are with three brothers. When we were little, our parents wanted us all to play an instrument, or at least try it. My oldest brother chose the guitar, my middle brother the flute, and I chose for the piano.
When I started playing the piano I was around ten years of age. I followed one lesson every week for about three or four years. I absolutely loved hearing people play piano, but I just could not get myself to practice very much, actually, I hated it. At the age of 13 or 14 I decided to quit playing the piano. Due to my lack of practice and not really enjoying the playing, I never got further than some of the Alfred level 3 or 4 books I believe.
When attending middle school, I did not touch the piano for about 5 or 6 years. When I started to study law ,I once visited a recital of a pianist, and I completely fell in love with the instrument again. Since that very moment, now about three or four years ago, not one day has gone by without thinking,listening,or wanting to play classical music. Actually, at a certain point it got quite obsessive. I bought a lot of old vinyls and cds, visited much recitals and concertos etc etc.
One day I just decided to sit down at the piano again. I wanted to learn to play the theme of Schindlers list. However, haven't been playing for such a long time, I almost completely forgot how to read notes, so i learnt it through youtube/synthesia. Or just searching up the notes and writing them on the sheet music. It took me a long time, but eventually I managed to do it. This kind of playing went on for about three years. Since that moment I have been playing some pieces such as Chopin prelude op 28.no4, Nocturne in c sharp minor, waltz in a minor,Satie gnossienne, gymnopedie etc. Also some film music such as requiem for a dream, the theme from band of brothers, amelie and stuff like that.
At first I was pretty amazed by myself, but now I realize I have reached a point where there is little to no progress in my playing anymore. I guess it's mainly because my basics just aren't there. My reading of sheet music is bad, I barely can play scales, do not follow a certain schedule of practicing etcetera.
However, my final exam is this tuesday, and when this exam is over I'll have an 8 week summer break. Since I don't have any plans for this break, I have decided I want to spent it mostly on improving my piano skills, because I just want to still see progress in my playing so bad. And I just love the instrument so much.
My question to the people here:
How should I approach this? Do you have certain tips for me on training, books, schedules,or anything whatsoever.
Your help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you very much in advance,
Laurens
EDIT:
I very much know that nothing in life comes free, and since I will not spend my money on a vacation or anything else this summer, I am willing and able to invest into this. So anyone which could make up a good training schedule, provide me with tips etc etc, I have no problem paying for this kind of service at all!
Topic: Introducing myself