Need some advice for teaching MYSELF

[cubrunner]

I started taking piano lessons in the second grade...that ended 3 years later after my teacher quit.  But then I got a new teacher in 8th grade, a better teacher, and I began to progress more rapidly...but by 10th grade, I was never practicing anymore, and lessons were just a waste of money, so I quit. At the time I quit, the last songs I had completed were Moonlight Sonata (the 1st movement of it, anyway) and CPE Bach's Solfeggietto.

Since I quit piano lessons 20 months or so ago, I've still played the piano often...revisiting my old books and songs, picking up riffs from popular tunes, just messing around. I haven't touched much of the classical stuff, except for one song I thought I'd try to take on my own--Debussy's Clair de Lune. I haven't practiced it religiously...on and off at best over the good part of one and a half years...but I can finally play it, and I'm just putting the finishing touches on it.

I feel like I have musical talent that is going to waste...I have a good ear, perfect pitch, and decent finger strength/speed.

I've decided that I want to pursue the piano more...and although eventually I'd like to compose my own music, or just sit back and play pop tunes from Billy Joel, I think I should begin playing classical piano again to improve my skills.

So my question is, is this something I can do on my own?? I don't really have access to a teacher, and I'm going away to college next year (where I'm not planning to study any music). I have plenty of music that I never learned before I quit, music at a much higher level than I've ever played at.

What pieces would you recommend I start out with? Like I said, I have books full of them...just name a few. I'm just finishing Clair de Lune, so that about gives you an idea where my skill level is.

And should I do any finger exercises in addition to practicing these songs? It's been so long since I did those scales...damn, I hated those scales, and I don't think I ever finished all of them.

Also, should I learn these songs by reading them, by ear, or using a mixture of both??

I'd appreciate anyone's suggestions here. Thanks in advance.

[Jeremy C.]

you should learn these songs by reading. i play by ear aslo and i can tell you, reading get you farther. YOU MUST PRACTICE YOUR SCALES!!! when you come to a part in the music that calls for some sort of a scale, then what are you going to do? i recomend at least taking one course in college about music. it would help a lot. if you want to play better, you need to get a teacher. and yes, you must do finger exercises. Rachmaninov was one of the worlds greatest pianists because he used to pratice 5 hours each day on scales and finger exercises. you certainly don't need to do this much, but at leat 30 minutes would be good. you definatley shouldn't teach yourself. you probably wont progress much. you need to get an instructor if you want to progress.

[janice]

(pssst--they are not "songs", but "pieces")