Piano Forum

Hi fellow pianists, this is just to introduce myself. Real name John, 59, and returning to studying and practising the piano after about 40 years. It was one of those curious twists life throws at us now and then. In the summer, my partner decided we should redecorate the living room, and the question of what to do with the piano came up. It was my mum's from at least when I was born, and possibly my grandmother's. They were both keen musicians (my grandma used to improvise over the silent movies), and then my older sister and I both took lessons. Mum died 15 years ago and I inherited it, a Squire & Longson upright overstrung, about 100 years old or more. I hardly ever played it, mainly because the wall between us and the neighbours is rubbish and any length of playing, particularly repetitive practice, made me anxious about the effect on that side. Over the years I'd taken up guitar, then flute, self-taught.

We gradually decided it would be good to have more space, but it had too much sentimental value to let go of easily. Long story slightly shorter, it ended up in the hallway, with the idea that I'd see if I played it - if not, we'd get rid. This was after asking all the family, especially my sister, if they wanted it, but they were too far away or had electronic keyboards, or also didn't have room. I was making enquiries whether it was worth thirty quid to anyone able to shift the enormous weight or if I'd have to give it away, even pay to have it removed...scrapped!?

I guess life would have gone on without it, but I'm so glad it's still there. I asked my sister what the gorgeous, sombre piece was I remember her and Mum both struggling over parts of and described it - the answer came back, Chopin Prelude in E-minor - and she sent a book of Chopin with that in. So I'm learning again. My great love is baroque, particularly Bach, and I'm working on a few Bach pieces too (from a book called Bach Gold or just downloaded stuff). The awkwardness I felt about disturbing people is gone, since there's now another internal wall between us!

Another thing I'm happy about is a big change in my attitude to practice and learning. It's not so much that I've finally developed some self-discipline, more that I've discovered a pleasure in doing the necessary work, or at least some of it, approximately. I don't have a routine, but I sat and played C-major scales for half an hour yesterday, just enjoying the gradual improvement (and trying to avoid the irritation when I seem to be going backwards again). I've had one temper tantrum with the Chopin, after a day when it was almost coming together and then the next when it was awful.

I've always been too lazy and able to play by ear, so in my lessons when I was young I just read as little as I needed to get a piece memorized and then winged it, and in my exams (which I think were 'junior' grades sub-Grade 1) the music was generally predictable enough to scrape through. Now, most of the advice I see here I'm pleased to say I've already internalized - to practice, to improve my weaker areas, etc. - and the gradual improvement is a big, continual payoff, hopefully with occasional highs when I can finally play something well and reliably. My biggest task is probably the reading and theory, fluency around scales and keys.

As well as the Chopin, I'm learning Bach's Prelude in C, Prelude in C-minor, Two-Part Invention Nos.1, 4 and 8, and a simplified version of the Largo from Concerto for Two Violins (most of the counterpoint is missing, which I'm thinking of adding some of myself in time). I toyed with Beethoven's you-know-what sonata, but might hold off until I can handle C#minor more comfortably - again, it's a great temptation to fail to read it.

Anyway, my other fault is blathering on endlessly, so I better stop. This looked like a really nice friendly forum and I was glad to see so much helpful advice, uploaded videos and mp3s, and no advertising.

This is my second post - I hope my first didn't sound rude. I was in a rush to register because I find the white-on-black theme pretty disturbing to my eyesight and it looked like a reverse one was available in people's profiles, so I forced myself to stop reading the riveting content, blinked a lot and registered, but now I don't see the option. So a pretty please to the admins if you see this - am I just being dumb or has it gone, and could it be reinstated please? It would make such a difference to my experience.

All the best everyone, many thanks for a great resource.
John