Returning To Piano. Advice Please. Options

[iona]

Hello all,

I play cello and am half way through a music degree. (I tell you this, just so that you know I am currently studying music, so most theory etc. is still fresh for me). However, I would like to get my piano playing back up to a decent standard. I used to play when I was small, and got up to Grade5/6, but haven't done anything in years and years. (I'm a mature student, - so when I say years and years - I really mean aeons!). My reading and hand co-ordination are still good (apparently), but I don't know what I need to aim for in terms of technique.
With cello lessons and college fees, the time and funds are just not there for piano lessons too. I did have one, a few weeks ago, to get a little bit of guidance and it proved invaluable. Seemingly small things, like posture, flexibility exercises, tips on pedalling, etc made an immediate difference.
I would like to continue on my own, with the view to having a very occasional lesson.
Does anyone have any tips on how to focus and direct my learning. I was thinking of getting some ABRSM grade pieces, maybe some early grades (3??)and just working through, but I'm not sure that's going to help me with the technique I need.
All and any thoughts appreciated.
Thankyou
Iona

[margaret]

Hi Iona
I would recommend selecting 3 pieces - not necessarily from the AB grades - in 3 totally different styles. Maybe one of Bach's Eighteen little preludes to get the old fingers working again, or maybe one of the simpler Haydn sonatas or possible a Clementi sonatina.

Then how about a Chopin waltz to help your keyboard geography?
Maybe Satie or Debussy

and then theres all that wonderful blues and jazz stuff out there - After Hours by Pamela Wedgwood is great!

I also really like Burgmuller's op 100 Easy(Hmm?) and Progressive studies. These are lovely pieces, very accessible and working through would cover a lot of technical problems.

Personally I feel there is so much material out there why stick to grade pieces??

I would recommend you have perhaps 4 lessons first to get you on the right lines with regard to practice and technique and then go down your suggested route of the occasional piano lesson.

I will be interested to read other views.

If I can help in any other way just ask. Good luck

[iona]

Hi Iona
I would recommend selecting 3 pieces - not necessarily from the AB grades - in 3 totally different styles. Maybe one of Bach's Eighteen little preludes to get the old fingers working again, or maybe one of the simpler Haydn sonatas or possible a Clementi sonatina.

Then how about a Chopin waltz to help your keyboard geography?
Maybe Satie or Debussy

and then theres all that wonderful blues and jazz stuff out there - After Hours by Pamela Wedgwood is great!

I also really like Burgmuller's op 100 Easy(Hmm?) and Progressive studies. These are lovely pieces, very accessible and working through would cover a lot of technical problems.

Personally I feel there is so much material out there why stick to grade pieces??

I would recommend you have perhaps 4 lessons first to get you on the right lines with regard to practice and technique and then go down your suggested route of the occasional piano lesson.

I will be interested to read other views.

If I can help in any other way just ask.  Good luck

Thanks very much Margaret. It seems you may have addressed everything 'in a nutshell'. I think my concern is that I'm not really aware of what the areas of piano technique actually are. With a stringed instrument, there's so much ground to cover in terms of intonation, bowing, articulation, string crossings, thumb position etc.
My guess is that with the piano I'd need to address quality of touch, legato and staccatto playing, and pedalling ? After getting the notes, rhythm, co-ordination, what does a teacher normally look for in progression of technique? Would the Burgmuller studies make that evident?
I would much prefer just to choose individual pieces. (Much more fun !). I thought about taking the AB route after taking a Beethoven sonata movement to the lesson, before realising that it was considered advanced. I could 'play' it, after a fashion; - you know get the notes , the rhythm, play it with some style (I hope), but it became apparent after a demo by the teacher that I didn't have the technique to bring out the voices as I needed to do.
Maybe all that sort of thing will just come with practice.
Anyway - thankyou again. I will certainly take up all your suggestions.
Iona

[margaret]

Hi Iona
Maybe reading a few books would also put you on the right lines. 3 I could mention -
The pianists problems - william Newman
Imporove your piano playing - Dr Meffen
The Art of Practising the piano - Jeffrey Whitton

It is very difficult to separate out the various technical problems you encounter on the piano. By studying various music you will soon identify (or your teacher will) any technical insecurities you have and they can then be tackled by choosing pieces which concentrate on your specific problem. For independence of fingers and the ability to bring out a melody with each finger of your two hands look to Baroque composers and especially Bach.

If you like to tackle technique through studies rather than pieces there are plenty to choose from - Hanon, Czerny, Burgmuller, the AB graded study series (be warned their grading system here is a bit strange. I would equate their grade 2 to around grade 3-4 etc) Or you could have a look at Geoffrey Tankard's Foundations of pianoforte technique or his Piano Technique on an hour a day. You really need a teacher to help you with these or as with say yoga on your own you might get in to some VERY bad habits.

At the end of the day a sound technique is the tool that helps you play the music beautifully, convincingly and easily not simply an end in itself.

I do hope this is of some help. Do let me know how you get on.

[Storini]

Check out my post #4 in this thread.

[iona]

I completely agree with the 'no teacher leads to bad habits' maxim, and I wouldn't even begin to suggest that anyone tried to learn the cello without guidance; it's just that it really is impossible at the moment. My Life seems to be one long balancing act. I just hope that being aware of the potential pitfalls, and being in a music learning environment anyway, I may just manage to avoid the worst of everything. My plan is to have more lessons during the Summer break, and perhaps to continue after the degree is over.

I know that when I was small, I was considered quite good. However, I played very naturally, not having had a 'proper' teacher, but someone who made playing music the best thing to do. I was playing Chopin from very early on (probably horrendously!). I improvised happily and had a ball at the keyboard. However, that was 'back in the day' and the fact that I lacked technique soon reared it's ugly head and subsequent teachers managed to destroy any confidence I had at the piano.
I guess that may be why I feel so insecure about my lack of technique still, and underpins my need to know what it is exactly.
However, the more understanding I have of music the more I become aware that you are absolutely right that technique is there 'to play the music beautifully convincingly and easily'. In fact I think I'll use that as a mantra!

Being pedantic though, I will still try and get hold of the books you mention and devour them until I feel confident enough to break the rules on my terms......

Storini...Thankyou. I have downloaded the file and intend pourng over the pages. It sounds just the sort of thing that will be useful.

Thankyou both again.