Some time ago I put on a post about wanting to start playing the piano again after a 30 year gap. Katyjay was very helpful, as were a nunber of other people. It was suggested that I try a Klavinova, but I did not feel that I could justify spending that amount of money on myself, so bought a cheap Casio keyboard instead. I found that I could still play some of the pieces that I played for Grade 3 all those years ago and am enjoying practising them. I am still plucking up the courage to go for lessons, and am not sure that I can fit them in with other things I do. As yet I have not fouind time to practise every day, but do enjoy playing. Thanks for your support, I am not sure that I would have gone ahead and bought the keyboard without it.

Good to hear from you again, Chris. Enjoy your music, and do come back again to tell us how you're getting on.

Cheers

katyjay

Hey Chris - I would suggest you go for it with the lessons - personally I love teaching adults and am always happy to hear from them! I also aware that they have adult lives and resposibilities so may not always be able to practise as much as they would like.

I agree with carol*piano, and adults make much better use of their time and practise sensibly in general, so that you get progress even with a comparatively short amount of practice time.

Yes - very true. Glad you are enjoying playing, Chris.

Thanks, everyone. At the moment I'm plucking up the courage to contact a piano teacher - I have found a few names and email addresses in my area on the internet. I think I'll have a go tomorrow - I'll let you know what happens!

Go ahead a get a teacher - it is likely you can tailor the frequency of lessons to suit your busy life schedule too! All the best!

Good luck Chris, go for it!

I used to just walk in to a lesson, tell my teacher I hadn't practiced at all, and we'd just pick up where we left off at the end of the last lesson. She knew I loved music and practiced whenever I could and I wasn't a kid who needed scolding. As you start with the lessons and get into the learning mode, you'll find your optimum level of practicing and find ways to fit it into and around your lifestyle. As an adult learner, you're there because you want to be. Practicing makes you progress faster but not practicing does not inhibit learning.

I sent an email on Tuesday to a piano teacher I found on the internet, who is based in a town about 15 minutes drive away, but have not yet received a reply. Perhaps she's on holiday, or has not looked at her emails. I think I may try contacting my friend's son's piano teacher, but I must admit I feel quite embarrassed contacting someone in my immediate local community who I vaguely know. There is a male piano teacher who I found on the internet who lives in the next road to me, but he seems to have very impressive qualifications, which frightens me rather - I may not be good enough for him to teach me!

Chris, this is the hardest thing you'll ever do in any of your music making. Once you've found a teacher, you're over the worst bit.

There is nothing to be embarrassed about in contacting someone you vaguely know. If you know, from your friend, that this is a good teacher, then phone them.

Alternatively, the chap with a string of qualifications had to start learning sometime. So you're in the same place as he was once. If he doesn't take beginners, he'll say so. If he does, then you're good enough for him to teach, simple as that.

No-one but you can make that first contact. But we can keep our fingers crossed for you that it goes ok.

Good luck

Katyjay


EDIT: If it helps, this thread was all about how some of us made that first contact.

Thanks Katyjay. I've read the thread and can see that I am acting in the same way as everyone else! I fully empathise with the comments about it being easier to send an email than to phone. I will get the phone number from my friend and try her son's piano teacher, I think I would feel more comfortable with a female teacher, and the highly qualified man only teaches classical, whereas I would like to try both classical and jazz (if I can, I can only play classical pieces at the moment). I think I lack confidence in my playing because I only scraped a pass at Grade 3, and also because when I first started piano I was "thrown out" by my first teacher for not being good enough! My son, on the other hand always practises and gets distinctions - I was proud that in my Grade 1 I nearly got a merit!

Good for you, keep it up!

Hi Chris

You don't need to remind me about the huge embrassment of seeking music lessons. I felt daft when I sought piano lessons. I hadn't played for more years than I care to admit. It was the same problem with the bassoon and, when I decided to seek composition lessons, I became filled with self-doubt. Why on earth could I not pursue a more regular hobby? Music is for kids, isn't it? Or is it? Why should us grown ups miss out on all the fun?

I found that with regular tuition I have made progress. It feels good. I really hope you will persevere. I'm prepared to bet that you'll get a kick out of lessons. Good luck!

I've just found a teacher! She's willing to give me lessons and is going to contact me soon. Thanks for all your support. I'll let you know how the first lesson goes.
Chris

Well done Chris. That's the hard bit done, now enjoy the music!

That sounds fantastic Chris - enjoy! I'm sure you'll progress faster than you expect. It's a bit like riding a bike, you don't tend to forget everything. Things should come back really quickly.

Congrats! You've plucked up the courage to get started
Just enjoy the music!

I'm still waiting for the teacher to contact me. Things are getting a bit frustrating. However, I'm still practising and am trying to get to grips with Grade 4 pieces on my own. I think I can now play my old Grade 3 pieces better than I did when I was a child - I do much more practise now

I took my Grade 1 (Piano) in 1974 and my Grade 6 in 1981. I have 3 kids now and they started playing the Piano a few years ago. I have always had a desire to make it to Grade 8 so I started with the same teacher (as my kids) in November last year - I sat my Grade 5 (again) in March 2006 and got the best mark I have ever scored in a Piano exam. I will be taking my Grade 6 (again) at the start of December. I don't know quite how to explain this but I am getting more enjoyment out of the Piano now than I can ever remember when I was at school (maybe it is because I am paying for my lessons rather than my parents). I always used to fall down in the exam on my scales (because I was lazy). At this moment in time I can play ALL scales in ALL keys major, minor etc which has been a real challenge. It is never too late to get back into playing the Piano. Good luck to all who give it a try!

Your post is so inspiring! Good luck for Grad 6!

Many thanks, Sterling

Good luck with your new teacher - I had an awful problem finding a new teacher after I left the area and moved to London. Turns out it was the best thing I have ever done - a 'fresh pair of eyes' has taught me so much about my playing and technique - so much so I've skipped a grade since.

Take care.

I too decided to return to the piano after an even longer period, having had some education at a very young age by my Grandmother and Aunt, both music teachers. As an acoustic piano was not a viable choice (I move a lot) I started with a Yamaha DGX205 keyboard (76 keys) but found it didn't have the 'right feel' for me. I still have it and a flight case for use when I'm travellling. For daily use I bought a Clavinova CLP170 which I am delighted with. Particularly the feature where I can record my attempts ( a brutal way to hear one's faults, but useful nevertheless) and the abilty to use headphones, which precludes driving my partner to insanity. Unfortunately, I live in a part of the world where getting a good teacher is not that easy. I have relied so far on a very good home tutor manual , on-line help for practising tips and about ten hours a week practice. I am making progress albeit not as quickly a I would like.

Hello Victor37 and welcome to the forums.

10 hours a week sounds a sizeable amount of practice. Perhaps the reason you're not progressing as quickly as you'd like is related to what you actually DO during that practice time - which is something a teacher could help you with. I certainly found that I made better progress once I started having lessons rather than just plugging along on my own.

You say you are in a part of the world where getting a good teacher is not that easy. In general terms, where is that? Sometimes it just boils down to knowing where to look for that teacher.

Hello katyjay and thanks for the welcome.

I've just relocated to Vancouver from Calgary (I'm English) and my reservations about the teaching quality here is based on my experiences a a technical college lecturer (where many of my colleagues were more concerned with getting the student through an exam than imparting any real knowledge of the subject) and the lower emphasis on the importance of music in Canada compared to that in Europe (UK). However, you are probably correct in that an intelligent search might produce a competent teacher. On reflection, I'm not sure my Grandmother and Aunt were particulary empathetic instructors, more in the old authoritarian mode of "do it this way" as opposed to understanding the nature and attributes of the student. I hope attitudes have changed. As someone stated to me recently in another environment .."we all learn in different ways".

And of course, there is the definition of a "good teacher". I suppose this again depends a lot on the needs of the student and trial and error would be a necessity. I can't help recalling a movie 'Hilary and Jackie' where Hilary's flute teacher seemed to be the quintessential "bad teacher". Some of the comments on the forum regarding teachers qualifications were quite enlightening.

Without doubt, I am probably not using my practice time as effecively as I might. Expectations of progress are of course unique to each individual but I would be interested in views of what realistic exprectations would be, generally, say after a year of self tutoring (interupted by travelling and moving) for someone after forty odd years of being no more than a listener. At this time I'm trying to perfect a simple arrangement of Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini", amongst other short pieces, but I am having trouble with the pedal work.

Katyjay, your comments and suggestions were most welcome and I will certainly go forward with them.

I just got my Grade 6 result and passed. I have learnt a few lessons which I wanted to pass on to everyone else. During the exam I made quite a few slip ups during the three pieces I played and got really quite flustered near the start of the exam. The comments made by my examiner have made me realise more than ever that 'live' music is not all about getting everything note perfect - it is also about how you deliver it and your musicality - your interpretation of the music. When I did my Grade 6 the last time around I got 12 out of 21 for sight reading - this time it was 18 out of 21 - I was delighted with that given it was something I always struggled with. I have decided not to do my Grade 7 until at least December this year to give me a chance to play a broader range of music from different composers.. at the moment I am tackling Debussy's Golliwog's Cakewalk which is great fun.

Hope everyone on the forum has success in 2007

Many congratulations on your pass. And that's a superb sight-reading score.

Best of luck with your future music making

Hello Victor,

Like the UK, Canada has a nationally recognized exam system. The advantage of the system is that it provides a set of goals for students and teachers. Of course, some people abuse the system and do nothing but exam preparation for most part of the year. I don't think this is a situation unique to Calgary, Vancouver, or other Canadian cities; the same can be said about the UK and Australia, where the exam system does have a lot of influence on private music lessons.

Yes, it is true that music receives less emphasis in Canadian and American schools. However, at least in Canada, taking private music lessons is a popular extracurricular activity. In the major cities, there is a good number of children studying one or more musical instruments. And many do continue to an intermediate to advanced level.

You mentioned that many of your colleagues are not so concerned about "imparting any real knowledge of the subject." It all comes down to what you mean by "real knowledge." As you are a lecturer at a post-secondary institute, you must be an adult with a very high education background. Concepts that you find elementary may be fairly advanced for children and teenagers who are studying the music of Beethoven, Chopin, and Shostakovich for the first time.

I have had experience with both the British and Canadian exams, and would like to point out two major differences between the two systems. In Canada, the advanced grades (Grade 9 and 10, which are roughly the equivalent of Grades 7 and 8) come with corequisites in harmony, counterpoint and history. No matter how well students score on their practical exams, students will not be awarded the certificates for the practical exams if they cannot demonstrate knowledge on music theory and history. This is not the case with the AB graded exams.

The other difference is that the Canadian exams have more requirements in the advanced grades. While the word "comprehensive" would be an overstatement, students going for Grades 8 and 9 piano exams must prepare two studies, tonnes of scales/chords/arpeggios, and four exam pieces. The four exam pieces cover Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-Century repertoire. At Grade 10, an additional piece is required and all pieces are to be played from memory. Of the five pieces, the Classical one is normally two contrasting movements from a sonata or a complete sonata. Yes, students going for Grade 10 may have to spend a year on nothing but the exam materials. But given the amount of materials and the fact that most students do 30-40 lessons a year, the length of time is justified.

As others have mentioned, I think that you have to be patient with your search for a teacher who can understand your need.

Thanks katyjay - I got the result of my Grade 7 today - my first ever distinction. I can't quite believe it. I have sometimes been close to a merit before but more often than not just a good pass. To all those other older generation learners - don't give up and lots of luck. Sorry, I just had to shout it out.

Happy Christmas

Very, very well done indeed.

That really is fantastic - congratulations. Inspiring, no less!

Just wanted to complete the story - got my Grade 8 result today - a 126/150 Merit - highly delighted. Only taken me 45 years...

Brilliant news. Well done!!

Well done- that is brilliant gbscot!

Just read through your thread, and I'm so so pleased for you that you've made it to your dream goal Many many congratulations! Just goes to show what can be done when you really want it, it's never to late to change your mind, go back and start again to get there either You are an inspiration

I'll say it again: very, very well done indeed.

Well done! Grade 8 seems like a tiny dot on the horizon at the moment for me

Thank you to everyone for your posts. I really appreciate them. It has been a long journey but rather than at the end I see it as a new beginning. I am already having a look at the lists for the DipABRSM and can't wait NOT to have to do all the technical exercises. I have started on the Schubert G Flat Impromptu which has been another dream of mine for a long time. Good luck to all of you and thanks

Congratulations! enjoy the next bit of the journey !

What an inspirational story. Good for you! And enjoy the Schubert G flat - it is a particular favourite of mine and hope to one day play it to my own satisfaction.

Many congratulations!

Very well done! As others here have said, it's an inspiring story. Sometimes (often!) I feel like giving up because I'm feeling a bit old, but your experience is refreshing.

N

Well done Gbscot! Perhaps that will be me in a few years time!

I was quite interested to see this old thread - it was like going back in time for me. I have just taken my grade 5 today, I'm not too sure how it went, it all passed in a bit of a blur, but I was pleased with my scales and arpeggios this time - they were much better than my last exam. I was also pleased that I wasn't as nervous as in my Grade 4, and my hands hardly shook at all. My pieces weren't as good as they could have been though, and I managed to make a mistake in each one.

All in all I think I've passed, though

Wow, absolutely fantastic, a Merit at Grade 8 - well done

Well done indeed!