Hello,

I've recently started piano again (played it once before for about a year but got nowhere) and was just wondering if anyone else has only just started, and what you are playing. I did a bit of work from the Upgrade 0-1 book but had done a lot of the pieces out of that last time, so now I'm attempting the grade 1-2 book and finding it mega hard!!

Try getting a teacher?

I have just started beginning of December (06) so it is 2 and a half months I have been learning...started as a beginner, never learnt an instrument, although I knew 'a little' about music theory (roughly grade 1 knowledge I would say). I am now (since 3 weeks ago) working on grade 1 book from ABRSM having learnt so far Allegro in F (Mozart A3 piece) and 'The Old Cuckoo-Clock' (Bachinskaya C1 piece), now I am going to learn Andante (Enckhause B2) and Banges Herzelein (Fuchs B3).
I am at the end of piano time book 1 and have to learn the very last piece 'Fanfare Finale' which is on very last page then will make a start on piano time 2 (in next couple of weeks I think). I have the 'Up Grade 0-1' book but have not look at it yet (have done some of the Carol Barratt Classic Piano course) and have learnt very well all my scales/arpeggios an broken chords for both grades 1 and 2.

So anyway, after all this , if there is anything in my list that you are also trying out, we 'could exchange notes??"

On a serious note, I'd love to 'share' my journey with you, on the viva strings forum there is a couple of us who have just recently started violin and we are keeping in touch regularly through a thread called 'starting violin' (also someone started on viola at same time) and I am finding it very helpful to exchange experiences and tips and to share frustration and happinness as well!

We could do the same about piano on here, so...alll piano beginners, let's join

I have a teacher

I had around 6 lessons last year. Started again in January this year. I am half way through the Book One of Making The Grade series. Loving it. My teacher said today that I am making good progress and a "Nice" noise
Beverley.

A nice 'noise'?? That's a nice way to put it
I am not familiar with the book 'making the grade' is it anything like my 'piano time' book? I'll try to look at it anyway (have some good music shops not too far from where I live).
good to hear you are enjoying !

"nice" noise....

Do you get different tones on piano too then??

Oh yes indeedy. Two players can make the same piano sound like two different instruments. And one player can get a Bach sound for a Bach piece and a Beethoven sound for a Beethoven piece (continue for as many composers as you like) on the same piano.

BUT do not worry about any of that at this stage. It doesn't matter until later on and you'll probably start getting the effect without noticing it.

^Good!!

I brought the grade 1 pieces today

I played Allegro and Andante for my G1 a bit over a year ago...and another one, um, it sounded like some sort of airline? Arabian Air or something? Bah, I don't know, but you've made a good choice! I'd say they're the most entertaining of the lot. I didn't particularly get bored with them and there's no real sort of " " parts.

I'm a kind of beginner. I'm only just working on my G2 pieces for the summer/autumn session. I've just been out and brought the books and I must say I'm quite intrigued by this piece which is apparently meant to be played in a 'heavy rock' style.

And Jazzzz. Oh dear. I'm not sure whose idea this was, but all I know is I'm looking at the G2 Jazz piano book and there's all kinds of squiggly things and blobs that I don't understand

[quote name='PorkyPie' date='Feb 16 2007, 08:35 PM' post='465117']
[quote name='jojo' post='463621' date='Feb 13 2007, 10:34 PM']
I played Allegro and Andante for my G1 a bit over a year ago...and another one, um, it sounded like some sort of airline? Arabian Air or something? Bah, I don't know, but you've made a good choice! I'd say they're the most entertaining of the lot. I didn't particularly get bored with them and there's no real sort of " " parts.

I'm a kind of beginner. I'm only just working on my G2 pieces for the summer/autumn session. I've just been out and brought the books and I must say I'm quite intrigued by this piece which is apparently meant to be played in a 'heavy rock' style.
[/quote]

Hi porkypie which one is this 'heavy rock style' piece? I have the grade 2 book but have not looked at it or started it yet of course.

which book do you work on for your grade 2?
Jo

It's just in the new 2007-2008 syllabus, the song's called.....*is running off to find book*

Garage sale? It's the last one in the book. I found a video of someone playing it on YouTube a few days ago, and although I wouldn't say it was quite 'hard rock', it is quite jazzy. I definitely think I might choose it as one of my exam pieces.

I did my Grade 1 with my old teacher....who was, um. Yeah. Not great, so from then we just kinda mechanically worked through the What else can I play? Grade 2 book. In has some nice pieces in it, but it, and me, probably could have benefited from a better teacher.

Now I have new teacher, and she's absolutely fantastic. I've only had 2 lessons with her, and already I feel like I'm 100x better. With her it's been still working through the odd song in the What else can I play? book, lots of jazz pieces, some Beethoven (even the scary middle part in Fur Elise ), and lots of playing by ear and improvising which I've never done before. And she's getting me to do Grade 2 Jazz piano which is something I've always wanted to, but never had the courage to try, or even ask my old teacher about

She's also fabulously eccentric. The first time I walked into her house she sat there and shouted 'MUSIC IS BEAUTIFUL! MUSIC IS THE KEY TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING IN IT!" so the whole street could hear. Needless to say I was a little freaked out....but then she started playing

/end ramble

Oh yes, I remember seeing 'garage sale' in the book...
I don't know the 'what else can I play' book, never heard of it actually (but I have not been around that long in piano ).
glad to hear you are much happier with your new teacher, that surely makes a huge difference! My teacher (so far) has not got me to play by ear/improvise (she might do in future? don't know) apart from my 'assessment lesson' when she asked me to try and play 'happy birthday' to see if I would find the notes by myself