Started this thread out of curiosity - I couldn't find a similar thread in the searches. As per the title, I am a parent learner. I had a few piano lessons as a child but didn't progress very far as I didn't like the piano teacher! That said, I must have been at least pre-grade 1 (prep test) standard judging from the music books I had.

I was left a digital piano to look after and decided to enrol my daughter in a local music group. Whilst helping her out with the tunes etc, I found some of the pieces I'd learnt as a child coming back to me and decided to start having lessons myself, initially for fun................

Now, two years down the line, I find myself with a grade 5 in piano and a grade 2 in violin, probably with more grades to come.......

I have found that taking lessons myself helps in several ways. Firstly, it is incredibly therapeutic (with a busy job and two young kids, it really helps me to relax!). Secondly, I am able to help my daughter with her piano and now violin practice. Thirdly, it gives me an understanding of the technical challenges that my daughter may encounter, which I might not have appreciated if I wasn't learning myself - on that front, having been in the exam situation, I can also tell her what to expect from a personal perspective.

Are there any other parents out there who have been encouraged to learn or re-learn an instrument?

I have done the same. Took some piano lessons for a short time as a child but was never good enough to do exams. Started again when my daughter took up piano and like you got through to grade 5. Also did Flute and Theory to same standard then started cello when my younger daughter started - got to grade 4 and would love to carry on - my ambition was to get grade 8 in Piano, Flute and Cello by the time I was 50. I'm afraid that work and commuting has now completely taken over and I just cannot find the time to practice although I would love to. I think I will now have to wait until retirement!

I agree with you though that it really helped when my children were younger and struggling through initial technique - they have now gone passed me significantly, in fact my younger daughter has given me the occasional cello lesson!!

I found that I was particularly able to help around the Grade 5 theory exam.

So glad you enjoy re-learning and are able to find pracising therapeutic. Perhaps I should be stricter on myself and set some time aside. You have given me some food for thought! I'll let you know whether I manage to get going again. It's a bank holiday this weekend so you neve know.....

Something even more strange is that my mum has started learning to play the organ in her mid 70s!

I revel in the role reversal question "have you done your practise today!"

It is certainly a case of get your own back!

Lovely to hear your story - and glad that your kids have done so well!! It is difficult to find time to practice - I found it particularly hard this last year when I was concentrating on grade 5 piano as they really upped the ante standard wise............Roll on Bank Holiday and all the best!



I hope it won't come to that?! (Scary thought! Makes mental note to practice loads tonight!)

Well, for me it's the other way round!
I started taking piano and violin lessons and my son started violin lessons soon after me!
But yes, I find that all that LooneyT has said applies to me too!
It relaxes me, I enjoy it, it helps me to help my son with his practice and we have one thing in common we both do!

Well done to all of you

Thanks Looney Tunes - you really did motivate me! I got my cello out on Sunday and played for so long (well my family would probably not call it playing!) that my fingers were sore. I also managed to play again yesterday!! 2 days in a row!! The challenge is can I keep it going?

I had a great time - even though I was only playing some really easy Grade 1 & 2 pieces. If I can oly manage at least 3 times a week I would improve a bit, albeit rather slowly. I'll let you know how it goes.

Well done, taxidriver - that's brilliant news! It's difficult to find time to practice when you're busy. For me this last year, I was in danger of losing my enthusiasm and enjoyment for piano. In fact, I think the only reason I've made progress on the violin is due to 'avoidance' therapy!

Since my grade 5 piano exam, I've taken a step back and played simple pieces as well - partly to try and improve my sight-reading but also because I think I've been driving (no pun intended!) myself too hard at home and at work. The forums have been a great way to unwind and I've met some terrific characters here these past three weeks - thanks again to the forumites who were instrumental in helping me to re-energise..

Having recharged my batteries, I'm going to start on Toccata and Fugue in D minor *gulp* - I'll let you know how it goes.....

All the best to you - hope you manage to continue to find the time to enjoy your music! And I think you'll improve much faster than you think....

xxx

I stared the violin a few years ago when my older daughter did - just so that I could help her practice really. Then my younger one started, so I swapped to the viola to make it a bit more interesting. The younger one then swapped to the cello so I have now started that too.

I don't have lessons on any instrument. I'd love to, but can't afford the money or the time (if I had lessons I'd have to practise much more than I have time for) but I play the pieces the girls are doing, and play viola in an adult learners orchestra.

I'm probably now about grade 4 standard on the violin and viola, and about grade 3 standard on the cello (if being able to play pieces of that standard is a reasonable indication), and (except on the cello, where I know I could improve a bit more by myself) suspect that that that's about as far as I'll get without proper lessons and more practice. That's good enough for now. I can play in the orchestra, and with the girls (violin playing friend coming to visit tomorrow so we can play string quartets. Hurray!) and one day perhaps I'll have lessons myself - if I can decide on one instrument.

Hi soccermom - lovely to read your post! So you're juggling three stringed instruments?!

It is great to be able to 'jam' together - my daughter really enjoys that aspect of her playing and it helps to improve sight-reading (for both of us!)

All the best,
xxx

I probably shouldn't be in here, but here's a story from a slightly different angle...

When we moved house recently we ended up with a piano. I'm not entirely sure how, it just sort of stayed in the house. As a child my mum played flute, violin, guitar and piano, reaching about grade 5 on all of them but never really being interested. 30ish years later, she is absolutely enraptured with the piano, asking me to explain things to her and find sheet music for her . It's absolutely wonderful to see her being so enthusiastic, and I'm sure it won't be long before she'll be having lessons again. I can't wait for the day when we can play duets, and knowing how determined my mum can be, I'm sure it won't be too long either!

[quote name='LooneyTunes' date='Aug 30 2007, 01:59 PM' post='581900']
Hi soccermom - lovely to read your post! So you're juggling three stringed instruments?!

Yes - and as the cello is the newest, I'm probably enjoying that the most at the moment. Also my cello is a much better quality instrument than my violin or viola (it used to be my mother's and now she is 80 and has a bad back, she can't play it any longer) and - even with me playing it - it sounds great.

You're more than welcome in this thread Miss Ross - and nice to see you outside of the Cafe for a change (I spend too much time in there myself! )

It's great to hear that your mum has taken to music again - and I hope she finds as much enjoyment with piano as I have done over the past two years. Advance warning: hide your violin. Now that she's on a roll, there'll be no stopping her.....

I've taken up piano again after my son started playing instruments. I haven't managed to have any lessons yet, I've been rather half heartedly been trying to find a teacher, but have been surprised to find that I can sightread, and can learn new pieces by myself. I'm amazed at the standard people like soccermom have got without lessons. I've been toying with the idea of starting the violin again, as I would love to play together with other people, but am not sure if I can justify spending the money on myself when my son needs a better saxophone.

I agree with people that playing is therapeutic - I hated practising when I was a child, but know I find it very relaxing, and get lost in the playing - it's nice to concentrate hard on just one thing. I also agree with Jojo, that it's good to have the music in common with one's son - I think it helps to keep the communication channels open in the teenage years!

Slightly different slant - I returned to piano playing at 60 because I had the example of my mother returning when she was in her 60s. Like me she had learnt at school, like me did little or nothing for 40 years and then suddenly she decided she wanted to play Beethoven's Moonlight. Took lessons, practised, got the 1st movement under her belt, started 2nd movement, got that, then tackled the 3rd movement. If my memory serves right it took her three years to learn the 3rd movement and get it up to speed - but she did it. But then never played anything else again.

As most of the females in my family keep going until well into their 90s - I reckon I have 30 years of pure pleasure ahead of me!

*Makes careful note of teenage years comment! *



I also like to think that I have decades of playing ahead of me! And following my lead, Mr LT has picked up his guitar (he's grade 8 classical) again so we should hopefully have enough to keep us going in our retirement!

Hi

Well done all you people going back to your childhood instruments and more besides. I never played (other than the typical recorder when I was at school) so my story is a 'start from scratch' one.

My daughter (now 9yrs old) started violin 4yrs ago and piano 3yrs ago. I sat in on her piano lessons and persuaded a rather shocked teacher to put me in for my G1. I got 1% less than my then 6yr old child.... both high merits. So, I continued.

We collectively sat piano G2, G3 G4 and G5, with me never ever having a proper lesson myself and only ever having played in front of someone 5 times (ie each examiner!). Of course, the differential between our marks became wider and wider (as she is truly fantastic at everything she touches whilst I plod along with no time to practice).

She also took G1-G4 violin alongside and we both did G5 theory last year when she was 8yrs old too.

She is now off high-flying elsewhere and has been re-assessed as a G8 capability and technique and will be nurtured accordingly.

So, I decided to take over 1 of her piano lessons rather than give up. Last night I sat and played to the teacher for the 1st time ever... very badly with shaky hands!

One question is I've no idea where I should pitch myself and the teacher doesn't know my playing yet personally.

So, I picked up Beethoven's Fur Elise a few weeks ago and seem to be enjoying that. I've tacked the first section and can do that part well, and am plodding slowing through the next bit now. I was warned last night that there are 2 tricky sections to come later. Have no idea what the standard of this piece is and whether its right for me or what to do next. Ideas welcomed!

So, I've now got to prioritise my practice time, instead of before when it was my daughter I was gee-ing up. Yikes! She is another one to be amused by asking if I've been doing my practices... much guffawing for all the family!

It's amazing how far you've come with no lessons yourself (like soccermom)! You're obviously very talented, like your daughter! I really enjoyed reading your story.

I remember being very nervous at my first piano lesson as an adult (I still get nervous in exams...). Once you get to know your teacher better and vice-versa, I'm sure you'll relax. Perhaps a teacher will be able to give you more guidance on Fur Elise - I know some parts are around grade 3 and some parts are around grade 5.

Most importantly, enjoy your playing!

My son learned flute. But when he got to university the flute was lying fallow. I had always wanted to learn, so persuaded him to bring it home, persuaded my piano teacher to teach me flute too (he is a flute teacher as well!) and persuaded myself that I could do it. Grade 4 safely under my belt this summer, and I am SOOOO enjoying it!

But with piano, violin and clarsach on the go as well.....how do other people manage to juggle practising four (or more) instruments?

With difficulty.

And there was I, thinking I might be able to take up clarinet or flute as well.......

Glad to hear you're enjoying your playing Misterioso (great name!)

How is everyone doing?

Most of my (half hour) piano lesson is taken up with theory at the moment so the playing has taken a backseat although I'm keeping myself 'in shape' by revisiting pieces I've learnt and pieces that I can sight-read (slowly - Nimrod's quite good for that!). Also learning melodic minor scales. Violin is ticking along more easily now my bowing is improving ( ).

No real pressure at the moment - just happy to be bumbling along.....

I play the violin with my elder daughter, 'cello with the younger one, piano when I'm trying out new pieces for them or accompanying them (we've also been doing some Adam Carse miniatures recently, which we've all really enjoyed), and viola at orchestra - but I don't really do anything that I would call practising.

I haven't posted in here for 3 months - doesn't time fly.......

Some good news - I now have grade 5 theory! Quite enjoying the lack of practical exam pressure but one thing I know is that exams help me to focus and not 'drift' as my piano teacher puts it......

I recently bought a second-hand clarinet and have (as my new teacher puts it) jumped a grade each lesson so far (I've had 1 intro and 2 'proper' lessons). I'm really enjoying the challenge of a completely different instrument and the clarinet sounds so lush.....

Piano(G6), violin(G4) and clarinet(G2).......hmmmmmm....... definitely more difficult to find time to practice as the grades get harder........

Forgot to add - apart from Miss Ross' mum going down a storm this X'mas, how is everyone else doing?

The entire concept of a social life goes down the plug hole!

I don't know how I missed these previously - thanks!

Any updates from anyone? It's been a long time.......

For me, progress in violin has taken precedence over piano.

Piano - partly due to a need to play just for fun (rather than doing exams) but also because I realised I HAD to improve my sight-reading, I've done no further grades although I did learn the grade 6 pieces from the previous syllabus. I've had no lessons for over six months and am in a quandary as to whether I should carry on down the classical route or take up Jazz piano instead. Given that I'm a natural memoriser, I think the latter is a better option but I want to give classical one last bash for good times' sake! Daughter's teacher has freed up an evening so should be starting back shortly. We'd started Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer before the break.

Violin - proud owner of grade 5! Still making progress (with no real increase in practice time ) so at least that's something! Learning the Bach Double and two of the three grade 6 pieces - along with loads of studies (although I keep 'forgetting' to bring Kreutzer and Mazas to lessons....)

Work-Life-Music balance, it has to be said, with two kids now at school, has been incredibly trying. I also need to re-consider my training role at work. It was easier when it was just my oldest and me learning. Throw in another variable and it all goes to pot! The time will come (hopefully) when the oldest is more self-directed with her practice - piano's not a problem (as long as Top Cat is banned) but violin requires a fair bit of nagging. What is great is that we can do duets together. I suspect one of these days she'll overtake me; her violin technique is fab! *jealous *

jojo, taxidriver and co - how's it going?!

My son started the trumpet last year and I was asked to sit in on his lessons by the teacher. I had forgotten the thrill of learning a new instrument and was really swept along by it all. It inspired me to take up the harp (hmm, trumpet and harp, anyone know of any duets?!) and I am loving it. Bought my Mum a digital piano for Xmas and she has started playing again and my daughter has started piano lessons again after a 4 year break - hows that for inspiration? - and all starting with the youngest member of the family!

That's fantastic - music (when approached in the right way) can really bring a family together. Could you use the harp instead of piano accompaniment for the trumpet pieces?

You've reminded me that I dabbled with clarinet and sax over a few months last year - reaching grade 2/3 standard pieces in a few lessons/ Great instruments - but sadly no time for a third (or fourth)..

Same goes for harp - I went as far as making enquiries via the harp shop in cardiff but there's no way that will get off the ground any time soon. Maybe when I retire!

I started learning viola just to support my son and encourage his interest, but I found that I enjoyed it so much that I fixed myself up with some lessons and I've just done my Grade 1 and passed with distinction! I'm lovin' the experience of learning an instrument again, but it sure is hard work!

Congratulations on your grade 1 result - that's fantastic! I took up violin for much the same reason - and love it. It's a hard instrument to 'master' because there is so much to co-ordinate in order to produce a beautiful sound but I hope I'll get there eventually

A general question: how do you all manage to juggle work, school, kids' activities and your own musical development?

I think in hindsight I should have concentrated on one instrument at a time when I first started taking music lessons three years ago. Violin seems to be the one I can still make progress on (without increasing practice time) at present. I'm keen to at least keep up with a degree of piano practice so that I don't go backwards.

With two kids at school now, the evenings with them are spent keeping on top of homework before they go to bed; I can only pick them up straight from school one day a week and that's the day I target to get them to practice! Other half is often away lecturing or else frantically writing grants/papers - whilst I do similar with training conferences, preparing/giving lectures locally and sorting teaching material. He helps with the school drop-offs as I have to be in work at 8am which is at least something I don't have to worry about.

Too much pressure! And too little time......other half has seriously questioned whether I should be trying to keep up with music (both for myself and the kids) or whether I should just let it all go for an easier life.........

*Sorry for the diatribe - it's all come to a head recently and I just need to get it out of my system!*

I'm determined to keep everything up and I always make time for practise for me and the kids. I only work part-time, so I guess I'm lucky and I do have some spare time and what better way of spending it than practising music. I try to set a good example to the kids and my eldest son is now starting to enjoy his practise sessions now rather than just seeing it as yet another chore. I try to demonstrate to him that a little hard work does pay off.

My feeling is that it's very important to give children the chance to do music, even though they won't necessarily keep it up once they're at secondary school. It's great for them to get a flying start at learning an instrument, and well worth putting yourself out for.

As to yourself, only you can decide how important music is to you at the moment. You'll probably find that as the children get older you will have a bit more time for your own hobbies, so if it would ease things to stop lessons for a few years, then stop. If, on the other hand, to stop would make you feel resentful that you didn't have time for something you desperately wanted to do, then do keep having lessons. You are just as important as your children, and I do believe that a happy Mum makes for happy children, even if she's shattered!

That's very much how I feel - thanks for that!

Mr LT has a grade 8 in guitar, having started at secondary school, which is why he's questioned whether it's necessary for the kids to have music lessons at such a young age. My intention is to give them the musical foundations now whilst they are still young - it'll last them for life. I'm realistic about the 'teenage years' and I'm sure a time will come when 'proper' exams take over. Nevertheless, if I can get them as far along their musical journey as possible before other distractions kick in, preferably to at least grade 5 standard, then I will have achieved my goal.


I don't really want to give up and have no intention to at present; however the challenges are greater now that I'm technically at 'advanced' level on two instruments. I really should look into Jazz Piano - a fresh start with a familiar instrument may be what I need! Or maybe something different entirely such as singing - I can practice in the shower/car and save time that way!

You're right - only I can decide how to get a more 'balanced' life'. I definitely need to say 'no' more to work-related projects and try to delegate as much as possible. I've looked into dropping an extra afternoon but that's not possible due to the dreaded waiting list targets amongst other things - I'd just end up going into work in the evenings instead to catch up. I'm looking into other solutions:)

That brings up another thing - practising late at night when the kids have gone to bed - I occasionally find it hard to sleep afterwards because I've become too energised over a piece that I've been playing! Not great for 8am meetings when I have to be on the ball.....

The answer to this may be to finish your practice session with a very soothing, quiet piece! I hesitate to say this, but I think this is why my son used to play Einaudi before bed - not saying you have to do likewise, but there are lots of quiet pieces around which might help you feel more ready for sleep.

That's an idea One of the 'quiet' pieces I'm attempting to play at the mo though is technically quite challenging - "Chanson de Nuit" - so that doesn't help. I haven't looked at any Einaudi (he does get a bashing on here doesn't he?! ) but maybe I should give it a go.