After two decades away, I've decided to take up the violin and piano again. I'm a bit lost with direction and which books are good to start playing again. I didn't take any violin grades but if my daughter's violin music is anything to go by, I've played her 'Fiddle Time Sprinters' and found it very easy. I'd like a book with CD accompaniement that has a good variety of styles, not just classical and is good to improve on. When I 'dropped' the violin, I was probably about grade 7.

Same again with the piano, although I am finding this much harder to pick up again. I can stumble on the same two bars of music over and over again. I bought myself 'A Cool Yule', with some jazzy arrangements and it'll be next year before I can play a whole piece! Any words of wisdom? I'm almost tempted to find myself another instrument instead.

Sorry, I don't have answers to your specific questions but thought I'd welcome you to the forum! There are plently of people around who will be able to answer your questions. Viva Strings/Piano can both be useful for asking about repertoire etc as well.

With the piano, I know what you mean...I personally find progress to be much slower with the piano than violin, so you're not alone in that respect!

Me too, I don't know what books to suggest (help teachers out there! )
But if you were about grade 7 when you 'dropped' the violin, am not surprised that Fiddle Time Sprinters was very easy! The only advice I have is to give yourself time, if you like these instruments don't leave them for another one just because it is a bit 'rusty' to get back to them (especially piano).
I live in Surrey, if you don't live too far you can borrow some of my piano books? but I am only about grade 3 with my piano mind you, it doesn't hurt to start off again with simple things to 'oil your fingers up' etc

You've done the most difficult thing. You've gone back to your instruments and had a play. OK, so you're a bit rusty. I found the same problem when I returned to the bassoon and piano after a gap of twenty years. With perseverence and the advice of good teachers I returned to the level I was at within a year or so and I didn't have to play the same repertoire so it wasn't boring. Can't advise on pieces. Try the strings forum and the piano/keyboard forum. There'll be people there who can help. I know I found it quite painful to go back to playing. It was embarrasing when I remembered my former facility but with practice the technique did return and I have every confidence that it can do the same for you.

Hi, I also revisited the piano after about twenty years not playing anything. What I found helpful was to go back a bit, picking up pieces I had learned years ago and just feeling my way back into it. I don't know whether you have done exams in the past but old exam pieces have a way of staying in the memory and the fingers, and you might find that you know more than you think.

Also, I wonder if jazzy arrangements might be difficult at first, maybe some easy classical arrangements would be more accessible to start with, just to get your fingers used to the keyboard again?

You could look around Oxfam shops etc for old ABRSM exam books at the earlier grades which would give some variety of style.

Good luck!
N