Hello,

I've had 5 piano lessons. So far so good.

Very happy to be taking lessons at the age of 25. I've been holding some resentment towards my parents for not encouraging me more when I was younger. Finally it doesn't seem to matter because I can see I can get where I want to in a few years :-)

I remember my Yr 3 teacher writing in my school report that I had a good grasp of music (she was the Junior School music teacher/piano player/choir mistress), that should be encouraged. I think that was about the time my parents bought me and my sister small Casio keyboards, and a little "play along book". I remember learning Twinkle Twinkle & London Bridge is falling down, then losing interest. I guess that happens at the age of 7.

When I was in secondary school I enjoyed music, and asked for drum lessons. I was told no. By that time we had a slightly larger keyboard that I bashed about a bit on. Apart from pre-GCSE music lessons, I managed to stick at "keyboard club" for one term. As far as I remember my parents never suggested I practised "The Snowman"! When I was in the 1/3rd of the club that weren't picked to play in the school winter concert I lost all interest.

I did go through a few weeks, when I first started uni, strumming on a friend's guitar. After initially quick progress I hit a wall and didn't buy myself a guitar.

So, 12 years later I have finally picked up where I wish I'd started at the age of 13. I've picked up bits of music theory through a DSP (& Music) course at university, listening to different music etc.

I read BerFaceNo1's post when I was looking for ideas about how long different grades take, after my first lesson, and have finally decided to join.

Looking forwards to your support when I feel my "hands together" sounds like my left hand murdering my right! Or I hit the "progress wall" and come off the rails (but I think having a teacher, rather than a talented amateur guitar/recorder player will help there)

Swannie

Welcome to the forums Swannie !
I am sure you will find the regular posters, educative and entertaining.

to the forums!

Hi Swannie!

I've just started learning piano this summer too - isn't it great!

Glad you've joined us, and look forward to hearing how you get on


PS I'm using Michael Aaron's book too

Welcome

welcome to the forums i too started later on in life on flute and two years later am heading towards grade 6 pieces now i play witha pub band and even sing now something i never thought would happen (in front of other people )

well done for starting my parents are not musical in the least good luck with your playing and keep us imformed of how you get on i have learnt loads from the forums people are very helpful and kind

regards monkey flute

If only I had started soooner.......

At least you have started much younger than I did! I've only just started piano lessons although I've been singing for some years. At my last piano lesson I had had a bad day at work and found it very difficult to relax into playing the piano. My hands together sound like a baby's first steps - stop, start, trip over, start again....

Never mind, I have a patient teacher and a page of things to practise.

Enjoy the forums, there is so much support here.

Val

Well so far, not enough practice :-( Busy every evening and all weekend since my last lesson.

Will get some time in tonight (hopefully a good hour). Hopefully enough, along with 40mins or so on Tuesday.

I'm trying to practice a scale every time I have a spare 40seconds and am next to my piano.

At least I managed to read some more music theory at the weekend. Slowly basic things are starting to make sense :-)

Welcome, and good luck with everything.

welcome!

Slowly moving on.

One new scale (Amaj), went quite nicely. Got a few more exercise pieces "ticked" off in my book, started on a couple more. I just wish I could find more practice time so I could get these things down nicely.

If I didn't have a teacher I'd certainly be skipping over some of these exercises as "done".

Ehh, doesn't seem that long ago since I wrote that, but 2 months... well almost 3 I spent away from home and therefore a piano, and a number of weekends away too. So not as much progress as hoped.

But still making progress. Two octave, hands together - whoa, even harder. Reading the music is getting easier which is nice.