Hello everyone,

I stumbled on this forum while searching for information on a Beethoven Sonata. What a great place! After a look around, I just had to join.

I guess I am best described as an 'adult learner'. I think qualify well for this title being A) no spring chicken and B) still not very good.

I learned to play the piano (an awful Waddington stright-strung upright) from about eight onwards but did not take formal lessons until I was about ten. I was very lazy and progressed slowly. Although I liked playing the piano and entertained friends on the school pianos, I disliked practice (and my music teacher's choice of pieces) and rarely did any practice between my weekly lessons. My music teacher - a very nice lady - never left me in any doubt about her opinion on that!

I would probably have given up altogether had it not been for the beautiful Bechstein full concert grand at my school. The gorgeous sound of this instrument had me hooked and I could never resist the temptation to play it at any opportunity (No-one was supposed to touch it, but the music teacher always turned a blind eye when I played it - bless him!) I just sat at the keyboard and it just seemed like someone else (much better than me) was playing it (sounds a bit like Sparky and the magic piano, doesn't it?).

A little late, I started work on grade exams and progressed fairly quickly to Grade V with Trinity, just in time for my music "O" level (part-exemption). Shortly after, I left school and joined the merchant navy where pianos, sadly, are about as common as smiles from a rocking horse (a merchant navy phase, somewhat cleaned up).

I bought a newly re-conditioned George Rogers upright for a tidy sum in 1981 and practiced on and off over the years since (more off than on). When I finished with the sea I seemed to have even less time to play; sometimes I hardly played at all for years . Then recently, I found myself suddenly inspired to play again .

Although - when in practice - I could always play a shade above Grade V, I want to push myself much further now (although probably not to take the exams). I have always loved the Moonlight Sonata and since about fourteen could play the first and second movements quite well, but - although I loved it - I never dared tackle the third. A few weeks ago I took the plunge and started and - amazingly - it is actually beginning to come together. Why didn't I do that before? Ultimately I would like to be able to play all the Beethoven Sonatas! I am also pushing my limits with some Scott Joplin (Gladiolus is also coming on well).

I have vowed that I will keep it going this time (indeed "For Sale" boards are going up all round, as I type). I am here for the duration!

Welcome to the forum.
Do have a good look around and if you think you'd be interested in getting in a little friendly performance experience have a look at the forum events board.
Event organisers will be happy to answer any questions you have.

Thanks.

Perfromance was never one of my strong suits (nor were exams!) but I would like to work towards it

to the forums!

Would echo everything sbhoa's said above!

Hello and welcome

If you don't feel that performance is quite your thing yet, you're still very welcome to come to the Adult Learner event that's happening on 7th February. It's just off the other end of the M3 from you, at Teddington.

Have a look at the Forums Events board for details

Welcome PianissiMole! You seem delightful!

It's a great feeling when that happens, isn't it!

Welcome to the forums, PianissiMole. They're very helpful and supportive for adult learners and I'm sure you'll find them very enjoyable

Welcome Pianissimole.
I too have a George Rogers, bought new in 1977. They aren't bad pianos but seem quite a rarity these days.
I heard they were taken over by Yamaha and then closed down.
I am of the 'enthusiastic amateur' type, having shunned a music career after I got by ALCM diploma at age 16. But its been a strong hobby all my life without having had the pressure of more exams of practising too seriously. (PS I like Southampton, my daughter had 4 yrs at Uni there)

Hello Pianissimole,

I am new to the forum as well. Have been reading things on the forum for a while and have now eventually plucked up the courage to join (but am not brave enough yet to start a new thread...).

I am an adult learner as well. I play flute and piccolo plus I mess around on clarinet, recorder and keyboard. I am also a singer (choral) but have had to stop going to choir because I have a thesis to write and simply didn't have time for everything anymore. When I eventually have a job (or if...) and can spare the money I would like and alto flute and a celtic/irish flute. I would also really like to learn violin. I played the cello for a while a secondary school and never really clicked with the instrument because it was too big and growly for me (it was the instrument which had spaces available, rather than being an instrument I chose - I'd asked to do flute or violin). I loved the top two strings of the cello when played in thumb position (i.e. fairly high) but generally didn't connect well with the sound or pitch. I started the flute when I was 14, but had to stop when I was 18 because my teacher left and the other teacher in the area couldn't accommodate the fact that I'd just started working shifts and therefore couldn't make the same slot each week. I started learning again about 18 months ago and am currently working towards grade 7. I am hoping to work up to grade 8 (and then beyond) because I regret not having actually taken it the first time round (I prepared everything for grade 8 but simply couldn't afford the exam and my parents never had the money to be supportive my interests).

Flossie! We have the same name!

A very warm welcome to you both.

to the forum!

Hope you enjoy using it - do have a look at the event forum if you're interested in performance opportuinities.

Thanks to everyone for your welcomes and kind wishes, and Hello to Flossie. I was also a member for a few weeks before I posted anything (it took me that long to work out how to do it!).

Hello, lovely new members. It's good to see both of you here, and I hope you'll enjoy all that the forums have to offer.

I've already said hello to Pianissimole, so I'll add a welcome to Flossie too

Hey do we change the thread to PiaFlossieMole?

Welcome!

Thanks very much, Lizbun

And best of luck with that g8 in March!