Hello all! I'm new to this board as I just discovered it yesterday, so I'd like to intoduce myself first.
I am 56 years old. Six years ago, after my wife died, I decided that trying to continue to work in the city while raising my daughter was not an acceptable situation. I worked from home for a couple of years and then met and married a wonderful woman with two kids of her own.

I'm now in the enviable position of being a full-time "house-husband" and can finally spend some serious effort at doing what I've always wanted to do - become a musician. I started this by taking music courses at our local community college and State University (I was, of course, older than all my professors). I completed three terms of music theory, two of aural skills and two of group piano lessons, as well as being in the college choir for two semesters. About a year ago, I also started taking private piano lessons. My teacher is using the RCM (Canadian Royal Conservatory) exams, but I believe they are very much similar to the ABSRM ones. Although I had played guitar for 20 years, I never took it very seriously or progressed very far. Having now finally learned the rudiments of music theory, I am very excited about the infinite possibilities the piano offers and I plan to devote considerable time over the next few years in trying to gain a level of proficiency which will allow me to do what I want.

I'm very happy to have found this forum as I'm sure it can provide much moral and technical support. I also am still amazed at how cool it is to be able to 'talk' to folks all over the world!

Regards,

Gerry

Let me be the first to welcome you to this Forum for no other reason than some of my colleagues at work before I retired used to call me Gerry!

If you look at my signature you will see that I am a piano player of long standing, but recently took up the flute. Music is wonderful

You are right, you will find lots of useful tips and people ready to answer any questions you have to ask. You will also find in this café a lot of humour! But much of it is British humour, so beware - you may learn how to laugh at UK English

Thanks Gerry.

Being a longtime Terry Pratchett and Monty Python fan, I think I've got a handle on the humor thing!

Not on the English spelling thing though...
(sorry, couldn't resist )

EDIT: Oops, I forgot to say - Welcome to the forums!

A very warm welcome to you. Have fun!

Welcome to the ABRSM forums page, my Brother-in-law lives in the village and I have been there a few times. NY is a great city for music.

Hello from me and welcome to the Forum

Hope you find friendship, fun and amusement here, not to mention sound advice !.....should you need it!

My partner and I visited New York City last year (almost a whole year ago - can't believe it) for the first time ever across the Atlantic.....on QM2 both ways.

We visited as much as we could fit into 5 days including the "Colony" sheet music store in Times Square, and a trip out to Suffern - to the Lafayette Theatre, where we played the delightful Wurlitzer theatre organ installed there.

I cannot WAIT to go back - I'm almost homesick for New York, even after only five days there.

Silly or not?

Anyway, welcome

Welcome!

The feeling is mutual.
I've been to the UK a half dozen times and am sure I'll be back soon.
I was a medieval history major as an undergraduate. York, Chester, Salisbury, Winchester and Bath are amoung my favorite towns. I especially enjoy the pubs after taking in the sites.
Its nice being only a hour or so from midtown New York, evem though I live in an 'old' (i.e. 300 year+ old town on Long Island). My wife and I especially enjoy Broadway. Can't wait till next month when we are seeing the new revival of West Side Story.

Cheers!

Gerry

to the forums!

Hi Gerry , welcome. I too am a mature (62) pianist , and though having a Diploma, have never worked in music professionally. I just play for fun.
There are people on here better qualified than me re exams, but from what I recall the Canadian exam Board has 10 grades, roughly equivalent to the 8 of the ABRSM and the other two main UK Boards (London College and Trinity Guildhall), so grades aren't exactly equivalent. There is lot of talk on here about Grades, so be aware they're not the same as the Canadian Board.