Hello there

I think it's great to share stuff that's good so here goes...

My grandma is the one reason why I play and love the piano. She used to be a teacher and she tought me the basics when I was very little. she used to play Chopin preludes to me and I have now inherited her piano (which used to be her mothers and needs restoring but that's another story and topic)!

Well anyway, to cut a long story short, she is now in a home at the age of 86 and I have only just started playing and having lessons after 20 years of absence.

Today, I played to her at her home (and a few other residents, visitors and staff). Before then, I have only played to my other half and teacher...so to me this was a VERY BIG THING! I'm a very very nervous performer.

But it went sooooo well!!!! I did mess up a bit, but it was fine. And the best part of it all was that I actually ENJOYED it, and I never ever thought I'd say that....EVER! I played musically instead of just getting from A to B. I enjoyed the fact that I knew that everyone there was enjoying listening to me rather than listneing to the TV or some other rubbish music that they always seem to play. They applauded me, and a couple of the ladies said when I was on the way out how much they loved listening to me....that was amazing.

And of course, my gradma loved it too. Thanks for lettling me share my great day...I'm on a high!

Zoe

FANTASTIC!!!!

Thats great! Now why not come and play at a forum event ? I recently played at the Chester event, the first time solo piano before an audience since leaving school in 1964. Now I want to do another one !

Well done

Thanks for sharing that, Zoe. I bet your Grandma was very proud of you, and it will have given the residents something new to talk about.

Well done!

That's great! I'm so glad that you had a lovely first performance experience, and a real bonus that you were able to play musically and not just on autopilot through sheer terror!

I'm sure they'll be hoping for a repeat performance in the near future, so keep it up!



Saxgirl

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Never mind the (kind of) - you did indeed perform - if there is an audience, and if it listens, then you have performed . It's addictive, I'll warn you, but and go for the next chance you can too - with time the pleasure of doing so will outweigh the jitters. One more tip - I know one or two respected musicians who also get nervous before performances - the trick is not letting slips bother you, and in fact, if you can sail past them without getting rattled, the remarkable thing is that your audience won't notice them either .

It's always good to hear of another adult learner getting that buzz .

Congratulations, Zoe, and great to read about it

But from the (apparently) self-assured demeanour, and the quality of the playing, you'd think he performed every week.


Agreed.

Don't beat yourself up about slips. Almost everyone makes them in live performances. Records give us a false idea oif the reality of playing live.

Care homes are a great place to get performing experience the residents often make a very appreciativbe audience.

To me, enjoying the whole experience is what I really aspire to achieve and it is fantastic that you have done it! So congratulations to you.

Well done!!
That is so great you enjoyed the experience so much. And you must have made your grandmother so proud!!
As my teacher mentioned to me several times, the biggest reward she could get from teaching me would be to hear me play some of the pieces she's teaching me in a few years time.
Having introduced you to the piano your grandmother must feel the same.

My Grandma was very proud...and my mum was too. It was such a wonderful feeling.

In terms of performing more...I'm *thinking* about going on a Summer course next year. I had a quick look for forum events but there didn't seem to be any in my region (east midlands). My piano teacher does student recitals, so no doubt one day I may have to play at one of those.

But I will play at the carehome again very soon...it was so nice to get such lovely comments from the other residents and it did feel amazing. It also helped that the piano they had was lovely to play...I'd like to go just to play that again (it was an acoustic and I have a digital).

Cheers for all your comments

Zoe

Hi Zoe,

I'm wondering what sort of music did you play? Whenever I've played at a care home, I've played music from the 30s/40s and show tunes from the 50s/60s musicals, which has gone down very well, but I'm wondering what else is well received that I might be able to learn

Just to add my congratulations to you. That's a great achievement and you obviously enjoyed it. Well done you

Yes, Thank you very much for sharing this, it is a beautiful story

I was smiling when I was reading your post.
To play for somebody is the most wonderful thing and it makes you more motivate. Congratulations and thank you again!

As I was just playing for my Grandma, I played pieces that I am learning at the moment. I don't really have a repotoire to speak of yet.

I started with some erik satie...the first 3 gnossiene, because I felt comfortable playing them.
Then I played some Liszt (consolation no1)
Bach (Partita no1 - corrente)
and finally Mozart Sonata 1st movt no17 in B flat (which was my grandma's favourite).

I honestly don't think it matters what you play, one lady said to me that it was so lovely not to be listening to the TV.




Gee thanks for all the lovely comments everyone...I'm blushing!

Bravo on performing. I have a love-hate relationship with performance. I love the idea of it, but feel like I want to puke up or curl up into a fetal position just before performing. Naturally once you get started it takes on a life of its own...

I think it was Sting (or some other established musician) who said something like "it doesn't matter if you are playing to a stadium or a pub with 10 people, you still try and give a good performance", and I am sure you did just that.

Without performance there doesn't seem to be quite as much point in learning to play an instrument. And I find performing with other musicians to be a real buzz (particularly musicians who are better than I am!)

Cheers
N

That Liszt Consolation #1 is a really nice piece, I just looked it up... how difficult is it to play?

Well I'm in the very early stages of learning it so at the moment it feels difficult as I'm still getting my fingers round all the notes. I have quite small hands so some of the stretches are quite challenging! I think the most difficult aspect though is more in getting the expression right.

But it is a lovely piece, and not too long so hopefully I'll have it mastered by my next lesson!

Zoe x