Has anyone else started piano at the ripe old age of 44?!

I started to learn piano form scratch 10 years ago to fulfil a lifetime ambition to play. I have a super teacher.

I have read all the comments on all the various topics and they have been of enormous help to me as I prepare for my grade 6. I've got my exam on Monday! Help! At first I did not want to do the grades at all but it soon became apparent that I wanted a bench mark to measure my progress against and also because I needed a technical framework and a good grounding in order to progress. I started at grade 2 and have worked steadily through, with a bit of a delay while I struggled with grade 5 theory last year.

I have found that it always important to choose the pieces carefully and the ones that suit your particular strengths. I am always weak on the list A pieces because I find them in general more technically demanding. I am hopeless at sight reading but feel that I have progressed a lot by just picking up anything and having a shot at it and making myself to it at every practice. I try to practice every night for one hour and find that it takes me twice as long to master the scales and the pieces as my children. Frustrating! I also get terribly nervous in exams - fingers shaking - but I went to the test centre yesterday to try out the piano with my teacher and she pretended she was the examiner. I feel so much more confident now. I feel I just want to play them in a good style and if I make a few slips so what. It's the overall stylistic and musical impression that counts. So I hope that the examiner agrees with my interpretation! They are always very understanding. We'll see. I shall be grateful just to pass. I love piano and playing an instument at last has made me listen to music in a completely different way and made me realise what I have been missing all my life.

I would love to hear from others and share experiences. I am sure that there are heaps of people out that have started later than me.

Hi,

I've always wanted to learn to play the piano. I turn 35 in a few months and my present to myself is going to be a piano! It's so encouraging to hear how well you have progressed in 10 years.

I'm also learning other instruments, and you're right about scales - it takes me ages to memorise them...

Although I don't play piano, I am a beginner on the Clarinet and Gutiar (I had played Clarinet before for a short time in my teens, but never to any major standard) at the age of 26, and enjoying learning.

While I am not overly worried about exams (although I am planning to take the Grade 1 Jazz Clarinet exam just to say I can do it) I do use the grade system as a staging post for myself to assess my own progress. So even if I havn't got that piece of paper which tells me I'm such and such a grade I will know that I can perform to that level.

In a way I find working towards the exams does take the fun out of music for me because I like the play the music I enjoy and not something set out in an exam paper.

The main thing is your enjoying it, so it dosen't matter what age someone starts to play an instrument as long as it's for fun

Take heart SilverPianist, you are an inspiration to me, I am older than you are. I started piano when I was 12 but gave it up for years to pursue academics, but the yearning was still there. I could play somewhat by ear and theory generally was not a problem for me; good news is I returned to the source 4 years ago and have been consistent for the last 2 and studying jazz piano. Regarding the slip ups, everyone does that and yes I even swear in lessons with my teacher because I am so angry, but I have learnt that it all comes down to practice, practice, practice. Relax, hear your own breathing and just go for it, after a while the mistakes will minimize. One superstar musician said he practices 8 hours a day, I dont think we all have that time but it shows the significance of thoughtful practice and the magic one, PATIENCE.

Yes, I suppose what I was saying is that I find it so frustrating, as I enter my mid fifties, that things take so long! The delay between the fingers and the brain. Yes, you are right, patience is all, combined with loads of practice..!

Did the grade 6 exam yesterday and feel I did much as expected and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I have scraped a pass. Blanked out on the scales (nerves) but did feel that the sight reading had improved so I hope all the hard work paid off. Pieces? Well the list A piece (the Mozart) was lumpy and loads of slips but I was never very secure on it. I must say that the examiner was so understanding and sensitive so I know I will get a fair result and it will be the one that my performance deserved (even if it's a fail!).

On the subject of exam and non-exam pieces, I always try to play as much as possible and my teacher always ensures that I have 3 pieces on the go at the same time. There is nothing worse than slogging away at the exam pieces month upon month and even when I am working for an exam I have at least one or two pieces that I am playing for fun. It's a question of balance.

I will never stop enjoying the piano but I do need that exam to measure my progress and to make me focus on technique. You see, what this last exam has reinforced is that my scales were not secure and they are a fundamental element in acquiring a good technique. And I know that if I did not have the exam, I would not practise them at all!!

It's so good to hear that the older ones among us are still learning and taking up something new! But I've never been brave enough to take up piano, much as I would love to.

I have always played wind instruments, and also sing, so I find reading the bass clef rather challenging! And to read to lines of music at once... Is it all down to practice and patience?

Do you think anyone could learn piano? Shall I take the plunge???

If you really want to then go for it!!!

Dear Emma C

Go for it..!

Sounds as though you have heaps of music experience and background that will help you a lot.

I am afraid that it is a question of a mix of motivation, practice and patience, especially in the summer months when all I want to do is to get out in the garden! I also find it fun to play and progress along side my children and this does help my motivation.

I started the piano at the age of 37 and have been playing for three years. I passed my Grade 5 last summer with a high merit. I have not started Grade 6 yet as my teacher thinks that I should learn a lot more of the repertoire before another exam. I have progressed quite quickly but this is mainly because I have been playing the flute for 27 years, passing grade 8 at the age of 17, have studied theory and took A level music at school. All of this has made a huge difference in how I have progressed. Although I should add that I also do a lot of practice - about 2 hours a day.

Emma C - I think you you should go ahead a learn the piano. When I started I wasn't very fluent at reading the bass cleff but you soon pick it up. As for reading two lines of music at once you soon get used to this.

Well done Silver Pianist for taking your exam I think you are doing really well if you started from scratch 10 years ago with no previous musical knowledge. I think this is a really difficult thing to do as an adult. A friend of mine started piano from scratch a couple of years ago and I know she has found it to be a huge learning curve.

My mum started piano and singing lessons when she was about 42, not having done either before We ended up with a piano by accident when some of my Dad's friends got divorced. She's not having lessons at the moment but I keep trying to pursuade her to go back... She sings in a choir though, so the piano comes in useful for her to practice for that. She still plays in her own time though, sixteen years on...

QUOTE

I would love to hear from others and share experiences. I am sure that there are heaps of people out that have started later than me.

Hello Silver Pianist,
You're right - plenty of students start when they are older than you were!

I have two students who started lessons in their fifties. They are both doing fine, although as yet are undecided about exams. As others have said, well done for doing the grades, and getting as far as you have.

As a teacher it's a great pleasure to help an older student realise a dream. I'm pleased to know you are enjoying yours! I hope your exam result is a good one.

Maggie

I teach a 67 year old retired lorry driver the violin. He'd wanted to play all his life but never had the time. I've been teaching him now for 3 years and he's taking grade 5 in the summer...just goes to show, it's never too late!

Cath 22


I think that is absolutely marvellous that your 67 year old is doing grade 5! It has rather put me in my place. Just goes to show what talents there are that are in a sense untapped.

Maggiemay, I would like to hear how you continue to motivate your adult beginners without the exam carrot. I played for 3 years before taking the examsand didsobecause all Iseemed to be doing was pieces -not getting the technique. A bit liketrying to run before I could walk. I am a memorizer rather than a sight reader. I want to be able to get to the stage where I can play more or lessanything from sight rather than rely on what I have learned in the past.

Hi everyone

I started learning piano at age 37 about 2 years ago. Just wish I had done it sooner!

Caroline

I started piano as my first instrument just before my 40th Birthday. I don't want to do exams becuse I've sat so many over the course opf my professional life that I promised myself I would never sit another one, and from what I've seen and heard of music exams it was the right choice! I think that getting away from the idea of grades is a good thing that lets ou concentrate on styles of music that you enjoy and feel comfortable with.

However, I did a performance assessment last year,which was very rewarding. This lets you pick your own pieces and gives you something to work towards. I played Satie, Gymnopodie no. 1, Handel, Sarabande and variations (Dmin) and Kirshner, Stucke fur Enkel no. 7 as an easy piece to to start off with. Doing the same again this June and intended programe this time in Bach, Gavotte in G, Chopin Mazurka in G# minor (Op. 33 no. 1) and Satie, Gnossienne no. 3.

My ambition is to play Dubussy, Arabesque no 1 and Chopin, Nocturne in E flat before I die!!!

Yes, I had also thought about performance assessment once or twice. And the result of my grade 6 (still to come) may well make me think about it again!

You have chosen some nice pieces. I also enjoy playing Satie, especially the Gnossienne No 1 but apart from the odd prelude I have not yet progressed to Chopin..... Would also love to play the Nocturne in E flat !

Sounds as though you are making really excellent progress. Did you have any previous music experience? How long have you been playing?

I'm now 47 and started just before my 40th birthday. I had no previous experience of music apart from a few stints in choirs.

I find that I respond well to music written in a romantic / modern stlye, I really enjoy playing Gymnopodie no 1 and Gnossiene 1 - 3 and my teacher really encougaed my to have a go at the Mazurka saying if I enjoyed Satie I'd love Chopin. It was very hard at first, but once I finally got my fingers 'round all the chords and double sharps (very confusing!) I found she was right and it was a wonderful piece of music to play. Curently working on the G minor Mazurka (which is a quite a bit easier) and have had a little look at the Gmin Nocturne.

The down side is Bach!!! Although he's written some fantastic music I just don't seem to have enough co-ordination to play all the notes! My baroc style playing is probably 2 - 3 grades behind my romantic style playing, but I don't tghink this is worth worying about, slowly gettnig better on all fronts!!

Taking up piano is the best thing I've ever done in my life and has opened up a whole new world which I didn't know existed.

QUOTE

I think that is absolutely marvellous that your 67 year old is doing grade 5! It has rather put me in my place.

LOL ............... I agree - great to hear news like that !!

QUOTE

Maggiemay, I would like to hear how you continue to motivate your adult beginners without the exam carrot.

Mmmmmmmm (scratches head....) not sure I really know the answer to that one ................. my adult students vary tremendously in their attitudes and approach.

Of the two I mentioned previously, student A just enjoys playing and doesn't really need to be motivated, will practise scales and anything I suggest.

Student B thought of doing an exam then decided that spending at least a term on the exam pieces was not appealing; that is sometimes tricky because that student really only wants to play pieces, doesn't always see the point of doing scales and "oral theory. Has made fairly rapid progress so far, but yes, I'm afraid technique and understanding may gradually lag behind. We have only a 30 min lesson, and I can sense slight impatience if I spend time on explaining technique rather than on playing!

I have another (50's) student who came to me a couple of years ago, had played most of his life but not had formal lessons since schooldays, and has now done grades 3 and 4 (two merits), and found them very useful indeed.

Other students have maybe played for much of their lives, (some have already been through the grades), and in this case they know the score (sorry - no pun intended).

One thing I do find is that students in their 40's and 50's are often better in touch with their own learning style than younger students, and this can be helpful.

I don't know if I have been able to say anything useful !

kind regards
Maggie

StuMac

Everything you say could equally apply to me! I have exactly the same experience. Which is why I always find the list A 'early' pieces so difficult and relish the more romantic, legato ones!

I am sure that it simply boils down to a question of age. But I am relieved to hear that other adult players have the same problem and the main thing is that the piano repertoire is so immense we shall never be short of pieces to play and enjoy!

Thanks for your reply, Maagiemay!

I found it very useful.

QUOTE (Silver pianist @ Mar 26 2004, 04:30 PM)

Has anyone else started piano at the ripe old age of 44?! I started to learn piano form scratch 10 years ago to fulfil a lifetime ambition to play. I have a super teacher. I have read all the comments on all the various topics and they have been of enormous help to me as I prepare for my grade 6. I've got my exam on Monday! Help! At first I did not want to do the grades at all but it soon became apparent that I wanted a bench mark to measure my progress against and also because I needed a technical framework and a good grounding in order to progress. I started at grade 2 and have worked steadily through, with a bit of a delay while I struggled with grade 5 theory last year. I have found that it always important to choose the pieces carefully and the ones that suit your particular strengths. I am always weak on the list A pieces because I find them in general more technically demanding. I am hopeless at sight reading but feel that I have progressed a lot by just picking up anything and having a shot at it and making myself to it at every practice. I try to practice every night for one hour and find that it takes me twice as long to master the scales and the pieces as my children. Frustrating! I also get terribly nervous in exams - fingers shaking - but I went to the test centre yesterday to try out the piano with my teacher and she pretended she was the examiner. I feel so much more confident now. I feel I just want to play them in a good style and if I make a few slips so what. It's the overall stylistic and musical impression that counts. So I hope that the examiner agrees with my interpretation! They are always very understanding. We'll see. I shall be grateful just to pass. I love piano and playing an instument at last has made me listen to music in a completely different way and made me realise what I have been missing all my life. I would love to hear from others and share experiences. I am sure that there are heaps of people out that have started later than me.

Hi everyone
I have been lurking on this website since last Tuesday (the day after I took my Grade 5 exam), since when I have been trying to pluck up courage to join in the discussion.
I began piano lessons three years ago (aged 57 years) and have enjoyed absolutely every moment until I took this exam and performed well below par.
I had "worked up" my three pieces and they were going really well, the scales were quite reasonable and I was not too worried about the other parts having easily passed my mock exam. It was in the waiting room that my Tinitus decided to increase in volume to the level of a dentist's high speed drill, but I stayed calm right up until I sat down at the rather ancient grand piano.
I was not given the opportunity to try it beforehand and chose to begin the examination with scales. When I began to play I was completely thrown by the action of the piano; it was terribly light to the touch and felt very loose, the absolute opposite to mine which is almost new. At that point a grey fog filled my head and my brain turned to custard, resulting in pretty poor scales! I then went on to play my pieces, which sounded nothing like they had at home or in my lessons.
It was difficult for me to put any expression into whatever I played and there was virtually no travel on the pedal - it was either on or off. By this time I had lost concentration, my Tinitus had changed key and I could only think that I was making a complete fool of myself - which made matters worse! Throughout this tortuous episode the examiner was utterly charming, but I felt so sorry for her; she must have wondered what on earth I was doing there!
I came home, covered up the keyboard and closed the lid of the piano, since when I haven't touched it. I feel that I have let myself and my teacher down and yet still I have to wait another two weeks or so to learn whether I got a failure with merit or distinction!
What I feel almost miffed about is that when being examined on any other musical instrument, one can take one's own, yet with the piano, one can be faced with an instrument, albeit one with the most sought after name, that feels and sounds totally knackered <please excuse the course expression>.
Can anyone else related to what I feel, or is it just me feeling inadequate and VERY disappointed with myself.
Oh well, I guess I'll have another attempt at it, but at a different examination centre. "If at first you don't succeed etc etc - and all that..............."

Hi Silver pianist,
like you I am a late starter. Now 45, I started playing the piano 4/5 years ago. I am also preparing my grade 6 . Like you I chose the Mozart from the list A.Of all the pieces on choice , it seems that this one is the most demanding technically .Which other 2 pieces did you play at the exam? I get extremelly nervous as well, which seems a little silly at our age.

QUOTE (Silver pianist @ Mar 26 2004, 04:30 PM)

I also get terribly nervous in exams - fingers shaking. I love piano and playing an instument I would love to hear from others and share experiences. I am sure that there are heaps of people out that have started later than me.

I can relate to all that you expressed having taken up the piano three years ago aged 57. What a wonderful opportunity to talk to other silver/grey/pianists too. I had the most ghastly Grade 5 exam two weeks ago and am currently waiting to hear if I got a distinction fail. I came home and shut the piano lid for the first time ever and haven't opened it yet. Has anyone else made a nonsense of an exam out there?

I started clarinet 5 years ago when I was 40. I have met so many people of my own age who say the really wish they could play an instrument. They can't really mean it otherwise they would just get on with it. I think they mean they wish they could do it without having all the hard work.

Gemini


Sorry to hear about your exam experience. I was very nervous when I did my Grade 5 (hands shaking etc...). It must be particularly difficult for you with your tinitus, my mother suffers from this so I know how awful this must be for you. However, you may have done better than you think and anyway it is in the past so you need to move on.

With reference to your point about having to play a strange piano - before I took my Grade 5 I got in touch with the exam administrator in my area who gave me the contact for the "steward" at the exam centre. I was able to get in touch with them and arrange to go to the exam centre several weeks before the exam and practice on the piano. This was a big help as I knew what to expect when I got to the exam. For your next exam (grade 6 of course!!) you see if this could be an option for you.

Let us all know how you did when you get your results.

Im starting to teach my mum the piano,( she is nearly 39) she really wants to do grade 1 coz che heard me playing creepy crawly the other day as a break from my other pieces and she loves it!!
She also wants me to teach her the sax but im waiting till im a bit better on it first!!

Nat

Dear Bruno

As well as the Mozart, I did the Mussorgsky Une Larme and in the list C The Chick Corea Reverie. I loved them both but found it difficult to keep the legato pedalling in the Mussorsgsky un-blurred while bring out the cantabile in the right hand. I loved the Corea but wondered just how he would have played it and kept thinking all the time whether I was playing it quite jazzy enough whilst at the same time keeping it atmospheric and introspective. I'm still waiting for the result. Will be relieved if I have scraped a pass!
You have done so well to get to grade 6 in 4 to 5 years. Yes it is silly to get nervous but I am sure it is because we adults are more aware of how we should be playing the music and are more self critical and impatient that we cannot produce what we want to to produce!

Dear Gemini

I bet you have done OK. I feel I messed up too and await the result with trepidation. It is so frustrating when you know that you have not done yourself justice. But to have got to grade 5 at 60 after 3 years of piano is fantastic . What an achievement!

I am so pleased that my initial post has generated such a huge response!

Hi Gemini

I'm sorry to read about your awful experience in your Grade 5 exam. But before anything, I have to say I am VERY impressed at you reaching Grade 5 in three years at age 60! It is impressive enough for a child, but for an adult, it is brilliant! You should be very proud of yourself for that alone, and for taking exams as well.

As for the exam itself, from my own experience and those of others here on the forums, you always feel you did much worse than you actually did (or at least than what the examiner thought!). It is because you hear yourself everyday and you know you can do better etc. The examiner doesn't know that. My teacher tells me he hears improvements each week, yet to me, I think I played the worst of my weeks' practice in the lessons! Secondly, the exams do allow for nerves as well as being unaccustomed to the piano. It says so in the exam info on this site. The examiner would have tested out the piano and probably noticed the piano's action was quite light. Thirdly, I think unless you do really really mess up BIG time, they don't fail you. For my Grade 7, I was so nervous I botched up some scales, had to ask him to repeat his requests and asked to start a piece *three* times because I was so nervous I just kept choking in the piece, yet he passed me (forgot the mark. It was either a high pass or merit). I know I was very lucky there, but I think he also noticed the piece was well rehearsed (and eventually played pretty well), and nerves were the factor. I believe examiners do also understand nerves from an adult as well.

As for pianos, my piano at home tends to be a lot lighter than most others, such that I never play as well in lessons as at home. So I've taken to trying as many pianos as I possibly can, just so I can adapt easier to any type that might be used in an exam. I do piano at a music college, and ask to practice there at times. Just before Easter, I was the only one around and basically tried out all 10 pianos there! It won't get you used to the exact one used for an exam, but it would most likely help you to adapt quicker to any type of piano around. So any piano you can get your hands on, even run a couple of scales on it.

Hope this makes you feel better!

As another mid-forties beginner (Clarinet), I have to say that it's very encouraging to read this thread!
Keep up the great work!

Mike A.

Hi Gemini

Do not forget to tell us what the result was. I am sure you were fine.

I should get my result next week. I was rather expecting it yesterday but the postman walked past the house empty handed...!

Dear Bruno

Do let me know what pieces you decide upon. Are you taking the grade 6 exam in the Summer?

By the way both of you, I am having such fun playing Maxwell Davies's Farewell to Stromness. It's so fantastic. My piano teacher has had it for ages (since 1980) but I am intrigued to see that it has now got to number 76 on the Classic FM Hall of Fame charts!

dear Silver Pianist,
Away from the Mozart , I will play Debussy "page d'album" and Martinu "columbine dances" . if all goes according to plan I should do the summer session. How is the aural test ? much different that for grade 5 ? I did not start looking at it yet.
I will check on your maxwell Davies piece. Thx

Bruno

I will reply in more detail once I have my result and seen the comments! My son did Columbine at the same session and I thought he played it rather well so I'll let you know what the examiner said.

Same for the aural. It was singing the top line that I found difficult in the exam. You need to get the aural book and work through the examples.

Well, my grade 6 piano result was waiting for me on my return from work this evening!

101 - a real scrape if ever there was one! But as my wife tactfully said "Not bad for a 54 year old!"

I am not disappointed as I was not expecting to have done much better as I had felt so terribly nervous in the exam, not dong myself justice, and scored low in all departments. As I have said previously on this post I have "got the result I deserved"!

I must say that the examiner's comments were most thorough, encouraging and constructive and for these comments alone it was worth going through the exam! The examiner said in the additional comments section:

"In spite of feeling nervous you managed to remain fully focused at all times. Well done!"

Which I really appreciated!

QUOTE (Silver pianist @ Apr 20 2004, 08:17 PM)

Well, my grade 6 piano result was waiting for me on my return from work this evening! 101 - a real scrape if ever there was one! But as my wife tactfully said "Not bad for a 54 year old!"

Well done

How did your son do?

Lucia

My son got a merit. His pieces were a wee bit disappointing 23 (Bach), 23. Albeniz), 24 (Martinu). I was secretly hoping that he might get a low distinction!!

QUOTE

"In spite of feeling nervous you managed to remain fully focused at all times. Well done!"

Congratulations Silver Pianist. Good to get some positive feedback!
So pleased you made it.

Maggie

Well done Silver Pianist,
forget the marks, the important bit is to pass , you can now focus on your next goal.

QUOTE (Silver pianist @ Apr 14 2004, 02:25 PM)

As well as the Mozart, I did the Mussorgsky Une Larme and in the list C The Chick Corea Reverie.

Hi Silver Pianist!

Many Congratulations on passing your Grade 6! I am preparing the same pieces as you for the Autumn term exam. I've just joined the forum, and when I read your early post after taking the exam, I scoured the later ones for your result... I really felt for you. Well done. I'll be very happy if I achieve 101 marks as you did! (How did you get through the middle section of Une Larme without hurting your left hand...?!).

BTW...I've found this 'Adult Beginners' thread so interesting.... other posts which have struck chords (no pun) with me include one which declared that 'taking up the piano has been the best thing a have done in my life'. I used to be something of a workaholic, but the piano has given me a much better balance. Most recently, it has been a lifeline. After my husband died suddenly 2 years ago, it became my solace - a place where i could go and feel comfortable and work on my grief without having to speak (although I've done that too). Through my piano teacher, I have also made new friends who have taken up playing as adults and are as passionate about it as me.

I started piano lessons from scratch 7 years ago at the age of 43. I was so frightened by the G2 exam which I took at one of the Royal Schools of Music (because it's near where I work), that I didn't want to do any more exams for 2 years. No regrets about that tho' as I learned some lovely Chopin preludes, some Enya pieces, and started working on some early Joni Mitchell (which I still haven't mastered but am determined as I'm a bit of an ageing hippie...!). Went back to doing exams at the local community centre where the atmosphere is v. supportive..

...I've rambled enough now. ... Thanks to everyone for providing great insights.....!


Cressida

Hi Cressida

I felt really humbled by your post and I feel for you too especially your breavement and the fact that music gives/gave you so much solace.

Interesting that you are doing the same pieces as I did. Yes, my arm did ache a bit on the Mussorgsky at the beginning but it got heaps better as I relaxed into it. Actuallly I was disappointed with the result (22 ) as I thought I was playing it better than the mark suggested. The examiner said that I was a bit uneasy all the way through it and wanted to hear a smoother cantabile, also "a touch of rubato would have been welcome", which was so ironic as I was faulted for too much rubato in one of my grade 5 pieces, so I suppose I over compensated!

As for the Reverie (23, also a wee bit disappointing), I was told that I failed to keep the pulse in the opening (and in the same part in the second half) even though the performance direction is quasi rubato. So beware of that!

We will forget the Mozart! I had swapped to the Mozart at a late stage after trying the Telemann and I suppose I did not get it quite as polished as I should have done and also made a more technical errors than is acceptable at this grade. It's a long piece and as with all Mozart it is sooo difficult to play well and sooo easy to play badly. Alfred Brendel once said that Mozart is easy for beginners and difficult for experts....Again it is important to keep the pulse...

Do let me know how you get on....!

QUOTE

I am a memorizer rather than a sight reader. I want to be able to get to the stage where I can play more or lessanything from sight rather than rely on what I have learned in the past.

I started piano at 14 after playing violin since I was 6.

I did the grades quickly, getting to Grade 7 after three years. I was good at playing my exam pieces and scales, and I had always been good at theory, but I never really learned how to actually play, if that mnakes sense!!

My sightreading was appalling - not because I couldn't read music, because I could read music as eeasily as I could read, but because sightreading piano is a totally different animal to sightreading violin. Sightreading gets better as your familiarity with your chosen instrument increases. My sightreading on the violin was very good, as I was very comfortable with the violin, but my piano sightrading was poor because I had only learned set pieces, I was not familiar with the piano as whole.

It's less to do with actually reading music than people think. Although obviously, you do need to be able to read music, but that is only a part of it.

The answer is to do more of it! You don't get better at sightreading unless you actually do it! Buy some books at a couple of Grades below the level you are performing at and just play through them! Whilst at college I used to go church a lot and I would just sit in the practise rooms and play through the praise music books, as the piano music was fairly simple - Grades 3-4 mostly. Find a style of music you enjoy and play and play and play - that is the ONLY way to get good at sightreading!

Also when I began to teach school and idiot headteachers would expect me to play a hymn in assembly I had never seen before with about two minutes' preparation, that also sharpens the sightreading skills PDQ!!

Silver pianist, Chopininoff, Lucia and all

I just dropped into the forum to see what was happening and was thrilled to read the replies to my "depths of dispair" posting - thank you all.

Amazingly I passed my grade 5 - I couldn't believe it and didn't feel that I deserved to (but I'm really happy that I did <grin>. When I take my G6 I shall see an acupuncturist first to keep me calm I think!

What next; well I am going to concentrate on improving my sight reading for a while as I got poor marks in that section and also take the Grade 5 theory exam as soon as possible - then it's onwards and upwards.

I was so pleased to read that Silver pianist passed Grade 6 - Congratulations, and I especially want to thank C & L for their sound advice which I will put into practice.

What a great website; it really is marvellous to be able to chat to people that understand music and what we latecomers are experiencing. Bravo to those who are willing to help us strugglers.

PS. Can anyone tell me what |o| means on the various postings please. I thought it meant "Lots of Love" but I guess I'm wrong.. I daren't ask my grandchildren 'cos they think I'm a cool granny......

Dear Juliecsm

Thanks for that good advice. You are quite right. I have been doing loads of sight reading of late and I really feel that it is improving.

I am probably one of those infuriating adults that has sights that are unrealistic and far beyond their learning speed and who refuse to come to terms with the fact that their ability to learn and assimilate is slowed down so much by those dying brain cells!! But I will get there. It is good to hear that others have had the same problem and, as you say, the way to improve sightreading is to do more of it.

Silver Pianist
This has been a very interesting thread for me as a teacher with lots of adult pupils, and I am incredibly impressed at an adult who takes one of the higher level grades. My own teacher is an examiner and she says she hardly sees ANY higher level exams in comparison with the grades 1s and 2s, and this is because it is VERY DIFFICULT to play piano at this level. So you should feel very proud of yourself.

My own advice is usually not to play Mozart in an exam - sorry this is far too late for you! This is because everyone thinks it is easy but it is actually very hard to get just right. That Grade 6 piece in particular needs to be played very smoothly and I think it is just plain hard to do this. I have tried to persuade my own pupils to play the Clementi Sonatina, but you do need nimble fingers for this.

Speaking of nimble fingers, have you ever tried any studies before? I have recently tried to improve my left hand agility as I am taking Performing Diploma this year, and I have found that working on Czerny and Chopin studies specifically for this is gradually starting to help. It is important when you are a bit older not to overdo it though, and you can run the risk of RSI-type injury. Little and often is always best when doing repetitive exercises.

QUOTE (cressida @ May 1 2004, 01:32 AM)

QUOTE (Silver pianist @ Apr 14 2004, 02:25 PM) As well as the Mozart, I did the Mussorgsky Une Larme and in the list C The Chick Corea Reverie. Hi Silver Pianist! No regrets about that tho' as I learned some lovely Chopin preludes, some Enya pieces, and started working on some early Joni Mitchell (which I still haven't mastered but am determined as I'm a bit of an ageing hippie...!). Went back to doing exams at the local community centre where the atmosphere is v. supportive.. ...I've rambled enough now. ... Thanks to everyone for providing great insights.....! Cressida

Joni Mitchell - I used to love listening to 'Blue' when I was a Student (oh my god that was in 1975!!!!). Can you still get her music?? I would be quite interested in having a look at that, as another aging hippy!

I've actually just started looking at the Blues, and can recommend it! Once you've got the hang of the basic chord sequence, its surprisingly easy to improvise. If you keep the chords going almost anything you play sounds 'Bluesly'. Non musicians listen and think 'That's amazing' whereas anyone with the slightest knowledge of jazz just thinks 'pah - just a dead easy riff playing around really predictable chords'.

QUOTE (Gemini @ May 7 2004, 09:35 PM)

Amazingly I passed my grade 5 - I couldn't believe it and didn't feel that I deserved to (but I'm really happy that I did <grin>. When I take my G6 I shall see an acupuncturist first to keep me calm I think!

Wahooooo

Well done that's fantastic news

I don't know what LOL means either and I often wondered too.

Thanks again Lucia, that's the nicest cheer I've had - I blushed!!!!! <g>
With regards to someone telling us what LOL or lol means, maybe we should ask under another topic where it is seen to be used.
I'll be brave and do it


To Silver Pianist who answered under the topic "Motivation", I do so agree with your sentiments and will try and contribute to that thread. We adult beginners are so lucky to be self motivated

QUOTE (Silver pianist @ May 6 2004, 01:27 PM)

Hi Cressida Interesting that you are doing the same pieces as I did.  .................................................. Do let me know how you get on....!

Thanks for your reply and insights, Silver Pianist! That's really helpful. I'll let you know how I get on...Indeed I may ask for some soothing words in my pre-exam jitters.....

A bit scary to hear that it's better to avoid Mozart for the exam. This is something of a deja-vu experience .... I did a Bach piece for Grade 5, and was told straight after the exam by one of the ushers (who noted my jelly legs...) that you're on a loser if you do Bach for an exam. Very comforting!! (I passed with a scrape though).
I think my view on this is that I want to learn (as best I can..) how to play stuff from such wonderful composers as Bach & Mozart - the exams are really just to test/challenge myself & passing them is a bonus. They also provide some direction in learning. Interestingly though, my piano teacher (who is brilliant...) reckons that, for some pupils, working for exams can often hold them back, to the extent that they feel that they don't know anything much at all (...as I feel ).

....especially about sight-reading..... aaaargh!

(Anybody read 'Piano Lessons' by Noah Adams? Lovely little book about an adult beginner's experience)

QUOTE (StuMac @ May 10 2004, 01:05 PM)

Cressida [/QUOTE] Joni Mitchell - I used to love listening to 'Blue' when I was a Student (oh my god that was in 1975!!!!). Can you still get her music?? I would be quite interested in having a look at that, as another aging hippy! I've actually just started looking at the Blues, and can recommend it! Once you've got the hang of the basic chord sequence, its surprisingly easy to improvise. If you keep the chords going almost anything you play sounds 'Bluesly'. Non musicians listen and think 'That's amazing' whereas anyone with the slightest knowledge of jazz just thinks 'pah - just a dead easy riff playing around really predictable chords'.

StuMac

You can get Joni Mitchell music on Amazon and on eBay - tho some of the songbooks/sheets on the latter are collectors' items and are vastly expensive. I've got the songbook 'Autograph' which has piano arrangements which are fairly true to the original recordings. It includes many of her early songs in which she accompanied herself on the piano (...ie. before she became a rock chick).

PS, I was listening to 'Blue' as a student also - - in 1971!!! (Got it on CD now...)

PPS. Have you got a source or book for your 'Blues' chord sequences? I'd love to be able to improvise more.

Cressida

The basic 12 bar blues sequence is (in Cmaj):

C7, C7, C7, C7
F7, F7, C7, C7
G7,F7, C7, G7(and back to beginging) or C7 (to close).

These are seventh chords in the jazz sense, and so the chord of C is played played with B flat (minor 7th) etc. In a classical context you would know this as the dominant 7th chord in the key of F major.

Just try playing those chords with the left hand and making up little a little phrase out of the same notes for the right hand. Start just repeating this phrase in every bar, appropriately transposed to fit in with L. H chords.

Once you get the hang of that, work out a few simple answering phrases to the original phrase and try playing the original phrase on each odd numbered bar as a 'call' and an answering phrase on the odd numbered bars as a 'response'. Once you get the hang of that you can modify the call as you go through and build up a whole 12 bar number!

I'm sure you'll be surprised how quickly it starts to sound 'bluesy'. Try the equivalent chords in the key of Bflat, which usually sounds even better.

Will have a look for Joni Mitchel music!

Stu

Thanks very much for the chords, StuMac. I went straight to the piano when I read your post and tried out the Blues chord sequence. I'll have some fun with that...