Well, hello all. This is my first time here. I just found the site, and I need help!

I'm 44-years-old and a former jazz trumpet player from many years back. I never learned piano, though I occasionally sit down and use the natural ability I have to plunker around. A music teacher in high school once saw me playing around and asked me if I studied professionally, not because of what I was playing, but because he saw the hand position and ease with which I moved around the keyboard. The funny thing was that I couldn't have event gone through the circle of fifths in root position, for pete's sake!

In high school I figured why bother learning just the basics when what I would want to do on the piano is much more complicated? STUPID! So I didn't learn anything on the piano. Well, I sat down a month ago and determined to get the basic chords under my belt. My impetus: I want to take over playing for our worship team at church in three more weeks! (I'll do it, too!) MAN, it has come VERY easily and it's just opened wonderful doors for enjoyment. I had no idea how much could be done with just root positions. My hands move smoother and smoother with each hour of practice (I LOVE to practice, so that's not a problem). Also, I know about staying relaxed and a little about hand position, etc., just from having been around muscicians. With the theory I know, the natural ability and a very good ear, learning and playing the basics, so far, has come very easily and quickly. I can go through all of the songs we play...well, choppy here and there, but with some flavor, you know. It doesn't sound at all like first-grade playing. And, just amazingly and fun, I can play most any song in my head. Again, just using the basics so far. So, here's the thing...

I'll never be a classical player or a professional or anything like that (heavens, life is just too darned busy as it is). Further, I'll probably never be able to site read very well; I have a bad eye-to-brain problem where I see information but it doesn't register quickly with the brain. Been a pain in the rear all my life. I do, however, wish to be able to become fairly well-rounded in playing and reasonably proficient, so that I might just enjoy the hek out of myself and accompany a small get-together of musicians doing gospel or maybe some jazz or what have you. With what I've told you all about what I can and cannot do, here are my questions:

First, what are the things that I should find—those qualities that are an absolute must—in a teacher. That is, when I can afford one!

Second, I need a book (or books) that would be considered the Arbans for the horn. When I played trumpet, Arbans ruled (or "rocked" as they say today)! It covered so much of the basics in one volume. Is there something like that for piano? I've heard about Hanon and Czerny (spelling?), but I don't know much about the materials.

Third, how critical is it to do scales EXACTLY as one particular book or teacher may say to do them? I've seen a few different alternatives to scales in my search on the Web for materials, and some fingerings look more comfortable than others. Is it really THAT important to stick with, say, the "old school," so to speak?

Finally, I'm in the United States. I've not had the chance to surf this site real well, so I'm unclear as to just how much ABRSM offers. Do they have correspondece courses or something of that nature? In the States, there is no central location (that I am aware of) where one can take piano exams. Any bit of info on this would certianly be appreciated.

Well, thank you so much for your time...and for this site!

Starkman

Welcome to the forums.

Can't offer answers to all you questions but here are some observations



You should aim to be consistent. Most people probably go for the fingerings you will find in most scale books, one reason is because they are there maybe and another is that because these fingerings must be pretty effective to survive. However if you find an alternative suits you which you can repeat consistently and which produces a good, even result then there is no reason not to stick with it.





The ABRSM is primarily an examination board. They offer a graded exam and diploma syllabus (links can be found on the home page) and some professional devlopement courses.

They do use exam centres in the States, I think you can find this on the main site somewhere too.

http://www.abrsm.org/?page=regions/us/eng

This is the AB's USA page! HTH

Well, I sure hope there's some more repsonses, but thanks very much to those who have responded.

Starkman

Welcome Starkman

I'm an adult "re-learner" fairly new to this forum myself who is in the USA. I have known about the ABRSM since I was a child growing up in the Caribbean where I had six years of piano lessons. Many piano teachers in the Caribbean enter students for ABRSM exams. I took a few exams (practical and theory) as a child many years ago. Now that I am living in the USA I was very pleased to learn that I could continue with ABRSM exams where I left off so many years ago and started to do so this year.

Once you find out who your local representative is he/she can give you more information especially about exam costs, dates, locations, or any other pertinent information if you are interested in taking exams.

If you are into playing gospel music as part of your worship music you may want to check out "Gospel Keyboard Styles" by Mark Harrison. I recently purchased it but unfortunately I haven't had the chance to delve into it as yet. But if it is as good as the book he wrote for playing pop piano (judging from reviews from Amazon.com) once I get done with the book I should be playing some serious gospel piano.

Might I also recommend "The Piano Handbook" by Carl Humphries. I've started going through this book and I like what I see so far. CH starts off with a brief history of the evolution of the piano as well as a brief description of famous piano composers/performers classical and non-classical. He then gets into music theory, some technique using pieces as examples, how to approach playing well-known classical pieces, and so on. He touches briefly on jazz techniques. He also has an awesome reference section which should be a tremendous resource for pianists at all levels. I wouldn't use this book as the only source for learning to play the piano though as it may be a bit fast paced for a beginner. Since CH is British he uses the British notation for notes (eg semibreve (whole note), minim (half-note), crotchet (quarter note), etc) which may be a bit confusing for someone more accustomed to the American notation for notes.

For method books I am using John Thompson's - Modern Piano Course series. However I am only using these books as a backup resource to reinforce what I learned many moons ago as a child. It is better to get a teacher who can help you reach your goals. At this time I do not have a teacher because of work commitments but I do see a teacher in my future. Hopefully within a year.

Finally never underestimate your music potential. You may choose not to be a classical pianist or a concert pianist but you can still reach a high level of competency as a church musician.

Best wishes

Musictuary

In choosing a teacher, it is good to find someone who is qualified, and someone who is performs in public, or who has performed in public. Note that the ABRSM will be able to provide a list of teachers who prepare students for their excellent exam system.

I hope you find more than one option, because the final choice can be the person who makes YOU feel the most motivated! You are looking for trusted mentor, a personality fit.

George

Good information, folks. Thanks!

I'm doing a lot of research now on the Web and by calling some of the ABRSM members here in the States. A few reps I've spoken with are sending me more information, so that will be enlightening.

Well, thanks again, all for your input. I sure appreciate it.

Starkman

If you don't want to become anything incredible amazing on the piano, then in a teacher, you want someone who doesn't treat you like just a pupil, who isn't too serious, obviously who is qualified, and who you get on with!! If you don't like them then don't bother with them

Well, of COURSE I wanna be incredibly amazing on the piano...I just don't have four to eight hours a day to practice And then there's that two-staff, multiple-note sight reading stuff!

Starkman - howdy. I think you have to be realistic, people here can only give you general advice and support - great though that is. I feel as though you want your passion ( for playing the piano ) to be nurtured which is fantastic at any age. I adore playing the piano too and get great pleasure for playing either to myself friends or small piano recital evenings now and again.
If you want to better your playing then you are going to HAVE to be taught. it's great to have someone hear us play and say 'gosh you are wonderful' - but the reality is if they are not listening to you critically it is only because they do not play and listen in wonderment to something in fact quite ordinary.
Wish you well with your dream but keep your feet on the ground.

Oh, hey, listen...I'm all for having a teacher. All for it. The problem is that I can hardly afford to give out the time right now, and, further, I understand there's not too many, if any, real accomplished pianist/teachers where I live (rural Minnesota). I've talked with a few music stores—including a PIANO store, mind you—and no one knew of anybody except one person, who's all booked up. I'm still hunting around, but the only way I'd be able to afford a teacher is if they gave me a lot to work on between lessons (which could be fairly infrequent) and work with me in that kind of context. So until then, I'm on my own.

Starkman

I'd suspect that, given the way you've described you like to play you need to look for a jazz specialist ideally (although these are hard to come across in the UK; maybe it's easier in the US though, I don't know). Failing that you want someone who is very open-minded and willing to teach you what you want to learn: some teachers teaching the classical route will do only that, or at least always try to pull you back to that, so you need to be really sure that the teacher you choose is willing to teach in the way you want to learn.


There is so much choice more for piano than other insturments, as such I don't believe there is a definitive best book. I don't have any specific recommendations as I don't have direct experiences of it but you might want to take a look at this thread which is teachers discussing tutor books (there are more if you search the forum) to give you and idea of the strengths of each one.


Basically what shboa said on this is absolutely right, the recommended ones have been tried and tested to work but if you find one that works better for you that's fine, so long as your consistent with the fingering you use and it produces a good final result. I would add, however, that the fingering that appears easiest to learn in the first place is not always the one that works the best when you have put in the time to learn it, so don't throw something standard away immediately because it's hard to learn as it may produce better results in the long run (perhaps harder to judge without a teacher at the beginning stages) really consider carefully before doing something different.


As people have said the ABRSM are an exam board and mainly do exams. They do for piano both the traditional classical exams, which focus on playing repertoire from the 1600s through to modern times with a roughly a piece from three distinct eras. If you're not intersted in music from before 1900 then it's probably not too good an option. These exams also include a sight-reading test and scales work along with some aural tests.

An option that sounds like it would suit you better (please don't think I'm being judgemental, it's just based on the sort of playing that you say you aspire to) is the jazz syllabus. This so far only goes up to grade 5 but there are plans to expand it. This focusses more on improvisation and although one does have to play pieces (in jazz styles) one is expected to embelish on them in certain sections. I'm sure there are people around here who know more about jazz exams than I do so if you want more information someone should be able to tell you.

Of course I feel I should point out at this stage that it's quite possible to learn an insturment without doing exams at all.

Hope some of this is helpful and good luck with your playing .

[/quote]

Oh, hey, listen...I'm all for having a teacher. All for it. The problem is that I can hardly afford to give out the time right now, and, further, I understand there's not too many, if any, real accomplished pianist/teachers where I live (rural Minnesota). I've talked with a few music stores—including a PIANO store, mind you—and no one knew of anybody except one person, who's all booked up. I'm still hunting around, but the only way I'd be able to afford a teacher is if they gave me a lot to work on between lessons (which could be fairly infrequent) and work with me in that kind of context. So until then, I'm on my own.

Starkman

[/quote]

Hello Again Starkman

Since you're in rural Minnesota is it feasible to find a teacher in the Minneapolis/St Paul area or in another larger city or town within a reasonable driving distance? Maybe you could take lessons on say a monthly basis if such a teacher or you would be open to such an idea. I'm sure you would find a greater supply of teachers in the larger cities than in your smaller community.

You could also check with your local ABRSM rep for suitable teachers.

Just a thought.

Best wishes

Musictuary

AnotherPianist:
I'd suspect that, given the way you've described you like to play you need to look for a jazz specialist ideally (although these are hard to come across in the UK; maybe it's easier in the US though, I don't know). Failing that you want someone who is very open-minded and willing to teach you what you want to learn: some teachers teaching the classical route will do only that, or at least always try to pull you back to that, so you need to be really sure that the teacher you choose is willing to teach in the way you want to learn.

Starkman:
Well, years back, yeah. But now, all I want to do is just be able to do some all-around playing.


Anotherpianist:
There is so much choice more for piano than other insturments, as such I don't believe there is a definitive best book.

Starkman:
So I've discovered!


Anotherpianist:
I don't have any specific recommendations as I don't have direct experiences of it but you might want to take a look at this thread which is teachers discussing tutor books (there are more if you search the forum) to give you and idea of the strengths of each one.

Starkman:
Thanks for that thread!


Anotherpianist:
Basically what shboa said on this is absolutely right, the recommended ones have been tried and tested to work but if you find one that works better for you that's fine, so long as your consistent with the fingering you use and it produces a good final result. I would add, however, that the fingering that appears easiest to learn in the first place is not always the one that works the best when you have put in the time to learn it, so don't throw something standard away immediately because it's hard to learn as it may produce better results in the long run (perhaps harder to judge without a teacher at the beginning stages) really consider carefully before doing something different.

Starkman:
Well, see that's what I was after; finding the correct way to do things (it probably sounded otherwise, didn't it). What I was discovering, however, were these folk on the Web who've got these "Learn to play piano in just 30 seconds" sights. They were showing some alternate fingerings for basic scales, and that's what I was concerned about. I did, however, pick up Alfred's Complete Scales, Chords...and something else. Nice little booklet, and I can trust it.


Anotherpianist:
As people have said the ABRSM are an exam board and mainly do exams. They do for piano both the traditional classical exams, which focus on playing repertoire from the 1600s through to modern times with a roughly a piece from three distinct eras. If you're not intersted in music from before 1900 then it's probably not too good an option. These exams also include a sight-reading test and scales work along with some aural tests.

Starkman:
Well, I've called a few of the ABRSM reps here in the states, and I could quickly tell that it was mostly classical, which I am not at all opposed to (my car radio is tuned to our local Minnesota Public Radio classical station all the time). But, see, I don't have the hours to put in to become well trained classically. That's just the problem. Whoever invented the 24-hour cycle using the sun and all really made it hard for me, you know! If, however...if, I could find a good teacher could give me enough to work on for a few weeks at a time, I might be able to get somewhere. I certainly wouldn't mind that, and that kind of training is absolutely excellent, for sure. (I'm still amazed that a call to the local music store here in town, that sells ONLY pianos, didn't have a clue as to a good teacher! Not a clue!)

Well, I just got off the phone AGAIN with another music store in town, and they were able to refer me to a few folk that might be able to help me. We shall see!

Thanks again, Anotherpiano, for all your help!




Hello Musictuary (spelling that that kind of caught my fingers off key...literally!),

Yeah, I'm thinking that if I can only do a lesson or two a month, that may be what I have to do. Good suggestion. Thanks. I checked out the ABRSM reps here in the states...WAY too far away! (Well, there was one person, I think, in Minnesota, but he or she isn't active with ABRSM.)

Thanks Musicta...Musicter...ahem...Musictuary!

Starkman

Starkman