Best way to relearn piano

[TimeIhadaNameChange]

I played a bit when I was younger (about thirty years ago!) but never got very far with piano. Think I was playing Grade 4 pieces at one point, but never took the exam. I did, however, do the Advanced Certificate on the flute so I'm not a complete beginner.

Can anyone recommend a book or something to get me going again? I know the best way would be to get a teacher, but I really can't afford that just now.

[quirkychick]

My mil had a Complete Piano Player book by Kenneth Baker that was recommended by her teacher. There's loads of stuff on YouTube my dd has been teaching herself with.

The last 2yrs I've been relearning too, but started by going back and playing some pieces I used to play first. Then I've mostly been teaching myself. I was about Grade 7, I play the flute too.

[Tintini]

I'd recommend Bill Hilton's book "How to Really Play the Piano (the stuff your teacher never taught you)" and his YouTube channel. I did grade 4 piano as a teenager and hadn't played much for 20 years until I happened upon his book a year ago. It was just the right level for me and did indeed show me many things I had unfortunately never learnt in lessons.

This past year since I got the book has been great - I've been playing at least an hour a day and loving it. I have improved a lot in that time - now I can improvise, work out basic songs by ear, make up accompaniments to lead sheets, transpose songs into different keys and read sheet music better.

The other books I've found useful are Piano by Ear by Lucinda Mackworth-Young, How to Play Popular Piano by Norman Monath, Jerry Coker's Jazz Keyboard and Bach's 2-part Inventions.

[quirkychick]

Oh, tintini, I will check that book/YouTube out, I've mostly been reading music, but haven't done much playing by ear, accompaniments for years.

[Sammysquiz]

I’m using an app to relearn called Simply Piano. It’s quite pricey (think it was £60 for a year’s subscription) but it’s very good and my playing is definitely progressing!